Had not been diving much

[oversea]

I had'nt been on this site much lately and noticed the site mentioned that as I logged in. It made me think about why. In reality, I dove once this entire year. While I like reading about it and seeing pictures I seem to have lost the thrill. I think part of it is that I am still annoyed about my last dive. I am fairly new to this, only about two years experience (if that even counts). I had been buying gear by the boatloads, especially photography equipment. I specifically busted my but to get the money to buy a strobe and WAL for a trip that I took in June. That turned out to be a complete flop. We were supposed to dive a wreck but there were too much currents so we did a reef drift dive. Ok, so what? The DM (who did'nt go in) set us up in pairs. He puts me with a newer guy than myself who was really poorly trained and did'nt speak english at all. I thought this will be great! The DM wanted to get this other guy in first, then me. He did'nt know how to work the BC.....Yes, the bc. The captain yelled he's done but the dm put him in anyway. So I get in next with no problem except that I should've went in with my camera, so because of the current, I could'nt get back to the boat for it. While under, we were intstructed to follow the current watching our depth, supposedly if we ride the current at 60' dp we will stay right on the reef. That eventually worked except the guy I was with saw a shipwreck and took off to see it. I chased after him against the current to stay with him only to find his wreck was a lobster pot. No matter what I did he would not follow the rules and had to babysit him the entire time. After I sucked a can of nitrox down in record time for me, we surfaced. This guy, in choppy seas rips off his mask and reg and starts yelling at the boat. I tried to get him to stop and put his gear back on as it was pretty choppy. I got him to stop by deploying a sausage in which the boat saw. Ever since I've been a bit disgusted and have not been out since. I can't blame this entire incident on my lack of diving because I have been busy, but I just seem to have lost a bit of interest.

 

[OE2X]

Sorry for your bad experience. Every now and again we all have poor quality dives. My suggestion is to find someone with at least as much training or more and do a few local dives. This way you won't have spent a lot of money and your expectations won't be too high.

 

[ScubaFreak]

Dude,

I feel your pain, sounds to me you just lucked out for your last dive. Not being able to get ur camera once u left the boat was a real bummer, to be buddied with someone who you were buddied with was also unfortunate.
Unfortunately these are the problems with any kind of hobbies, we get kinda bored with some aspect of them.

What level are you? Maybe you should try a new avenue and improve on ur skill set. You mentioned Nitrox, why not look at the TDI advanced Nitrox course? Its also interesting to see how different teaching systems get their information across.

Hope this helps

SF

 

[SquattingRadishDM]

Like overexposed I'd recommend doing some local dives with a more experienced buddy. Pls fill in your profile so we know more about ur diving level and experience, as well as where u are, Im sure some1 on this board will be happy to dive with u. If you have a regular buddy and build rapport with some1, that can make a dive safer and more enjoyable.

Why not put that camera gear to good use and concentrate on taking some really good shots. Or take scuba freaks advice and try going into a specific type of diving like tech,wreck or cave. A dive is always more enjoyable and fulfilling when there is a goal attached, like getting great photos or exploring a certain area on a wreck.

Where are you based? Im sure ppl on this board can mention good dive sites near you.

 

[montyb]

Its always a good idea to talk to the person you've been buddied up with. If you see that by their answers its going to have an impact on the enjoyment of your dive or even your safety then don't be afraid to take the DM aside and explain to him your concerns and that you don't want to buddy up with that person. Of course you still might have a bad experience because some people just don't tell the truth when it comes to diving. I ask someone I had been buddied up with what his experience and air consumption was like and he went on about how great he was. At 15 min. he was down to 700psi. Got him to the assent line and followed him up to where I could see the surface - watched him break the surface and get on the boat step. Went back down and joined another pair of divers for the rest of the dive. (Please don't flame me about leaving my buddy - I made sure he was safe and sound.)

 

[ScubaFreak]

(Please don't flame me about leaving my buddy - I made sure he was safe and sound.)

:flame:

job done

 

[chepar]

Ok, I'll make a confession - sometimes I lose interest in diving and won't go for up to a few months at a time. I don't know why - it just happens.

When this "cycle" starts (and I call it a cycle because it usually happens about once a year) my dives start dropping from my regular every other week to once every 2-3 weeks, to once a month - and then there will be this long dry stretch. It's not that I don't have the opportunity - but when I think about going, it's like I have this weird inertia (or maybe sheer laziness ) and I just don't feel like it.

However, when I eventually do get back in the water, the dives are great and I wonder to myself why I waited so long. Then I find I'm eagerly anticipating the next dive and I'm "back in the saddle" again.

Anyway, I would follow the advice the others gave about finding a good buddy - but the losing interest part (in my experience, at least) is not that strange.

 

[oversea]

I updated my info. I did'nt think anyone really looked at that. The aformentioned dive was on a trip with my wife. Unfortunately, she is not a diver and has no desire. Locally, here up north I dive with my brother and on occasion, my brother in law and friend. I guess part of my problem, is the diving up here is dark and cold and while I enjoy it, most of it appears the same. Going on a trip, breaks this up, so this Florida trip kinda ruined it. Did dive the year prior in Hawaii and it was the best experience I have ever had. One of the charters was even one of those cattle boats, but it was run professionally and effieciently.