How to get over zero viz?

[Pseudocyber]

I've always had a thing about swimming in lakes and ponds - about not being able to see in the water. I don't really like it at the beach either - out in the surf.

I've read about looking for Megladon teeth in the Cooper River and other places - how cool would that be to find a tooth that big ... but what about the zero viz? I think I could handle it, but I don't know. And add the possibility of grabbing a gator in the dark ... :eyecrazy:

I want to do it all - cave, wreck, ice, drift, rescue, tek.

How'd you get over your phobias about not being able to see?!?!?

 

[Rainer]

First: Get certified.

 

[6gunsal]

its really not bad once you get down there. My cert dives were in 4 ft viz, and I felt nice and cozy in all my gear. A pair of gloves may even help calm your worries. For some reason if I was going to accidentally grab something alive, I would rather have a paur of gloves on.

 

[Parysa]

I haven't been in absolute zero viz, but I have been in low viz and it really isn't as scary as you would think. Your world just kind of shrinks down to what you can see and you forget about anything that's out of that range (gators, snakes, etc). I went lake diving for the first time recently and could see the person's fins in front of me, but nothing much past that. I'd been worried about snakes and stuff, but it turned out to be a very "out of sight, out of mind" thing. I didn't see any, so I forgot to worry, lol. I did get to see freshwater jellyfish, though, and that was cool. I don't know if you'd be able to get me in a river (I won't even swim in a river), but as far as the viz thing goes, it's really not that scary.

 

[TwoBitTxn]

Its zero vis in mid water where there is no reference to up or down that sucks.

You get over it by doing it. If you're not having fun, don't do it. You will find that hunting meg teeth in zero vis is more fun than just finning around in zero vis. There is a purpose to the dive.

TwoBit

 

[Buoyant1]

You get used to it...one dive this past summer it was like diving in MILK!

My normal viz is about 5-10 feet tops...I've been on dives where you were "flying on instruments"!

 

[jscott099]

Like other things we humans do, you just keep diving in it. I can't say that I love it, but its necessary at time.

I just try not to think much about that hideous monster just inches behind me.

 

[sberanek]

In one of the places our LDS does certification dives, the viz. goes from "wow, look at the fish" to "holy crap, I can't see my own arm." Going through several classes in these conditions helped me get more adjusted to being in low viz. and relying on my buddy and gages. I even snagged my arm on a tree branch (which I couldn't even see til I put my face up to my wrist) and didn't freak out. I just thought "well, there's no teeth ripping into my arm, so I must be OK." That's when I knew I could deal with low/no viz.

--Shannon

 

[mudhole]

In zero viz, you have no outside stimulation so your mind runs wild with bad things that can happen. Only time you should dive in zero viz, when you're working at fossil searching is when you have lots of experience diving in sport conditions.

When you get certified it is as an open water diver. Hazardous conditions are not in the training manual, and all commercial dive boats would not allow a new diver to dive in zero viz. As a certified diver, you'll learn from your instructor where you should limit your dives, it won't be in any wet spot close to home. It is common for divers to drive 5 to 8 hours to get to a good dive site. A tip. . . when you take your dive check out, try to be first. . . following a new diver you'll be buried in mud stirred up by the previous student. If there are other divers in your area, try to stay a little deeper, or a little shallower. You have to look for viz, and it won't be under the fins of another diver.

 

[ccso434]

I beachdive a lot and the viz is 3 feet or less most days. I started with a dive buddy that has a lot of low to zero viz dives under his belt. Worked with him a few times and now I feel good in the low viz water.