Checkout Dives in Boston Harbor 7/28 and 7/29

[shotthebreeze]

Hey guys,

I am doing my checkout dives on the 28th and 29th of this month. Saturday we're hitting Outer Brewster Island and Sunday, Green Island. I've posted before regarding my anxieties about visibility. Has anyone done any dives around there recently or can explain to me what the lighting situation adn visibility are like? I'm wicked nervous about the whole thing. :help_2:

Doing this in the Carribean would be ideal, but I'd much rather have the experience. Thanks in advance for your help. I owe my certification (if I get it) to Scuba Board.

 

[Rainer]

Hey guys,

I am doing my checkout dives on the 28th and 29th of this month. Saturday we're hitting Outer Brewster Island and Sunday, Green Island. I've posted before regarding my anxieties about visibility. Has anyone done any dives around there recently or can explain to me what the lighting situation adn visibility are like? I'm wicked nervous about the whole thing. :help_2:

Doing this in the Carribean would be ideal, but I'd much rather have the experience. Thanks in advance for your help. I owe my certification (if I get it) to Scuba Board.

I've said this before, but I've had 20' and 20" out there. It's green, dark waters usually, though I don't imagine you'll be all that deep. My girlfriend got certified in those same waters and found them fine. Also, much better prep for NE diving than running away to the Carribean. Once you're comfortable diving in these local conditions, diving warm water with 100' vis will be soooo easy. Just focus on staying together with your buddy and instructor (good advice regardless) and you should be just fine.

 

[shotthebreeze]

Thanks, Rainer. Crype, I forgot I talked to you about that already. I'm with trusty old Jim Sullivan, so I should be fine. I'm probably getting all worked up over nothing. How long is each checkout dive? I am assuming the students are seperated from the rest of the group while they practice their skills....

 

[Rainer]

She did her checkout dives with Jim, and he's great. Yes, I'm sure you'll be seperated out. I remember my checkout dives being pretty short, maybe 20-25 minutes each. I think you'll be just fine! Focus on relaxing and maintaining as much situational awareness as possible.

 

[jchaplain]

I dove the Brewsters last weekend. It was pretty green, but a lot of starfish and stuff to see, and the vis was maybe 10-15 feet. It's not a tough dive at all, and very scenic out there. Relax, You'll have a great day to remember I'm sure.

John C.

 

[lord1234]

you're in new england so viz is variable. I wasn't present for your discussion about viz earlier, but Relax. Diving should not be a "Stressor". If you feel the viz is too low, call the dive.

 

[matt_unique]

It's natural to be anxious. Remember, the mechanics of what you will need to do are exactly the same at 2 inches of water or 20 feet or 300 feet of water. The only difference is in your mind. You will be enjoying a scenic dive in addition to demonstrating the skills you have already learned in the pool. There will come a time, soon, when the things that seem challenging now do not even cross your mind as remotely challenging.

The visibility varies around here from 30-40' to the end of your arm. Again the mechanics are still the same. Just try to focus on that, imagine yourself doing the same skills 12 inches below the surface of the pool. Also remember to look around and take in the awesome experience, the life, the energy of the ocean, etc. That experience is why you are getting certified!

--Matt

 

[RIOceanographer]

Enjoy it!

You're trying the unknown for the first time, so it is natural to be nervous, especially given all the hype floating around in the media about the dangers of diving, but just keep in mind that most diving accidents can be attributed to someone either breaking the rules, or using bad judgment or panicking or all three. Which means as long as you keep your wits and play by the book you'll be fine.

As others said, vis varies a great deal around here. Yes it can be very low at times but don't let it scare you. Bad vis won't drown you, make you run out of air, make your gear fail, cause DCS or an embolism. If you get disoriented in low vis your bubbles will always tell you which way is up and your depth gauge and compass will still continue to function so believe your gauges. Worst case, if the vis is too bad you can just abort the dive, it happens, there is no shame in thumbing a dive for bad conditions.

The biggest concerns in low vis diving are:
1) Losing your buddy. Just stay close to each other and don't get distracted because they can disappear pretty quickly. However, should you lose your buddy, all you have to do is surface if you can't regain contact in a reasonable amount of time, so it isn't anything to get too anxious about.

2) Disorientation. Trust your compass/gauges and remember bubbles float up.

3) Not being able to find your way back to the line for your ascent on deeper boat dives. That can be a problem if you are in deeper water because a long free ascent in a current can leave you a long way from your boat. But for your first open water dives you'll should be shallow enough that having to do a free ascent without the line isn't really a problem so this shouldn't be a problem for you. However, if you ever get into more advanced diving, this is what dive reels are good for.

 

[jefffalcone]

I dove brewster last weekend and vis was excellent. That doesn't really mean anything though. It's a very easy dive, so even if vis stinks, you'll be fine. Jim is a great instructor. He won't loose you. If vis is really terrible, he'll probably find a site where vis is better for you. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll have a great time, and I'm sure Jim has trained you well enough in the pool that you have the skills to handle anything you'll encounter on you checkout dives.

 

[crlavoie]

I dove brewster last weekend and vis was excellent. That doesn't really mean anything though. It's a very easy dive, so even if vis stinks, you'll be fine. Jim is a great instructor. He won't loose you. If vis is really terrible, he'll probably find a site where vis is better for you. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll have a great time, and I'm sure Jim has trained you well enough in the pool that you have the skills to handle anything you'll encounter on you checkout dives.

Yup. You wouldn't be going on the boat if your skills weren't up to par. Chill and enjoy the dive. Around here, it's very rare that you get to do a boat dive for your OW cert.

I would be WAY more concerned with Pat trying to confiscate your lobster (assuming you have a license... You DO have a license, right?) or worse yet, your beer. Jim can generally be thrown off the trail with a scallop or 2 and if you're drinking cheap beer, he'll just circle for a while and leave. Pat on the other hand is more determined and will resort to cheap beer if threatened. I've seen it happen to many a great diver aboard the Splash. Don't let it happen to you.