Well at least for me it was and I'll have to add at little embarrassing.
These were supposed to be my last two deep/shipwreck dives to complete my AOW certification that due to weather and class scheduling I've been waiting 3 weeks to complete. After having Saturdays dive cancelled due to 8 foot seas and ripping currents, I reschedule for Sundays trip hoping for better weather. I make the call Sunday and receive the news that seas are 3-5 with the occasional 6 footer but very light currents and the trip is on, with the added bonus that it will be a double dipper on the Spiegel. Well as Murphys Law goes we get out there and the seas are more like 4-6 with the occasional 8 footer and ripping currents. We decide to give it a go anyway the crew sets up the lines and away we go. Upon entering from the bow you had to make sure you grabbed the line quickly and pull your way to the buoy in order to descend. Unfortunatelly for me upon my entry, we took a wave the bow lifted and I missed the line. Before I could reach up for it again I was 5 feet from the line and drifting away. I began to kick back to the line but only made backward progress. I started kicking with everything I had to see if I could at least make som forward progress , nothing. They finally had to throw a line and two me back in because I the current was just to strong to swim against. I finally made it back to the line but after all that exertion I had used up a good bit of gas, I was breathing hard, and both my legs had cramped up. Now I'm a pretty good swimmer, super comfortable diving in most reasonable conditions and in decent shape (I do smoke though) and that 10 minute struggle back to the line wore the pants off me. I told my instrutor who was waiting by the line that I was calling my dive and proceeded back on the boat to work the cramps out of my legs and catch my breath. The boat was doing some pretty good rolling with the waves and I quickly found out that it is better to be in the water than on the boat. I was laying down stretching my legs trying to work the cramps out to be ready for the second dive when my stomach gave in to the rolling and I began to feed the fish over the side. Needless to say I wasn't ready when it was time to go in again and had to reluctantly bow out of the second dive. Although I wasn't the only one to miss the rope and certainly not the only unable to go back in for the second dive.
I guess it just wasn't my day because I have been out in rougher seas with no problems of seasickness and honestly I can remember the last time I fed the fish. I know I did the right thing in calling off both dives but I gotta tell you it sure was disappointing to do so.
Anyone else ever have a similar experience where things just did not go your way?
Juan
These were supposed to be my last two deep/shipwreck dives to complete my AOW certification that due to weather and class scheduling I've been waiting 3 weeks to complete. After having Saturdays dive cancelled due to 8 foot seas and ripping currents, I reschedule for Sundays trip hoping for better weather. I make the call Sunday and receive the news that seas are 3-5 with the occasional 6 footer but very light currents and the trip is on, with the added bonus that it will be a double dipper on the Spiegel. Well as Murphys Law goes we get out there and the seas are more like 4-6 with the occasional 8 footer and ripping currents. We decide to give it a go anyway the crew sets up the lines and away we go. Upon entering from the bow you had to make sure you grabbed the line quickly and pull your way to the buoy in order to descend. Unfortunatelly for me upon my entry, we took a wave the bow lifted and I missed the line. Before I could reach up for it again I was 5 feet from the line and drifting away. I began to kick back to the line but only made backward progress. I started kicking with everything I had to see if I could at least make som forward progress , nothing. They finally had to throw a line and two me back in because I the current was just to strong to swim against. I finally made it back to the line but after all that exertion I had used up a good bit of gas, I was breathing hard, and both my legs had cramped up. Now I'm a pretty good swimmer, super comfortable diving in most reasonable conditions and in decent shape (I do smoke though) and that 10 minute struggle back to the line wore the pants off me. I told my instrutor who was waiting by the line that I was calling my dive and proceeded back on the boat to work the cramps out of my legs and catch my breath. The boat was doing some pretty good rolling with the waves and I quickly found out that it is better to be in the water than on the boat. I was laying down stretching my legs trying to work the cramps out to be ready for the second dive when my stomach gave in to the rolling and I began to feed the fish over the side. Needless to say I wasn't ready when it was time to go in again and had to reluctantly bow out of the second dive. Although I wasn't the only one to miss the rope and certainly not the only unable to go back in for the second dive.
I guess it just wasn't my day because I have been out in rougher seas with no problems of seasickness and honestly I can remember the last time I fed the fish. I know I did the right thing in calling off both dives but I gotta tell you it sure was disappointing to do so.
Anyone else ever have a similar experience where things just did not go your way?
Juan
