Cold water diving is a PITA

[Scuba_Noob]

I love cold water diving much more than warm water diving, though I have 200+ cold water dives and under 50 warm water dives. I'm spoiled, living in the Pacific Northwest.

I don't think you can fault the cold water for the problems you had. It was your first time, so obviously there are issues with it being completely new. The shop gave you the wrong-sized suits. You're carrying more weights, and that can be a huge change. And you were underweighted, which is stressful.

Shore diving can be too much physical stress for some people too, and you can always try boat diving.

I'd try it again for sure, perhaps this time with someone else familiar with the local diving. It's well worth the challenge, and trust me, you get used to it.

Sure, it might be way easier in the tropics - less weight, warmer, often better vis, less equipment, etc. And if I could have that and the amount of the life we have locally in the PNW, sure! But I wouldn't trade the wildlife here for that in most warm water areas.

 

[Ouvea]

Hi Bill:

Have you tried renting gear from a shop in Monterey? Aquarius is right at the breakwater. There is also another Aquarius on Del Monte Boulevard and Bamboo Reef on Lighthouse Avenue. Considering that many people rent gear up here in the SF Bay Area, I highly doubt that they would run out of rental equipment. It might lessen your burden and ease your financial position. We do understand that spending several hundred dollars on rental equipment and not even having the opportunity to use it will become old/terminated very quickly. This will give you an opportunity to examine the conditions and make decision at that time.

Also don't be afraid to post questions about upcoming conditions, either on Scuba Board or on Ba_Diving. We're all active divers and do look at the forecast as the weekend approaches. You might just want to get the opinion of a few who are good at assessing the upcoming conditions.

 

[grf88]

Shore diving can be too much physical stress for some people too, and you can always try boat diving.

Boat diving is a lot easier in cold conditions.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Beyond spending a few thousand bucks to get our equipment, especially a DS, which would make things somewhat easier, but not way easier, I can’t think of anything we could do. Can you?

Dive! Dive! Dive!

Your weighting issues are due to inexperience in the new equipment. Your equipment sizing issues are due to inexperience in the new equipment (or lack of attention paid to what you were given).

I bought a drysuit, took the DS course and hated the following 25-35 dives or so. There were a couple dives that I did not hate but still had no fun.....but most of these 25 dives had me wanting to never dive again. Cold Water diving takes some getting used to. All that gear is a PITA but once you find your groove, the diving becomes awesome again. My suggestion is keep at it. Log everything so that when you find something that works, you keep it. Double check your gear before leaving the shop........and above all else, keep the dive plans simple. Know that you are going to be working on trim, buoyancy etc. throughout the learning dives and therefore keep them simple.

 

[lowviz]

billt4sf,

One of the best (fun) times I ever had while diving was in northern CT training for under-ice search and recovery. First responders are truly a breed apart. Other than that, I just love the NE Atlantic ocean (USA), AKA "home".

I'll never forget what my very first instructor (PADI) said when he came back from the tropics. I was expecting a glowing report, what I got was: "After the ten thousandth pretty fish, I just wanted to get back where I belong."

People are wired differently, do what works for you and the wife. Just give cold water diving a fair shake before you quit so that you don't end up cheating yourself.

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Respectfully disagree. I am totally hooked to cold water / drysuit diving. Yes it is a lot of work and when it water, it feels like you are driving a truck when you are used to a Ferrari BUT... once you get the hang of it, cold water diving opens up a world beyond tropical diving. Here is my dives to do list:

1. Gods Pocket BC
2. Tobermory ON
3. Alaska (Nautilus Swell)
4. Ice Land
5. NFL and Labrador
6. Passamaquoddy Bay (Maine)
7. Monterey and Channel Islands

Already did Cape Ann in MA and loved it.

 

[TSandM]

Bill, if you and your wife need a little dose of motivation, check out the photo gallery at BAUE.org (Clinton Bauder's and Rob Lee's spectacular wide angle photographs are amazing!), and check out the videos by Gombessa here on SB (you'll like the rabbits), and I think there are some older ones from KMD. You've got some amazing diving ahead of you!

 

[billt4sf]

I'm smilin' now, Lynne!

I think at this point our best bet is to go with people that will help us get geared-up properly and in and out safely. I don't think spending thousands of dollars on equipment is the key to better diving for us right now. Number one immediate goal is for Emily to feel happy diving in cold water. I just don't think I am quite enough of a diver for her to get there with just my help.

I know about North Coast Divers (sounds great), and there's a few people that dive together from SF City College -- are there other local clubs that take in (kind of) newbees? I may be wrong, but I don't think BAUE is quite our cup of tea.

Thanks all, for your comments and encouragement -- and your interest in diving with us!

- Bill

 

[oneshotshooter]

It takes some time getting used to dry suit diving. I live and dive in MN so it wasn't really optional if I wanted to dive locally. Some of the best diving here is when the ice covers the lakes and the vis goes from 3' to 30'. It is nice to drive the truck right to the dive site and take ten steps to get in the water. Here are a couple pics and short video from Sat.'s dive.

Like someone already posted, " when we get to the warm waters and tropics. it's like we died and went to heaven!"

My wife doesn't ice dive with me, she prefers the warm water diving.



Honey Badger Dive Team Ice Dive in Spectacle Lake 3-2-2013 - YouTube

 

[Peter Guy]

OP -- you asked about the cost of a BP/W -- DSS sells a complete single tank set for $460. Dive Rite In Scuba sells a complete single tank set for $360 (28 lb lift wing). I am a big fan/support of DSS gear btw.

You can also find new dry suits for under $1000, sometimes way under -- Dive Rite In Scuba lists a USIA bi-lam for $700 (undergarment extra). My guess is you could dive it for a year or two and then sell it for at least half price -- how many rentals would it take to cost you $350?

If you are careful, you can get kitted up relatively inexpensively.