Certified Today!! Wow!

[Ladyvalea]

I passed my OW today! Vis was so bad....Green Murky spring fed lake with 2-5 feet if that! I swam next to my DM the entire time! it was spooky...I felt like I was not moving...or that we were going in circles? but he had the compass. At 25 feet I swear my eyes seen halos and weird ghostly shadows and milky figures!! I also had my arms streched out cuz I felt like I was going to run into something? I couldn't even tell my mask was foggy! " it turns out that it was foggy" and even when I flooded my mask, the view still looked the same. the thermocline was freezing.. the bubbles from my regulator felt like ice cubes slapping my cheeks. "Got out of that area fast"

Oh, a big huge perch, bit the top of my ear! ripped the top layer of my skin!! that sucker held on!! after that! I was kinda spooked ...thinkin another fish will get me soon. I wanted to swim with my hands covering my ears.

I felt safe, because I had my DM next to me. But I don't think I really want to swim in this type of condition again. " felt disorented"

But it was fun! PS.. as I'm typing this message, I feel like I'm still floating or maybe dizzy? Like I just came off a rollarcoaster ride...

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

But it was fun!

Texas does funny things to people. I used to think it was fun to watch the sun rise from the crows nest of a remote West Texas drilling rig; smoking a blunt and waiting to see the headlights of the relief crew.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Anyway, congrats; now find some water with 20' vis!

 

[tstormdiver]

Well learning,... you can say you've experienced about the worst. I was certified in a shallow quarry. That was like about what you described in your experience. Now I live for that kind of diving. Around here it's either dive shallow where it's warm, but murky or dive deep where it's freezing cold, but the vis is good. No happy mediums. After what You've been through, the nice warm & clear tropics will be a treat!. Good luck to you & your diving career!

 

[spectrum]

Congratulations, it all gets better from here and you will be a better diver for having this experience.

Pete

 

[CamG]

Greetings Ladyvalea! Congratulations and your OW certification and welcome to SB! The really exciting diving is yet to come! It sounds like some challenging conditions but remember they build diving character. I have had a like wise fish attach at Gilboa quarry but in the fishes defense I was feeding them! Still it was a strange feeling. I have found that all the things that used to bother me about environment conditions really are no big deal any more. I believe that with dive experience we adjust to our environment and I am sure you will to. The biggest thing is to stay active in diving! Get into your local scene, LDS, Dive Club, etc. and find other divers who are active. Practice your skills often and always dive with in your experience and limits! Diving is a awesome sport that can become a way of life if you let it! Sounds crazy and sort of "Zen" but I have seen it and experienced it first hand. Wish you totally awesome vis in the future and keep at it. Good luck, CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!

 

[ligersandtions]

Congrats, now you can really enjoy your new addiction

It only gets better from here....keep diving, keep learning, and keep having fun!

 

[sea-nile]

Congratulations! You will find better visibility in the future. Where is your next dive?

 

[heliflyer]

Hi Miss "Lady"! Congrats on your new adventure in life, and believe it is a great adventure. I too got certified in a quarry with terrible viz and hungry fish .. But I did and now so have you. The best for me was after my cert., my next dive was in Cozumel and after that first big step off the boat a whole new world opened up for me, viz up to 100' or better, OMG, :14:.. Once you experience that your hooked for life! Enjoy and dive safe!

 

[2905luvsbubbles]

Congrats on your achievement. The low vis can cause many people to get disorientd. If you can survive the low vis, when you dive with better vis, it will be really awesome.