Anyone else really nervous in the beginning?

[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.

 

[Edward3c]

How do you make your plan if you don't know what is under there? Is your plan just for time/depth?

I’ve done hundreds of unknown dive sites. It’s how to expand the known ones.

Yes, plan maximum depth, time and gas (air) requirements, research for information on entry and exit, tides and current, weather, what your expecting to see, location of public phones (if no mobile sign), availability of O2 and an AED,

However, when on a holiday trip I listen to the dive site brief especially the depth and time limits, I can then calculate my gas (air) requirements (knowing the start cylinder pressure and tank size), if the brief includes swim throughs I inform the guide I’ll not be doing them and will swim over the reef.

Last time in the Philippines I refused to go in because the sea was too rough to safely get back onto the boat, all the other customers followed suit. A few approached me afterwards saying they didn’t know they could say no if the guide wanted to go. The captain found a new site.

 

[nldunn]

I’ve done hundreds of unknown dive sites. It’s how to expand the known ones.

Yes, plan maximum depth, time and gas (air) requirements, research for information on entry and exit, tides and current, weather, what your expecting to see, location of public phones (if no mobile sign), availability of O2 and an AED,

However, when on a holiday trip I listen to the dive site brief especially the depth and time limits, I can then calculate my gas (air) requirements (knowing the start cylinder pressure and tank size), if the brief includes swim throughs I inform the guide I’ll not be doing them and will swim over the reef.

Last time in the Philippines I refused to go in because the sea was too rough to safely get back onto the boat, all the other customers followed suit. A few approached me afterwards saying they didn’t know they could say no if the guide wanted to go. The captain found a new site.

Thanks for sharing that story and your knowledge. I appreciate it!!

 

[NothingClever]

@nldunn

You may consider thinking of unknown dive sites akin to taking on a new trail hike. Intuitively, you accomplish planning for a new trail hike because looking over a map, walking, breathing and glancing ahead to evaluate the trail are all things that happen without requiring a lot of thought.

Similarly, I’d recommend focusing on developing proficiency in the five fundamentals of diving so that you’re able to focus your mental energies on modest but fulfilling exploratory diving.

Five fundamentals:

- Buoyancy control
- Trim
- Propulsion / finning
- Breathing
- Awareness (self, others, current, temp, sealife, topside conditions, crew, etc)

By focusing on these, I think a lot of your nervousness will dissipate and the confidence to lead yourself on a dive will increase.

The above will enable you to handle a camera someday. Skipping to the camera right now will significantly retard development of good habits (you’ll be distracted) and make you later say, “Gee, I wish I would’ve focused on basic dive skills first.”

Have fun!

 

[johndiver999]

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.

The complexity and detail of your plan has to be appropriate for the dive site.

If it is a simple beach dive and the sea conditions are calm and there is little or no current and there is no dangerous boat traffic and there is no restriction as to where you can exit the water, then time and depth and the pressure you want to hit before heading back should all be established. You make a simple conservative plan that everyone is comfortable with. Letting someone on shore know where and when you are diving is smart too.

If you are a new diver and/or ignorant of the dive site, it is always smart to ask the locals for what to look for and what to look out for.

Years ago, I went for a solo beach dive in the Pacific northwest. Cold and pretty dirty water near seattle Washington. Not sure where really. Rented a tank, swam out there a ways and in 10 minutes I was in some serious trouble. I was 20-30 feet deep or something, but I got picked up by a horrendous current! I swam and crawled like hell and fought my way back to shore which required a good bit of my air and ALL my strength. If I was not strong and experienced in significant current, I would have been swept away.

I had done lotsa dives in seemingly similar conditions off the beach in Maine (cold limited visibility), so I figured I didn't need to seem stupid and ask the local dive shop about the site and any "issues". When I returned the rental tank and indicated that I had quite an adventure, they were like.. "you CAN't dive there, except on a certain tidal window"

I think they literally didn't believe me that I had actually dove there at the time I said. They showed me a tide chart and said there could be like 7 kt currents... I never saw anything close to that, but I was nearly swept away and in cold water, in a wetsuit with limited potential exits, it could have been a serious problem.

So seeking local knowledge and/or going with experienced and knowledgeable people on a new site is recommended. I know nothing about where you were diving, so possibly many of the shore dives are much more benign. At the least, you can have mentors or guides involve you in the formation of the dive plan, which ensures that everyone is on the same page as to what the critical goals and limitations of the dive are.

 

[nldunn]

The complexity and detail of your plan has to be appropriate for the dive site.

If it is a simple beach dive and the sea conditions are calm and there is little or no current and there is no dangerous boat traffic and there is no restriction as to where you can exit the water, then time and depth and the pressure you want to hit before heading back should all be established. You make a simple conservative plan that everyone is comfortable with. Letting someone on shore know where and when you are diving is smart too.

If you are a new diver and/or ignorant of the dive site, it is always smart to ask the locals for what to look for and what to look out for.

Years ago, I went for a solo beach dive in the Pacific northwest. Cold and pretty dirty water near seattle Washington. Not sure where really. Rented a tank, swam out there a ways and in 10 minutes I was in some serious trouble. I was 20-30 feet deep or something, but I got picked up by a horrendous current! I swam and crawled like hell and fought my way back to shore which required a good bit of my air and ALL my strength. If I was not strong and experienced in significant current, I would have been swept away.

I had done lotsa dives in seemingly similar conditions off the beach in Maine (cold limited visibility), so I figured I didn't need to seem stupid and ask the local dive shop about the site and any "issues". When I returned the rental tank and indicated that I had quite an adventure, they were like.. "you CAN't dive there, except on a certain tidal window"

I think they literally didn't believe me that I had actually dove there at the time I said. They showed me a tide chart and said there could be like 7 kt currents... I never saw anything close to that, but I was nearly swept away and in cold water, in a wetsuit with limited potential exits, it could have been a serious problem.

So seeking local knowledge and/or going with experienced and knowledgeable people on a new site is recommended. I know nothing about where you were diving, so possibly many of the shore dives are much more benign. At the least, you can have mentors or guides involve you in the formation of the dive plan, which ensures that everyone is on the same page as to what the critical goals and limitations of the dive are.

"Years ago, I went for a solo beach dive in the Pacific northwest. Cold and pretty dirty water near seattle Washington. Not sure where really. Rented a tank, swam out there a ways and in 10 minutes I was in some serious trouble. I was 20-30 feet deep or something, but I got picked up by a horrendous current! I swam and crawled like hell and fought my way back to shore which required a good bit of my air and ALL my strength. If I was not strong and experienced in significant current, I would have been swept away."

I think that would have ended my diving, if not my life. What a scary experience, but a good lesson learned. I will remember that story in the future if/when I am not diving with a guide!
Thank you for you knowledge, expertise and generosity with both.

 

[mcohen1021]

listen to the dive site brief especially the depth and time limits,

^^this

If you ever do a live aboard, they do a really good job of drawing the site and you almost feel like you've been there even though you haven't

Some day boats do a decent job also.

If you've been to a destination many times (i have been to Cozumel ~25x), you get to know the reefs and won't need the briefing anymore (but it always helps)