Bernie Chowdhury > Quotes

“If the apple of the next generation could fall farther from the tree, and get less shade from its parent, then the new tree might grow taller and healthier.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

“Underwater, the regulators in their mouths created a self-imposed bickering moratorium which made their dives more enjoyable.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

“Iron Coffins.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

“whenever complacency took hold in our diving careers, disaster was sure to follow.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

“In practical terms, the trick to successful participation in a high-risk sport is to acknowledge that bad things can happen, make every effort to prevent those things from happening, and be prepared to confront accidents when they do occur.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

“I knew that underwater problems had to be solved underwater.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

“This mask is attached to pure oxygen, which is thought to be very beneficial to someone suffering a diving injury, and to their chances of recovery,” Dave recited. “I suggest you breathe the oxygen, but the choice is entirely yours.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

“Her psychoanalytic training led her to conclude that there was an unconscious level of motivation within each of us. According to Dr. Hunt’s training and beliefs, unconscious memory, thoughts, and feelings stem from earlier parts of life, including childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. These unconscious recollections, notions, and emotions affect what we think, what we say, and how we act. Unresolved conflicts from earlier life experiences may be hidden in the unconscious and influence behavior, which is especially important to people such as divers, who engage in high-risk activities.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

“Dr. Bill Hamilton, among others, has contributed to research showing that the nitrogen bubbles are treated as invaders by the body’s immune system, which mounts a complex and not fully understood systemic defense. Part of the immune defense involves the creation of nitrogen-specific and helium-specific antigens—antigens are the marker cells that attach themselves to invading viruses and bacteria, targeting the invading cells for destruction. Even after a person recovers from the bends, specific inert-gas antigens lurk vigilant in the body against a future bubble attack.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

“the normalization of risk in the lives of her high-risk subjects.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

“He would frequently do solo dives at midnight, relishing the tranquillity of his own private world. While decompressing, he rested lazily on a tree log that had fallen into the water. He was often illuminated only by the Moon, whose light beams rippled through his exhalation bubbles, which rose like rapidly expanding flying saucers, exploding when they hit the surface. The rippling light cast eerie shadows on the rock entrance below Berman, making fish, crabs, and crayfish seem to dance in a strobe light, appearing, disappearing, and reappearing in an instant.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

“Although the fight-or-flight response may have helped primitive man survive, it is deadly to the diver. Underwater problems have to be solved underwater.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

“Chris told her later that he had overheard their priest declaring that the accident would not have happened if Chris had attended church regularly. For Chris, the priest’s belief was such an insult he did not enter a church again except to attend weddings or funerals.”
― Bernie Chowdhury, The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths