shogan
Contributor
I've been certified since 1983 at the young age of 14. My dives since then have been limited Most up to around 30-60' range and what I would consider begininer level type dives. My original training seemed thourogh compared to what I think a lot of folks get but it was a long time ago. My instructor reported to be an ex military instructor pretty much would always surprise test us in the pool and on our open water dives this was a course that meet every week through the winter and I continued to dive with him through the summer. Thus I've always felt very comfortable even during some stressfull encounters.
Fast forward to last week. I was just Diving 4 months ago so everything is pretty fresh in my mind and I"m feeling more comfortable than if it's been 12 months or longer since my last dive. I'm in Cancun and want to go on a dive. I state that I don't want to dive with begininers doing a checkouts as that has always been what I seemed to get on the Vacations Dives. They say how about a dive that includes 1 reef and 1 wreck. As best as our english spanish conversation can go I keep asking how are the sea conditions. They keep telling me fine. I specifically ask about sea heights and currents. Fine they say.
Well I get out there they load us on the boat and start to cruise away. And the all the signs that I should not be there begin to ring in my head like the bells of notre dame.
I'm thinking to myself. No one asked me what size BC I need and I'm a big guy.
Large group of folks varying sizes and skill levels from my perspective
Dive Master stands up and gives the dive plan.
Ok folks we could have some strong currents so we have to enter the water and immediately descend to 90'. If you can't stay with the group the whole group has to come back up and the boat pick us all up and try again (theres 4 groups of 4-8 divers with varing skill levels). Once down there you should have your gloves on as the opening to get in the boat is tight and there are some sharp edges. (skinny guy is telling this big guy the opening is tight and I don't have any gloves as I had no intention on climbing inside anything). We have to stay together as the current is going to be pushing us pretty quick. AFter going through the all that we have to decompress at 50' for 15 minutes.
Is it just me or is all this kinda late to be stating now. These seem like rather severe dive conditions for a thrown together with what I'm guessing are a huge variety of dive experience and skill level. One guy had been certified for 2 years and best I could tell had been on an open water check out dive and maybe 1 more.
Anyways my group gets to the back of the pitching vessel in the 4' seas and as I get the weight belt it becomes apparent its broken now my group all sitting down gear on and I'm watching some guy throw together a weight belt. I strap it on. They swiftly get me geared up I have no idea whats on my back. The BC doesn't fit shi$$ feels likes it's gonna fall off. And now I have to lounge across this pitching boat to catch up with my group in the water and begin the descent. The regulator feels like I'm breathing through a straw but I try to let the air out of the BC and get with my group. BUT I'm still floating. I look down and the rest of my group is still going down. At this point pretty far from me. I wave good bye to them and begin to figure out what now. Not enough weight to sink and frankly I was thankful.
Once aboard (wont even talk about getting on the boat that was running and pitching to me like something on deadliest catch) I summed up the situation I can stay on board this horribly pitching boat with a guy throwing up or go against my better judgement and dive in conditions that just don't feel right. I don't like going inside cramped spots. Definetely don't want to go in it if when I get there I there is no choice (lets just say I'll never go cave diving). Despite much urging I skip the wreck dive. While on board waiting for the 4 groups of divers to return the two remaining crew members lay down for very good period of time lets say 15 minutes without looking up. SO who's looking for divers that might have to return to the surface?
I blame myself for not insisting on more information about sea conditions despite the difficult communication (though I believe it was glossed over to make the sale).
I blame myself for not finding a dive shop that is more along my expectations.
I blame myself for not getting a dive plan prior to booking trip and stepping on boat as I would never schedule a dive where I have to go inside something
I blame myself for getting in the water the first time when my instincts said not to.
Dive 2 is a reef dive to about 50'. This is something I am more comfortable with. I squeeze my big barrelled body into the BC barely able to get it snapped (forget the velcro inner strap) I double the weight on the weight belt I sit down and being the first one down I take a second now and check the gear. (The same gear they had on me the first dive). Whats that! sound of air rushing out behind my back. Hum again frantic rushing to fix the problem (that I couldn't hear during the first launch due to the chaos). Currents are milder and depth is something that I can handle if problem occur so when They fix the leak I go in. Still this regulator feels like I"m breathing through a straw. I focus on the bottom to get out of the current and push myself mentally to go down. The regulator was never comfortable to breathe through and I can't even imagine trying to take it down to 90'. I can't tell you how glad I am that I skipped the first dive.
