Have you called/ended a dive? Why?

[BluewaterSail]

Interesting that a number of posters indicated that as they gain more experience, they are more likely to call a dive for a given condition. That should give us newer divers something to think about.

The same thing happened to me in sailing. After I had the experience level of having crossed oceans, I was shocked by weather conditions that some people would go out sailing for the day in, saying "I can handle it!". :shocked2: The words of someone who either hasn't a clue what the risks actually are, or who doesn't care.

I think that experience gives us not only the wisdom of recognizing the risks, but also the confidence not to give a sh*t what anyone thinks of what we do.

 

[Tigerman]

The fact that youre more liable to abort for conditions with experience might not only be due to the conditions being bad though, it may also be to do with the fact that when you have done 100 dives the past six months, you know for sure there will be plenty more opportunities with better conditions, wich just make the dive more enjoyable.
Your boundries for required hassle for the reward change a bit too.
When just certified you might feel that being cold for 20 minutes is worth it, but when youve done 100 dives you might just think "ill do it tomorrow" instead.
I actually did this earlier this week. I wanted to dive, but the weather was a bit crappy, so I decided "tomorrow". The day after the weather WAS much better and the dive happened..

 

[mmcdanie]

When a leak developed in the Tank to Yoke connection. Into the dive 19mins and start hearing the faint bubbling of a slow leak. Thought it was my buddy or maybe one one the many classes in the water practicing an free flowing reg skill. Buddy check me out and we ended the dive.

 

[j2s]

I've called dives at one time or another for most of the reasons stated here....As I've gotten older, I find myself calling dives [and making some excuse for it] because of complacent, 'know-it-all', half-assed, macho prima donnas.....I've gotten intolerant of those types and just don't want to be bothered w/them !!!!........I find them dangerous and an accident waiting to happen........With genetic engineering maybe some day we can take those 'knuckle-draggers' out of the gene pool :O !!!!!!........

 

[SandPhantom]

I thumb dives and appreciate the fact that others do for their reasons when they feel they need to. Aside from the obvious reasons, there are times when you feel you are not performing to your best or in certain circumstances get a bad vibe. It happens! No reason to make an ordeal over it for yourself or a buddy. Hold out for the next dive, or another day if need be. Easier to line out issues or get your wits topside than having an issue when you are already under your peak.

 

[jmneill]

Just one. I had done a hundred or so spring dives and I don't use a wetsuit. (I am aparently the only one) I found myself in Pensacola needing to get a dive in. I dropped into a local dive shop and they just happened to be closing up and invited me out on a private trip they were just about to leave on out to one of the Pensacola wrecks. When offered a wet suit I declined and got a real funny look and comment, but off we went... On my way down to 110' I got introduced to something called thermoclines. Pride kept me down for a few minutes, but pain brought me back up in the end! lol

 

[MMM]

I would agree generally. I have found that since I bought a home in Cozumel, and am there for an extended period of time, I don't feel the need to dive like a madwoman. I can pick and choose (within what is reasonable planning opportunity for the op I go with). If I feel like I'm tired or have a cold coming on, I can just say "meh, manana". The ocean will still be there for me the next day...or the next...or the next.

The fact that youre more liable to abort for conditions with experience might not only be due to the conditions being bad though, it may also be to do with the fact that when you have done 100 dives the past six months, you know for sure there will be plenty more opportunities with better conditions, wich just make the dive more enjoyable.

 

[DCM711]

Again, thank you all for sharing. I'm glad that the vast majority (if any so far) of dives that ended prematurely have been met with enough respect to not elicit poor behavior from ones buddy.

 

[lmorin]

One thumbed after 40 min because we were cold. A second one because I could not equalize an ear. I like the idea that if it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.

I'll also say that my wife and I did a resort night dive that should have have never left the dock. The divemasters should have thumbed it well beforehand because of increasing wind and wave conditions which they understood, but the guests did not. If I had known better, I'd never have stepped foot on the boat. If it weren't for the fact that being on the boat tossing and turning at the mooring made me feel one h!ll of a lot worse than being in the water, I'd have stayed on the boat. Being knocked into lettuce coral by the surge, being flung onto the deck while wearing BC and tank, and puking my guts out after the dive was not my idea of a good time. All we like sheep...

 

[Seaduced]

Two times I've thumbed a dive, the first I developed a headache about halfway into the dive. I continued a little longer but it would not abate , no matter how much I tried to relax and breath rhythmically. My buddy was very cool about the situation, on the boat. The second, my wife and I were doing a shore dive and the viz was less than three feet. I had to direct all my attention to not getting separated, flying by compass and computer only. I thumbed the dive and when we hit the beach, she said, what took you so long?