Almost died today--Any captains out there???

[vladimir]

I think (just my opinion) blueanchor's fear of almost costing him his life is based on several factors. 1. He/she is a new diver and hasn't had experience surfacing and not having the boat in sight; 2. It was not just the waiting 45 minutes that was frightening, but the fact there was a thunderstorm with lightening present; 3. OW usually doesn't prepare one for solving situations such as this.

This is valid. As I noted earlier, bobbing on the surface in zero visibility with at least one boat moving around is a riskier situation. It is still pretty far from almost losing your life, but we should probably give that a rest. I would cope with the heightened risk by making myself as visible as possible using a dive alert or whistle and a safety sausage. The risk from lightning is also real, but very small, and there's nothing you can do to minimize it while you're in the water.

 

[DandyDon]

No, the captain does not make the final decision about whether you dive or not. You do. It's your call, it will always be your call.

I was on a liveaboard once with a skipper renown for his safety principles, but when the dive gate was opened for the first morning dive - I saw lightening. Everyone else went in; my bud & I stayed aboard. My call.

 

[DennisS]

Take the PADI lightning diver course, it will allay your fears about being in salt water during a thunderstorm.

 

[jupitermermaid]

This is valid. As I noted earlier, bobbing on the surface in zero visibility with at least one boat moving around is a riskier situation. It is still pretty far from almost losing your life, but we should probably give that a rest. I would cope with the heightened risk by making myself as visible as possible using a dive alert or whistle and a safety sausage. The risk from lightning is also real, but very small, and there's nothing you can do to minimize it while you're in the water.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I carry two safety sausages with me now and have a DAN reflector with my info attached to my BC. As a newbie, I had the 4' orally inflateable one that I thought was sufficient. Experience changes us all. Someone once said, "What doesn't kill us will make us a better person." Maybe we can change it to, ".....will make us a better diver."

Hopefully blueanchor will learn from his/her experience and continue to post on SB and the multitudes of more experienced divers can guide him/her in his/her quest to becoming a better diver.

 

[redacted]

One of the best dives I ever had was a night dive in Cozumel with a thunder storm lighting up UW like a huge flash bulb. The boat was forced to leave us and seek shelter while we enjoyed the dive. But he was back above us when we surfaced after about 50 minutes.

 

[blueanchor]

Well, what can I say to all of you. I was scared, if you are all so brave and this would not make you blink an eye. Good for you, then. I just went on this site to get opinions from people like you. This is a great site for you all, because you all think very similarly. No sympathy for new divers, okay, got it. Thanks.

 

[jwc3]

People, you don't understand...

Yes, blueanchor, I agree that some people here may have been a little harsh on you. First, be thankful that you're OK. Second, after you have calmed down (a day? a week?), replay the situation your head and ask yourself what you can learn from this experience so you can avoid a similar situation in the future. (The people here at Scuba Board can help you with that.)

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger... "

 

[ONESPEED]

Well, what can I say to all of you. I was scared, if you are all so brave and this would not make you blink an eye. Good for you, then. I just went on this site to get opinions from people like you. This is a great site for you all, because you all think very similarly. No sympathy for new divers, okay, got it. Thanks.

I think the lack of sympathy stems from a confrontational first post that was very sparse on details and completely onesided. Perhaps if you would be a bit more forthcoming on actual details and be willing to accept you made mistakes and are ultimately responsible for your own actions this could turn into a real conversation.

 

[TheScubaBOB]

Well, what can I say to all of you. I was scared, if you are all so brave and this would not make you blink an eye. Good for you, then. I just went on this site to get opinions from people like you. This is a great site for you all, because you all think very similarly. No sympathy for new divers, okay, got it. Thanks.

It's not about "not having sympathy", we're divers and as such we analyze & maybe over analyze these reports.

We can sympathize or we can give you feedback that is free of the shock & fear you are still apparently experiencing.

 

[cwkline]

The OP didn't post and update, he edited his first post. Still lacking in some info. (Was this a drift dive?)