So in the future I will get a detailed plan of the dive prior to booking, expected sea conditions, and currents, and I'm buying my own gear and will haul it there or find a place that will take the time to fit the gear and allow me to check it out in the shop before even stepping on board.
Fast forward to last week. I was just Diving 4 months ago so everything is pretty fresh in my mind and I"m feeling more comfortable than if it's been 12 months or longer since my last dive. I'm in Cancun and want to go on a dive. I state that I don't want to dive with begininers doing a checkouts as that has always been what I seemed to get on the Vacations Dives. They say how about a dive that includes 1 reef and 1 wreck. As best as our english spanish conversation can go I keep asking how are the sea conditions. They keep telling me fine. I specifically ask about sea heights and currents. Fine they say.
Well I get out there they load us on the boat and start to cruise away. And the all the signs that I should not be there begin to ring in my head like the bells of notre dame.
I'm thinking to myself. No one asked me what size BC I need and I'm a big guy.
Large group of folks varying sizes and skill levels from my perspective
Dive Master stands up and gives the dive plan.
Ok folks we could have some strong currents so we have to enter the water and immediately descend to 90'. If you can't stay with the group the whole group has to come back up and the boat pick us all up and try again (theres 4 groups of 4-8 divers with varing skill levels). Once down there you should have your gloves on as the opening to get in the boat is tight and there are some sharp edges. (skinny guy is telling this big guy the opening is tight and I don't have any gloves as I had no intention on climbing inside anything). We have to stay together as the current is going to be pushing us pretty quick. AFter going through the all that we have to decompress at 50' for 15 minutes.
Is it just me or is all this kinda late to be stating now. These seem like rather severe dive conditions for a thrown together with what I'm guessing are a huge variety of dive experience and skill level. One guy had been certified for 2 years and best I could tell had been on an open water check out dive and maybe 1 more.
Anyways my group gets to the back of the pitching vessel in the 4' seas and as I get the weight belt it becomes apparent its broken now my group all sitting down gear on and I'm watching some guy throw together a weight belt. I strap it on. They swiftly get me geared up I have no idea whats on my back. The BC doesn't fit shi$$ feels likes it's gonna fall off. And now I have to lounge across this pitching boat to catch up with my group in the water and begin the descent. The regulator feels like I'm breathing through a straw but I try to let the air out of the BC and get with my group. BUT I'm still floating. I look down and the rest of my group is still going down. At this point pretty far from me. I wave good bye to them and begin to figure out what now. Not enough weight to sink and frankly I was thankful.
Once aboard (wont even talk about getting on the boat that was running and pitching to me like something on deadliest catch) I summed up the situation I can stay on board this horribly pitching boat with a guy throwing up or go against my better judgement and dive in conditions that just don't feel right. I don't like going inside cramped spots. Definetely don't want to go in it if when I get there I there is no choice (lets just say I'll never go cave diving). Despite much urging I skip the wreck dive. While on board waiting for the 4 groups of divers to return the two remaining crew members lay down for very good period of time lets say 15 minutes without looking up. SO who's looking for divers that might have to return to the surface?
I blame myself for not insisting on more information about sea conditions despite the difficult communication (though I believe it was glossed over to make the sale).
I blame myself for not finding a dive shop that is more along my expectations.
I blame myself for not getting a dive plan prior to booking trip and stepping on boat as I would never schedule a dive where I have to go inside something
I blame myself for getting in the water the first time when my instincts said not to.
Dive 2 is a reef dive to about 50'. This is something I am more comfortable with. I squeeze my big barrelled body into the BC barely able to get it snapped (forget the velcro inner strap) I double the weight on the weight belt I sit down and being the first one down I take a second now and check the gear. (The same gear they had on me the first dive). Whats that! sound of air rushing out behind my back. Hum again frantic rushing to fix the problem (that I couldn't hear during the first launch due to the chaos). Currents are milder and depth is something that I can handle if problem occur so when They fix the leak I go in. Still this regulator feels like I"m breathing through a straw. I focus on the bottom to get out of the current and push myself mentally to go down. The regulator was never comfortable to breathe through and I can't even imagine trying to take it down to 90'. I can't tell you how glad I am that I skipped the first dive.
So in the future I will get a detailed plan of the dive prior to booking, expected sea conditions, and currents, and I'm buying my own gear and will haul it there or find a place that will take the time to fit the gear and allow me to check it out in the shop before even stepping on board.