How long did it take to get used to limited vis?

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FunkyDiver

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Location
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Hi! I'm relatively new to diving and most of my dives have been in quarries with a few ocean trips. In the quarries most of the time we get 15-30' of visibility. I was in a private quarry (some people I know own it and invited me to dive with them). Anyway the vis was probably only 15'+ . It was a little freaky descending, because at the thermocline, the vis went to about 10' and the light dimmed a little. It was a fairly uncomfortable feeling since I'm used to better vis. It caused me to stay about halfway down, (the bottom is approx 70'). Afterward, I felt silly, and told myself that I need to stop being a sissy and just be a man. Yesterday we were in a different quarry and the vis was 3-5' I thought I would just force myself to go to the bottom and deal with it (this quarry was only about 20'), but it still was very un-nerving. I can't even imagine doing that if it had been dark, like a lot of you do. I'm just curious how long it took some of you to get over that feeling, if it bothered you at all.
 
Low viz isn't for everyone but I really like it. The only part about low viz diving I dont like is having a buddy that I cant communicate with. I prefer to solo in real low/no viz situations or use comms cause most of the time it is hard to keep track of a buddy's location and situation. I can handle myself getting caught up or lost but having a buddy who cant handle problems for themselves is the only bad part to low viz diving. Its all about comfort and if I can see my gauges with a light even a little when there right up to my mask than I'm good cause I know I can tell what I have for air and my depth but other than that there are no requisits to the dark being a fun and surprising place.

This may be bad advice but it worked for me.

Go somewhere with bad viz and shallow water, go alone or have a buddy with but pay no attention to them, drop down onto the bottom and dont move, stay there and keep a hand on the bottom so you know where it is but practice buoyancy and just try and stay calm, focus on breathing and than begin to explore but make sure you can either see or feel bottom at all times so you dont get to disorientated the first time. if the viz is 5 ft or more you might muck things up a bit so you cant see anything. if you find yourself getting lost/confused/disorientated just kneel down on the bottom and concentrate on breathing. It may even help to close your eyes while breathing. welcome the darkness and try not to panic. The worst that could happen is you get a bit panicked than just go up a bit by breathing a little deeper and you will slowly rise above the silt and see light again (dont hold your breath). This takes getting used to but I really enjoy diving in low viz.

I did a 0 viz dive yesterday at 80FT and couldn't see anything and had no refrence and couldn't find my buddy. I watched my depth gauge and ascended until I could see a bit of sun and otta the darkness I saw bubbles from my buddy. I followed the bubbles back down and there he was following a rock wall for refrence. I could easilly have just called the dive but we finished but needed 2 lights to see anything at all.

Be careful and have fun.
 
I prefer to solo in real low/no viz situations or use comms cause most of the time it is hard to keep track of a buddy's location and situation.

That's one thing we figured out right away- that it would be extremely easy to lose track of your buddy if you weren't constantly paying attention to where they were.
 
I was trained in very low viz when I was 11, so I didn't have much choice. I done a 110 foot deep wreck last summer, that was diving by Braille. Not my favourite thing in the world, but you just sort of do it, especially after riding a boat for an hour to get to a dive site. I agree with the other guys about going solo in really bad viz, just easier if you have the equipment and experience. As for you needing to man up and not be a sissy about it. That's BS, you don't need to do anything you aren't comfortable in. The comfort will come, but if you force yourself in a situation you aren't ready for, you're may regret it.

P.S. 15-30 foot viz is AWESOME for around here!!
 
I'm fairly new to diving, but what helps me in low viz is taking a heading with the compass and then having an idea how deep the waters are. That way I know what to expect, or at least have some sort of idea. I'd hate to be diving in a new area and have no idea how deep the water is, 20ft?? 50ft?? 80ft?? So, it gives me peace of mind to have info. on the dive site before I go :)
 
Yea it's a very personal thing and it some point it has nothing to do with your training or ability as a diver.

Murky ocean conditions never bothered me. Night dives were a joy from the first time. Even the darkness that can be found below some thermoclines that turn a summertime mid-day into night was a mystical thing. Sometimes thermoclines can set-up some weird illusions and I like those too.

My wife on the other hand can execute a fine night dives but has decided that she hates them. She's not comfortable in the dark and that's that.

Regarding buddies... If know it going to be murky then it's one buddy. Three diver teams are too hard to keep together unless you are really tuned into each other.

