Beginners thinking about diving Channel Islands

[sarita75]

Ohhhh I am shore diving this weekend - can't wait. Although those long surface swims can get a bit tedious. I just love swimmin' right up on shore. (Sorry, off topic )

 

[Empty V]

Start a threat huh? Who ya want to threaten? I'll do it for you...what are friends for?

I caught that right before I read your post, hahaha! Threat = Thread. Just fixed it before a restraining order was issued.

Billy

 

[Rickster]

BillyBob, are you threating someone again?

Well, I have to get my gear ready I have a full weekend of shore diving to do.:mooner:

See everyone Sat or Sun on Da Beach!

Rick

 

[Delphinus]

Hi all,

I'm hosting the trip on the Sand Dollar that Uncle Leo was asking about by originating this thread, and we still have a few spots left, so email me at mstrickland [at] oceanbluedivers.net if you're interested in joining us.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[CompuDude]

From my experience, and the people we have on our boat, the non-drowsy version work every bit as good as the drowsy. If I was on a computer right now and not my phone I'd start a thread. Might be a good idea.

For the record:

Bonine and Non-Drowsy Dramamine are both the same thing: Meclizine.

Generic Meclizine can often be found cheaper than either of them.

Meclizine, whatever the box says, is far less drowsy-making than the original Dramamine, which was rather notorious for making people fee drugged. That said, everyone's body reacts differently... I know people who have felt at least somewhat drugged on Meclizine, tho perhaps not as much as on the original Dramamine.

Note re dosage: The box says take ~30 minutes before boarding. That's BS. Take it the night before... and consider taking a second one before you get on the boat. (I'm going to stop short of outright recommending anyone exceed recommended dosages... but everyone I know takes it the night before AND the morning of, and no one has any problems.)

I HIGHLY recommend taking one pill at home on a regular work day to see how it affects you. Then you know if it's safe to take on a boat without fear of feeling drugged. And I say it's better to be safe and take one... then wish you had taken one, while clutching the rail...

 

[limeyx]

Thanks for the responses...

...

Is the fact that it's a liveaboard change anything? I've heard they are a bit intense.


L

I have found the opposite is true. Yes, you have the problem that if you get seasick/tired/dont want to keep diving etc. you are stuck on the boat.

And yes, there is often a rush for the first dive, and you may feel tired from jetlag and not getting a great night's sleep, BUT

the 2 day trips I have done to clemente have been pretty laid back as you can essentially do as many dives as the boat will allow. On my trip on the sand dollar, I think we did 7 dives on day 1, and 6 on day 2.

Sounds like a lot, but it means you can dive as much or as little as you like and not fear out on missing out on a dive.

Clemente has some of the absolute best diving in SoCal, and SBI has some amazing sea lion life.

You should have a good time hopefully!

 

[limeyx]

For the record:

Bonine and Non-Drowsy Dramamine are both the same thing: Meclizine.

Generic Meclizine can often be found cheaper than either of them.

Meclizine, whatever the box says, is far less drowsy-making than the original Dramamine, which was rather notorious for making people fee drugged. That said, everyone's body reacts differently... I know people who have felt at least somewhat drugged on Meclizine, tho perhaps not as much as on the original Dramamine.

Note re dosage: The box says take ~30 minutes before boarding. That's BS. Take it the night before... and consider taking a second one before you get on the boat. (I'm going to stop short of outright recommending anyone exceed recommended dosages... but everyone I know takes it the night before AND the morning of, and no one has any problems.)

I HIGHLY recommend taking one pill at home on a regular work day to see how it affects you. Then you know if it's safe to take on a boat without fear of feeling drugged. And I say it's better to be safe and take one... then wish you had taken one, while clutching the rail...

yeah< i got the generic for something like $6 for 100 pills, compared to $1 a pill at the supermarket.

I get seasick in the harbor, so 1 pill the night before, 1 the morning of -- without fail.
I definitely feel a bit sleepy by the end, but it sure beats vomiting the entire boat ride.

 

[wilton]

Leejnd,

Thank you for welcoming me to scubaboard. I'm just checking in to this board after a hiatus and apparently I've caused a bit of a commotion, which is surprising to me because I'm a pretty non-confrontational guy.

You all are right in that I shouldn't have simply said "forget that advice." It was offered, and if I felt differently about it, I should have explained exactly why I felt differently. The fact is I was tired and needed to go to bed. I apologize for the abruptness.

After rereading the original post, it appears we have all misinterpreted the message.

The original post was "Go out and do a beach dive, it will be the best prep you can get for a boat dive out here."

After rereading it, it's clear that the author was simply suggesting that the guys do a beach dive (in open water, instead of a quarry, in their home state) before coming to California. I interpreted it as suggesting the guys do a beach dive IN CALIFORNIA before going on their boat dive.

I'm sure greater wars have been fought over a misundersanding of the words "out here."

 

[robertarak]

I HIGHLY recommend taking one pill at home on a regular work day to see how it affects you. Then you know if it's safe to take on a boat without fear of feeling drugged. And I say it's better to be safe and take one... then wish you had taken one, while clutching the rail...

Great advise!

If you have never taken it before, I would do exactly that!

Though YMMV, I took 1 Dramamine before boarding the boat the night before we sailed. Then 1 non-droswey Dramamine upon waking. That worked perfect, and I slept great the night before. I think I would do this now even I was not boarding the boat the night before. I slept well, woke refreshed and enjoyed the day of diving. If something works, don't fix it.

Once again, test your reaction to Dramamine, or whatever you plan on taking on a non-dive day. Underwater is the last place you want to find out it's not for you. Great advice CompuDude.