AOW Deep Dive

[Steve_C]

Hmmmm. You are at 60 ft or so. Not used to depth. It gets dark and murky. In those conditions it could have been a dark nark coming on.

 

[caruso]

People just react differently to different experiences. I have done the dive OP is talking about many times. The first time I did it, I was blown away by how fast it drops. Not scared or nervous, but in awe.

Yes, to simplify things, people just react differently to different experiences. Some are in awe and some suffer from panic attacks, whether it's an overhanging cliff in the Grand Canyon, or a hairy spider crawling along the ground, or the experience that is the subject of this thread.

But if you want to delve deeper, you need to look at the extent of the reaction, and if it's reasonable in response to the situation and if it's something that is commonly experienced by numerous individuals. Sure if you're on an African safari and a tiger jumps out of the bushes and starts chasing you, you're going to be in a (completely justified) full scale panic and that fight or flight reaction just may pump you with enough adrenaline to make it back to the safety of the safari vehicle before you're dinner for the tiger. But when a person is in a benign situation and panics for no good reason, and we want to work to resolve the problem we do need to take a good hard look at the "why" rather than just put it off to "oh it's his first time" or whatever. Because most divers do NOT have that overblown reaction the first time they swim out over a wall. Sure we can simply hope the problem goes away on it's own but it's really not the best way to handle it. Especially because when a person takes steps to avoid the problem (immediately end the dive and ascend) it works to condition them to repeat the behavior the next time the situation is confronted.

 

[Steve_C]

Yes, to simplify things, people just react differently to different experiences. Some are in awe and some suffer from panic attacks, whether it's an overhanging cliff in the Grand Canyon, or a hairy spider crawling along the ground, or the experience that is the subject of this thread. But if you want to delve deeper, you need to look at the extent of the reaction, and if it's reasonable in response to the situation and if it's something that is commonly experienced by numerous individuals.

From my reading of the posts this was not just a swim off a wall and see forever. This was at 60+ feet for the first time and have the viz drop below 10 ft and it get dark. A recipie for a dark narc or high anxiety situation especially to a new diver.

The fact that a given diver has been to that spot and dove there does not mean they did the same dive. Some have talked about seeing a long way. I have done the dive the OP did and could see 5 ft and that was up at 30 ft. There are dives I have done to 80 ft in high viz in warm water and at the exact same site had very low viz, quite dark, and cold water on another diver.

 

[caruso]

From my reading of the posts this was not just a swim off a wall and see forever.

Whether it's "swim off and see forever" or "low visibility and dark" doesn't really change the point I was trying to make. It's all about an unreasonable overblown reaction to a benign event. If most or even many new divers panicked when faced with a dark, low visibility situation then we could start looking at it as a "normal, typical response". But it's my understanding that although some, or even many divers might experience some mild or moderate anxiety in their first dark and low visibility situation, most would not experience a full scale panic attack and immediately abort the dive.

 

[Steve_C]

Whether it's "swim off and see forever" or "low visibility and dark" doesn't really change the point I was trying to make. It's all about an unreasonable overblown reaction to a benign event. If most or even many new divers panicked when faced with a dark, low visibility situation then we could start looking at it as a "normal, typical response". But it's my understanding that although some, or even many divers might experience some mild or moderate anxiety in their first dark and low visibility situation, most would not experience a full scale panic attack and immediately abort the dive.

Agree with that.

 

[txgoose]

We have threads on SB all the time about folks taking their OW class and having issues with various fears. My wife was one. And now we wanna throw someone into therapy for a nervous (and ultimately controlled) reaction to a brand new experience, at a new depth, that they hadn't had before? Seems legit.

Do it again, if you want. Do it with trusted guidance. Do it slowly. Oh, and if you still don't like it, you're probably still not suffering from a psychosis of some sort. You might even still be normal.

 

[Steve_C]

OP has only a few dives. This may just be a case of needing some more easy dives and getting comfortable before going deep and dark. Folks proceed at their own pace.

 

[caruso]

And now we wanna throw someone into therapy for a nervous (and ultimately controlled) reaction to a brand new experience, at a new depth, that they hadn't had before?

You make it sound like therapeutic counseling is a bad thing and that a person is being forced to do it.

Never hurts to talk stuff out including a panic attack on a recreational scuba dive.

 

[KeithG]

Not a deep issue. I claim this is a "scared of heights" issue. Been there done that. It apparently can be way too entertaining for some others...

My divebuddy was certified 1 year before me. She had a full 13 dive vacation in Bonaire tucked under her belt when "we" did our first vacation trip to Curacao. As avid skiers she was fully aware of my fear of heights (chair lifts in Colorado suck big time!).

I claim she swam ahead of me and turned back to look in anticipation as we approached the edge of my first "wall". SH*T. I back peddled, I blew bubbles, I flailed about in a big panic. My buddy blew lots of bubbles laughing her ass off. It skeered the hell out of me.

I now love to zoom out over the edge of walls and observe the great view. My common reaction is to spread my arms out and "fly" over the edge.

P.S. I think the edge of the "wall" was around 40 feet....

 

[txgoose]

You make it sound like therapeutic counseling is a bad thing and that a person is being forced to do it.

Never hurts to talk stuff out including a panic attack on a recreational scuba dive.

I have nothing against therapy. I have had family use it for great success. Heck, therapy can be used for just getting through life where no overly traumatic events have happened. If the fear is a recurring theme and it is impeding the OPs pursuit of happiness, therapy might be a great resource. I also suspect that talking about this with an instructor and/or trusted support on the way to another dive attempt could be just as helpful. And insightful. If it happens again, maybe we have a talking point. If it doesn't happen again, they got extra training for the price of a therapy visit.