Pete
 
Everyone handles it differently and there are a lot of zero vis descriptions. But if you prepare yourself it's just fine.

In true zero vis you are going to see absolutely nothing. Maybe the faint glow from your dive light if you’re lucky. But you will not be able to see anything else. The rest is just poor vis. :wink:

By knowing your limits I mean exactly that. Know your gear so well that it is second nature and you don’t have to think about what to do it will just come naturally.

Know how long you can stay down for the conditions so you don’t suck all your air without knowing it.

Make sure your gear is as streamlined as possible. Getting hung up when you’re blind is usually because someone looks like a flared out octopus. Streamlining helps a lot in reducing snags.

Much more to do but that is a starter. I love working in it. I just close my eyes relax and do my job. Peaceful way to work.

Gary D.
 
Jimmer:
As for you needing to man up and not be a sissy about it. That's BS, you don't need to do anything you aren't comfortable in. The comfort will come, but if you force yourself in a situation you aren't ready for, you're may regret it.
Execellenjt point, Jimmer. Also, don't think that shallow depths ("only 20ft") will make it OK either - its not the depth that will get you here.

From a PSD perspective, as Gary said, we generally close our eyes to search in zero vis or blackwater. If we don't we start to see things that aren't there and the distraction reduces our effectiveness. BUT we are always tethered to the surface with constant communication with a tender. Having a buddy in this environment just makes things confusing - confusion is bad!

Low vis with a buddy is OK but you need to be able to access each other at all times so he should always be in sight. If not don't do it!

BTW - if the vis is bad due to silt, lights won't make a difference as the particulates will deflect light all over the place actually making your vis worse
 
You could have asked this same question in the basic scuba section, FD.

Limited vis in the Public Safety setting is more akin to 0 ft to 3 ft vis. And that is a really big difference.

Utilizing an FFM with voice features is how you communicate with your team then, since you cannot possibly see them. Relying on your instruments when you can see and read them is basic. The problem is that often you cannot read them at all. At times like that a human voice is very reassuring. The harness is a security feature as well, when it is being used. I doubt you are ever going to use either of these items, however.

As long as I can see my instruments, even in 1 ft vis, I am fine with low vis. However it is when vis goes to -0- and I cannot even see my instruments that I always start to feel a little unhappy about it. That is the answer to your question, I believe.

Nobody expects you to push yourself beyond your own limits. You decide for yourself. That is always true in any kind of scuba and at any level. You should always keep that in mind in your open water training as well. If you feel uncomfortable, then you need to train more. Take another class. Dive with a reliable mentor and stay close.

Be really careful about the macho-image man-thing which you mentioned in your post. That could get you into trouble if you push yourself too fast. Everything you do should be comfortable to you, if not a little unusual at first. The first time you do anything you should be with a competent instructor. The next time, then, with a buddy or divemaster. You should learn these skills that you need slowly but progressively. And it should be comfortable for you.

Start out by finding great instructors, and pay attention to what they tell you. Make sure you have quality gear, and keep it serviced regularly, and streamline it. Learn and know how to use your gear and your instruments. Plan your dive, and dive your plan. Finally, listen to the voice inside of you that tells you if something seems right or not.

I would consider 10 to 15 ft vis to be a spendid vista, great even for scootering, although probably at a much lower speed than usual !
 
Gary & Bridge,

I am glad you pointed out that we often dive with our eyes closed! Some folks just don't understand what "no vis" is and when it is put in perspective of "limited vis," the term "limited" is pretty subjective.

"Only 15' of vis" is a fantastic day for many PSDs and diving in 3' to 5' of vis is still fairly good. When I can't see my hand but I can make out a portion of my arm, I call that "limited vis" and when I can't see gauges up close or the U/W light presents a brown glow when it is pointed at my eyes, inches from the face piece, that is "no vis.' It is all a matter of perspective.

The key to diving comfortably in "limited" and "0" vis is having a high degree of familiarity with your equipment and being able to resolve issues with your eyes closed. It is also comforting knowing that you have a group of professionals in the surface who are monitoring every breath you take and are there to assure your safety is something goes afoul.

The question comes to mind though ... Why would ANYONE want to dive recreationally in limited to zero vis? If it wans't for the thrill of doing something for family/community, I wouldn't be doing it. For "fun diving" I have to have at least 5' of vis in order to have a good time. Otherwise it seems like work to me!
 
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