Edgework of Scuba Diving

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The use of edgework concept is contributive to explore divers’ in-water experiences and provide a more detailed examination of the situation when divers close to the perceived risk, and how they react to those circumstances. Research on scuba divers shown that, as with other edgework activities, prior to risk taking, individuals felt nervousness and horrors, but when they were underwater, divers perceived a sense of calm and relaxation (Schneider el al, 2007). If potential risks arise, the ecstatic experience will be achieved. The negotiating effort taken by divers reveals their autonomy to isolate constraints and accept the associated risks. (Dimmock, 2009). However, The magnitude of comfort in SCUBA experience could diminish because of these constraints, therefore divers tend to use negotiation strategy to handle their constraint to comfort. Three notable ways of negotiation response occurred from the divers’ narrative of experience which is categorized as consolidated, cooperation and cancel strategy.
A consolidate strategy reflects those divers reassuring themselves in-water, and believe they have the skills and abilities required to maintain control of a situation that ‘verges on the total chaos’. In most circumstances, divers see the constraints as obstacles, but they consider the minor disturbance is manageable because their preference is to stay in the water (Dimmock, 2009). According to Brown (2005), when people do not want to alter behavior and reduce estimated risk, they may improve the perception of experience and reduce their recognized risks. In this case, divers could either take step to stay calm and reconsider the current situation, or they could also switch attention to positive aspect of being unde...

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...ework concept only targeted on a specific social strata. As Lyng (2005) noted that, the concept was ‘rooted in the unique experience of white, middle-class, adult males.’ (p.11). Therefore, the edgework might have some significant limitations when applied to other gender and ethnical groups. Further research shows that edgework might be perceived in different ways by men and women, young and old and rich and poor (Lois, 2005). Another critiques of edgework concept is that the edgework is an oversimplified view to interpret participants’ actions. With reference to Donnelly’s (2004) statement, as the conceptual framework is heavily influenced by Marx and Meads’ idea, edgework is rooted in labour economy and capitalist society, as a result, the influence of the social relation on one’s choice to engage in voluntary risk activities was exaggerated (Laurendeau 2008).

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