Horrible first post-cert dive

[Scubadad1]

Don't let this experience put you off. It sounds like you had a good buddy and did exactly the right thing.

I've done lots of dives and can honestly say there has only been one dive which spooked me - a couple that were a waste of time with no vis - but then I've been lucky.

Keep going and make sure that you do some fun dives with good vis to get back into the swing of things.

 

[4sak3n]

As so many others have already said, you made an excellent decision!

Knowing when it is time to stick out that thumb is a mark of a good diver and I would love to have you as my buddy because you aren't afraid to dive within your limits.

Now get out there and enjoy yourself diving!

 

[tangaloomaflyer]

Shame it was'nt a great dive. My first post-cert dive was still one of my best. I was fortunate enougth to do my cert dives on Moreton Island which is a sand island opposite Moreton Bay, the bay at the mouth of the Brisbane river.
My cert dives were pretty amazing - 20m+ vis, beach dives around an old minibus that fell off the back of the ferry to the island (now home to a few moray eels and a lionfish). but my first post-dive was something else. It was a boat dive off the eastern coast of the islands. there is a granite ridge that runs down the coast about a mile offshore that is dotted with great dive sites. We did the pinnacles of Henderson's reef - two pinnacles that practically meet at the top forming an arch.
I have to say I was pretty nervous about doing a boat dive, and just about managed to not throw up through sea-sickness and anxiety, but my buddy was one of my instructors so that was reassuring.
As I desended all was well, 20m+vis again, no current, a few batfish sailed past us, then I began to make out the rock structures below. We left the anchor line and swam around one of the pinnacles and the sight that greeted me was just unbelievable: there was a huge school of kingfish hovering in the water, corals, wobbegong sharks sat on the bottom, and the other divers below me. I have'nt been on many dives but I still have'nt seen the concentration of fishlife that I saw on that dive. I also went down past 20m and went through a swim-through - a bit more than I was expecting on my first OW dive.

Hopefully your next dive will be better

 

[Brian Sharpe]

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.

I sure hope so. After the "dive" (if you could call it that LOL) my buddy and I yakked for a couple of hours, despite the not-so-great wet part it was an enjoyable evening.

 

[Brian Sharpe]

A big thanks to all of your encouraging replies. The truth is I can't wait to get back in the H20, my next few weekends are tied up with soccer tournaments & tryouts (yup - I'm the quintessential soccer dad) but - weather permitting - I've got a few dives lined up before the end of the month.

 

[H'Islander]

With you brother - Although I relaxed after about a minute below the waves and was then OK with the environment, my decent was intimidating as all get-out. But it gets better each time, and with only 4 dives under my belt I was invited to a twilight to night dive and that was better as the light slowly decreased and I was able to adjust as vis went to dark....

I have a total of 7 dives now and #8 is going to be another night dive this week for some tasty New England bugs....

 

[tracydr]

Last summer we called a dive after nearly landing on top of a tree due to low vis. Between that and the vertigo it gave me it was just no fun. We called it, regrouped and tried again in a shallower spot where we could use the sunlight to at least have slightly better visibility to avoid the trees.
You did the right thing to call the dive. Low visibility when you have very little experience would not be fun and if you don't feel comfortable, what's the point? Diving is supposed to be fun.