Anxiety issues NEED solving!

[diveactive]

OK diving in Lakes.
I have been diving from 1982. All sorts of conditions . Not so much as some my have done. I know my limit. Well on my way to 2000 dives . However . Diving lakes is one type of diving you must seriously conceder. IS IT FOR YOU. You need to be solid minded and be fit to. the fresh water and the cold is totally different from diving in the sea. Aseptically tropical water. diving at 20 mts in a lake is like diving over 40 mts in the tropics . In fact Not even that compares !

Also . If you look up . All regs ( second stages that I have used) restrict the flow of air and some is gurgle a bit when you look directly to the surface. . If you have not felt this when watching your bubbles flowing up. Then you would feel frightened. And could panic.
Yet if you look up at an angle . the flow is ok. as if and when you practice. your ascents.

When I done my courses in the UK it was hard work. Out here in Borneo. its so easy . And I say to my europe students and OZy student. Get extra training to adapt to cold water if you dive under 25c

 

[toddthecat]

With lake diving I think the biggest thing that contributes to the panic attack is low visibility and lack of color. I was in the Caribbean for a long time and hadn't done any lake diving for years even though I went through DM in lakes. Even as an instructor I had a little bit of anxiety when I got back into the lake and hit about 10 feet. I realized it was because I had 5-10ft visibility and it felt very claustrophobic. On top of that, everything was hazy and brown so I had little environmental landmarks to go by. It's a huge difference from the vast visibility and reference ponits in the ocean. Diveactive is right, you have to decide if it is right for you or not. Don't let it discourage you!!!