We made a specific effort in our article to refrain from generalizing the observed adjustment disorders seen in some adolescents to all adolescents. We agree with Dr Buchta's comments that some adults exhibit these same traits; neither of us would want to dive with such a person, whether he or she was an adolescent or an adult.
Our article served as a means for us to educate nondiving physicians about scuba diving, particularly as follows: (1) It is an elective hobby for most people, but it is a hobby fraught with
the potential for serious medical emergencies and adverse sequelae because it is conducted at sea or in lakes, far from land-based emergency medical services. (2) There is a definite need for all diving partners to be in equally good health and to have equally good skills and knowledge so that they can dive safely and react appropriately to emergencies. (3) It is incumbent on physicians performing examinations on potential