Anyone else really nervous in the beginning?

[mcohen1021]

So with 900 psi, since you knew where the boat was, you were confident of swimming underwater, a safety stop and a controlled ascent??
What would you have done if you had 200psi when you looked and you were a ways from the boat? These are the scenarios I come up with!!

When I saw the rate of how fast my air was coming out, I knew I had to haul arse back to the boat. With that clear of water I knew my wife would never lose sight of me. Yes, I knew exactly where I was with relation to the wreck, and I knew where the boat was in relation to the reef (you self lead more when you do liveaboards).

I had taken a compass heading from the mooring anchor to the wreck. Then I took another compass heading from the wreck to the nearby reef. So instead of following my path backwards, I diagonaled (shortest path) back to the boat), came up to the 15' zone and safety stopped. My wife caught up eventually, and did the full 3. I was prepared to take the tank down to 0, and if needed either buddy breathe or do the surface swim. BTW - when you get down that low, you'll notice you are drawing hard on the regulator rather than it flowing easily.

PS: I was just looking at my dive profile and my ½ tank point was @ 21 minutes - typically that happens under similar conditions @ 41 minutes!

 

[mcohen1021]

All my other dives were in local lakes. Beaver lake, Bulls Shoals, Tablerock, & Norfork lake.

I did a single dive with a local dive shop owner @ Norfork - Cliff Rooke. It was May 21, 1990 and the lake was flooded - picnic tables and parks were all underwater. We went out on his boat, I had a ¼" wetsuit hood and gloves and it was still frigid... It was clear water, a wreck dive, but idk if it had a name. 90' and 30 minutes.

 

[nldunn]

When I saw the rate of how fast my air was coming out, I knew I had to haul arse back to the boat. With that clear of water I knew my wife would never lose sight of me. Yes, I knew exactly where I was with relation to the wreck, and I knew where the boat was in relation to the reef (you self lead more when you do liveaboards).

I had taken a compass heading from the mooring anchor to the wreck. Then I took another compass heading from the wreck to the nearby reef. So instead of following my path backwards, I diagonaled (shortest path) back to the boat), came up to the 15' zone and safety stopped. My wife caught up eventually, and did the full 3. I was prepared to take the tank down to 0, and if needed either buddy breathe or do the surface swim. BTW - when you get down that low, you'll notice you are drawing hard on the regulator rather than it flowing easily.

PS: I was just looking at my dive profile and my ½ tank point was @ 21 minutes - typically that happens under similar conditions @ 41 minutes!

Holy cow! You kept a cool head!! That’s the goal, right???

 

[nldunn]

I did a single dive with a local dive shop owner @ Norfork - Cliff Rooke. It was May 21, 1990 and the lake was flooded - picnic tables and parks were all underwater. We went out on his boat, I had a ¼" wetsuit hood and gloves and it was still frigid... It was clear water, a wreck dive, but idk if it had a name. 90' and 30 minutes.

I can say with confidence, I will never five to 90 feet in cold water!!!! That’s brave!!

 

[mcohen1021]

Holy cow! You kept a cool head!! That’s the goal, right???

Well, there's always a bit of nervousness, especially never having dived on that site. But in the end my goal was to avoid a long exhausting surface swim lol!

I can say with confidence, I will never five to 90 feet in cold water!!!! That’s brave!!

I now only dive on vacations and in clear warm waters with the occasional 1-2 lake dives for the ski club in fort worth as needed. Back then, I was still a baby at this - with my 1st year as a diver

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

... but it's gotten me really anxious to have one before and I spent a lot of the dive looking at it and worrying....

 

[johndiver999]

As a long time teacher and now therapist, I thought the dive master was competent and intuitive and she knew what I needed for this one day. I dove with her before during this week. Now that I've gotten over the hurdle over going past 35 feet, I would always dive with a computer or depth gauge, which I have always done before, but it's gotten me really anxious to have one before and I spent a lot of the dive looking at it and worrying.
I do understand that I need to be independent and I'm getting a computer before I come back and I will figure it out before I leave home. I appreciate your caring.

That makes sense, but it brings up a bigger issue. I see it more with women than men. They are sometimes too willing to give up personal responsibility and delegate to a professional or some other person. In general, that is a bad idea and should be avoided.

On the other hand it is tremendously helpful to dive with people who have done the dive hundreds of times, but if you want to develop your skills, you want to be diving within (or very close to) your personal comfort zone - which to me, means NOT delegating any critical functions like navigation, time, depth, deco status, air supply, manipulation of your own dive gear, ascent speed/strategy and physical strength/endurance to safely get in and out of the water.

You need to be able to be on top of all that stuff on every dive, to a degree that it is relevant. Doing otherwise will inhibit your stated desire of expanding your comfort zone. For example, back when I used to dive with a lot of people, I used to hate seeing couples holding hands underwater, especially (and only) if it appeared that one person really needed that crutch. I always viewed it as a problem waiting to happen.

The greater your independence the greater your confidence and ultimately safety, although that doesn't mean dive solo.

Of course you appropriately exercised personal responsibility by NOT diving in excessive winds, so I am not desiring to sound critical of you. Knowing when NOT to dive is probably the most important skill of all.

 

[nldunn]

I agree, but the rational mind and the emotional mind don't always work. Love Willie!!!

 

[nldunn]

That makes sense, but it brings up a bigger issue. I see it more with women than men. They are sometimes too willing to give up personal responsibility and delegate to a professional or some other person. In general, that is a bad idea and should be avoided.

On the other hand it is tremendously helpful to dive with people who have done the dive hundreds of times, but if you want to develop your skills, you want to be diving within (or very close to) your personal comfort zone - which to me, means NOT delegating any critical functions like navigation, time, depth, deco status, air supply, manipulation of your own dive gear, ascent speed/strategy and physical strength/endurance to safely get in and out of the water.

You need to be able to be on top of all that stuff on every dive, to a degree that it is relevant. Doing otherwise will inhibit your stated desire of expanding your comfort zone. For example, back when I used to dive with a lot of people, I used to hate seeing couples holding hands underwater, especially (and only) if it appeared that one person really needed that crutch. I always viewed it as a problem waiting to happen.

The greater your independence the greater your confidence and ultimately safety, although that doesn't mean dive solo.

Of course you appropriately exercised personal responsibility by NOT diving in excessive winds, so I am not desiring to sound critical of you. Knowing when NOT to dive is probably the most important skill of all.

I would NEVER hold my husband's hand underwater!! That would make me concerned if I saw a couple do that! I do agree that women give up responsibility more easily than men, especially when we are unsure.
I took what you said seriously and want to learn. I was talking with my husband about what you said and I was hoping you responded because I am trying to figure out how you make a plan for a dive you haven't been to before. For example, we have done three dives that we had not been to before, all from the beach. How do you make your plan if you don't know what is under there? Is your plan just for time/depth?
Thank you and again, I am appreciative of your advice and help.

 

[mcohen1021]

I would NEVER hold my husband's hand underwater!! That would make me concerned if I saw a couple do that!

Nothing that wrong with it. I held my wifes hand for the 1st 2 years (approximately 4 trips and 40-50 dives).

After that I set her free to struggle/learn on her own, but kept a very close watch, and used her struggles to further teach her how to improve. I think she has around 400 dives now and I only occasionally have to hold her down on a safety stop. Not always easy when I dive with 3#. Last dive of the BA3 last year I dove with 0# just to see if I could do it. I was ok until the tank went below 1000 psi.

I did 3# in cozumel and an extra 1# would have helped me in the surge/surface currents.