Horrible first post-cert dive

[BClendening]

My check out dives had zero visibility, according to the instructors it was the worst it had been all year. Anyhow, it didn't bother me, it just sucked only being able to see about 3 feet, and only then I could only really see the yellow fins. Luckily the next day I got onto a boat dive and went to Beaver Lake in Arkansas and had a much better time being able to see things and such.

 

[diver 85]

Good call. What is there to see in zero vis anyway?

ditto........

 

[ThailandDivers]

Good job!! I totally agree with MasterFritts, if you don't call of a dive you don't feel comfortable with it is an accident waiting to happen.

Hope it doesn't keep you from getting in the water again though.

Sanna

 

[ligersandtions]

Zero visibility isn't fun....and there's no reason to be diving if you're not having fun. You'll find there's an "is it worth it?" factor, and some divers will require more than 20 feet of visibility, while other divers just require that there's water to dive in.

If you can't see anything, you're getting nervous, and not having fun, then what's the point? Congrats for seeing that and calling the dive....this should not be a blow to the ego, but a pat on the back for listening to your gut feeling.

 

[TSandM]

I love to dive in almost any conditions, but if the viz is poor enough, I get back out of the water and go to lunch.

Don't let it get to you; there is no need for you ever to dive in very low viz if you don't want to. Although, as you get more comfortable with your gear and the mechanics of diving, you'll be able to tolerate lower vis without as much anxiety (or at least that was true for me). In addition, sometimes there's a surface layer of crud that reduces the vis for the first 30 feet or so to almost nothing, but you can break out underneath it into clear water (although it's dark!) But there is no shame in aborting one of your very first dives if you're uncomfortable; quite the opposite, in fact.

 

[Teamcasa]

Let me just pile on as well. A smart diver will call the dive when the conditions surpass their skill and/or confidence level. Your buddy was also smart not to lay a quilt trip or try to inflate his own ego with ridicule.

Now all you have to do is get your wife certified and dive with her!

 

[NOVIZWHIZ]

jeez the scaredest I've ever been was off Cozumel with 100 (+) viz....I am NOT use to seeing all that stuff and then to listen to everyone else whine about how bad the viz was....

 

[DamselDoc]

My buddy and I call it "the cave divers rule"... any diver can call any dive, at any time, for any reason... no questions asked.

If it makes you feel better, I recently did a dive at a location that I have dove many times, but the vis was low. Even with experience and familiarity, I was a kinda spooked. You are not alone...

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

Good divers know when to call a dive. Some days it just isn't your day to dive. There are many who should have called a dive and didn't. It sounds like you are well on your way to becoming a good diver. It is a hard thing to say no, but sometimes it is the right thing to do.

 

[Missdirected]

I did my OW a couple of weeks ago and my wife was kind enough to allow me to drag my gear along on a road trip to the Maritimes.

I managed to find an experienced buddy here in PEI (PM me if you're looking for someone in this neck of the woods) who is eager enough to dive that he'll take out newbies like me. Sadly the conditions (wind & current) didn't permit diving in the two preferred spots so we decided to go for a quick dive at the Charlottetown yacht club. He warned me visibility wasn't going to be great but what I encountered was just about zero vis at 20 ft. It completely spooked me and after descending a couple of times I called the dive.

He was totally cool with it, no guilt trips or anything.

It was a blow to my confidence (& ego) but tells me I just need to get more time under the surface in more favourable conditions and, the good part, was I got to meet another fellow diver.

One day you will probably be in the same situation but with the roles reversed. You will remember this and won't be bothered in the slightest your buddy called it. And I am guessing you will make your buddy feel the way yours made you feel today. Not a problem.