Soundtracklover
Guest
Yesterday I went on my 5th OW dive. It was the first I've dived since getting certified in Key Largo, FL. That was such a wondful experience. I only had to dive with a skin, the water was 80 degrees, the vis was amazing and I saw amazing things (fish, reefs, wrecks, spotted eagle ray, nurse shark). I was hyped to dive again.
Alas...I do not live in Florida. I was on vacation. I live in Pennsylvania and your choices in central PA are limited to Bainbridge quarry and Dutch Springs, which is also a quarry. I was very excited to be going to Dutch Springs. It has a bunch of items purposely sunk for the amusement of the divers (planes, helicopter, trolley, trucks, etc). My husband, who is currently training to be a Divemaster, wanted me to see the Helicopter. I was excited about that.
My excitement began to dimish when we went for my rental gear (haven't been able to justify, financially, my own stuff yet since we just spent a lot of money on his). The only suit I could find to fit me, was made for a man. I had to squeeze my chest into a XXL 7mil suit (I'm a 42DD). The arms were a little too long. But, I thought I'd be o.k. once I got to the quarry and got in the water. Boy was I wrong. Took forever to get the suit on, was tiring to do and the hood was practically choking me...couldn't bend my head forward to get my mask on without holding my breath.
My husband was my dive buddy, thank heavens, as he has the patience to deal with an anxious, frustrated, whinie wife. Getting under the water was a feat, as I required a lot of weight to get me under the water (about 32 lbs). Mind you, by now I was EXTREMELY frustrated with all the gear. Once we got under, it didn't get any better. The 15 vis stunk - couldn't see anything but floating algae and ropes. I felt like I was playing hide and seek at a haunted house. My depth perception was completely screwed up. Only thing I could really focus on was my hubby.
We only lasted about 25 minutes under water and I only got to see a crane. I made him surface out in the quarry knowing full well we would have to swim back. I was that uncomfortable. I didn't panic (although I was proabably close) and wasn't breathing harder than I did in the ocean. I just was NOT having any fun.
If all you've done is dive in the ocean or other clear water, I don't recommend diving in a quarry unless you have all your own gear or at least gear that fits very well.
I will say this...I said yesterday that I would never dive a quarry again, but I've had time to think about it. I will dive a quarry again, but not until I have my own gear that fits and that I'm comfortable with. If I don't have to worry about my stuff, I can focus on the environment more and maybe enjoy the game of hide and seek instead of being scared of it.
Alas...I do not live in Florida. I was on vacation. I live in Pennsylvania and your choices in central PA are limited to Bainbridge quarry and Dutch Springs, which is also a quarry. I was very excited to be going to Dutch Springs. It has a bunch of items purposely sunk for the amusement of the divers (planes, helicopter, trolley, trucks, etc). My husband, who is currently training to be a Divemaster, wanted me to see the Helicopter. I was excited about that.
My excitement began to dimish when we went for my rental gear (haven't been able to justify, financially, my own stuff yet since we just spent a lot of money on his). The only suit I could find to fit me, was made for a man. I had to squeeze my chest into a XXL 7mil suit (I'm a 42DD). The arms were a little too long. But, I thought I'd be o.k. once I got to the quarry and got in the water. Boy was I wrong. Took forever to get the suit on, was tiring to do and the hood was practically choking me...couldn't bend my head forward to get my mask on without holding my breath.
My husband was my dive buddy, thank heavens, as he has the patience to deal with an anxious, frustrated, whinie wife. Getting under the water was a feat, as I required a lot of weight to get me under the water (about 32 lbs). Mind you, by now I was EXTREMELY frustrated with all the gear. Once we got under, it didn't get any better. The 15 vis stunk - couldn't see anything but floating algae and ropes. I felt like I was playing hide and seek at a haunted house. My depth perception was completely screwed up. Only thing I could really focus on was my hubby.
We only lasted about 25 minutes under water and I only got to see a crane. I made him surface out in the quarry knowing full well we would have to swim back. I was that uncomfortable. I didn't panic (although I was proabably close) and wasn't breathing harder than I did in the ocean. I just was NOT having any fun.
If all you've done is dive in the ocean or other clear water, I don't recommend diving in a quarry unless you have all your own gear or at least gear that fits very well.
I will say this...I said yesterday that I would never dive a quarry again, but I've had time to think about it. I will dive a quarry again, but not until I have my own gear that fits and that I'm comfortable with. If I don't have to worry about my stuff, I can focus on the environment more and maybe enjoy the game of hide and seek instead of being scared of it.
I hope you do stick with it - sounds like you just need the proper fitting gear which I know, you know, and everyone knows, will make a huge difference.
