I almost DIED in Grand Cayman!

[CLEAR BLUE]

Thanks for sharing your story. I always read posts like this because it helps me learn. I ABSOLUTELY agree with Chedderchick. When you become a Mom - everything changes. You are not willing to take the risks that you used to and no matter what you do - your children are always in your mind. When I dive I find myself being ultra cautious. I would have thoroughly researched the dives and checked out entries, exits, currents, viz before I even decided if I was going. Since I started diving I have taken baby steps. Lots of local diving and diving within my comfort level to gain experience. My husband is much more experienced than me but has been very patient and dives where I feel comfortable. I will say that I never depend on him for my safety. If I don't feel like I can handle the situation - I don't go. You need to do what's best for you. Never know - when your baby is older, you may have a future diver and may want to start over with her. I truly respect your decision. I know where you are coming from.

 

[psychocabbage]

After reading that, I feel that you are/were not ready for diving.. The mere fact that you are nervous each and every time tells me that you are not at "one" with the water.

Its a good thing you gave up the sport because its not for everyone.

What cert agency gave you the advanced tag? Was it at a resort?


For us (my wife is my dive partner) we have already made our plan for what it something went terribly wrong and it boils down to 1 rule. No matter what, 1 of us lives for the kids. So if I for some odd reason am being swept out, I go alone and she returns normally. We are at peace with this and understand that diving within our abilities should keep that from ever being an issue but just in case something odd and out of anyones control happens out there, we have already made our plans.

I do hope when your kid grows up that you let them learn SCUBA as well and let them have the choice. All of my kids (10,11 and 15yrs old) are SCUBA certified. I would think it a disservice to them to not have them certitifed..

 

[IceIce]

Hi Davezwife,

Everyone is responsible for their own safety. If your dive is guided by a Dive Master with a group, it's rarely possible to ask them to watch out just for you. On being left alone in the surface during decend, I suppose you were expected to decend together with the group. Although, good divemaster should pay more attention and keep eye on anxious divers, especially those who ask.

Anyway, I'm glad you are okay and I think it's a good decision to hang the BCD since you are not comfortable in the sea, because it'd be dangerous to you and your buddy.

Not everyone know their limit and dare to speak up, for that, kudo for you.

 

[promocop]

Hey lady, you got balls for telling the story, Thank You and yes, you probably should quit while your ahead, totally understand.

 

[IceBergSlim]

Take up golf.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

thanks for all the kind words.
To answer a thought... I started diving because we have alot of divers in my family, and my husband fell in love with it. I've always had fishtanks, LOVED to swim since I was in diapers, and love the water. But it was a rare dive if it was stress-free. I just had too many things "spooking" me along the way. I've seen some incredible things underwater... that's enough.

Funny thing, I have a mom's group online, and posted my story there. Low & behold, some mom on the east coast has also dove this exact area, and aborted the dive herself in poor weather. She also had issues getting back and out.

I emailed the dive shop, not to point fingers, rather to make them aware.
To those that work at a dive shop, I ask that you never worry about insulting someone's ability or experience. When I asked that guy about swim-throughs I've never done, something should have clicked and he should have asked more about my diving portfolio. We both would have quickly realized I was (and perhaps DH) was out of my league.

And FWIW, I took a peak bouyancy class just prior to going on this trip, and pulled out my dive manuals, and watched some dive stuff online. I *thought* I knew what I was doing, and all was "fresh" in my mind. Ahhh doy, I was wrong in many ways.

I don't feel bad about "retiring." It's what's best for me. But I feel HORRIBLE about what had to happen to get here.

Based on this post, you went into diving for the wrong reasons. You didn't say you went into it because you have always wanted to try it, or it looked like and incredible thing.... It seems like you wanted to be part of the group and to share your husband's passion. I think you were fine to try it, but when you knew it really didn't make you happy, you then, started diving for others. You may, one day, come back to it and find you love it. Or not. Either way, it is fine, as long as you are honest with yourself.

I am glad you walked away from your experience. Take it, learn from it, and if it's right for you to hang it up, then that is fine. An honest person is much better than a miserable unwilling diver. And your vacations will be just as fun, with you topside.
Good Luck to you.

 

[jridg]

Don't have a lot to add to what has been said - you obviously were not ready for this shore dive - and went for something you thought was expected. It ended badly - and you learned from it - but more importantly, others can read about your experience and hopefully make better decisions based upon your experience. It's all moot because you have decided not to dive anymore - that's OK too. My wife won't even get in the pool...

Diving should be a passion - simply having an 'advanced' card doesn't make someone a better diver - it only means that they have been exposed to more class-time. Instructors vary - classes vary - there is no better teacher than experience.

Don't blame the shop - you truly were not ready for this kind of dive. Panic can and has caused people to drown - you got off 'easy' and made your decision to quit - probably the right call.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry it ended up the way it did.

 

[openmindOW]

Davezwife, thank you for sharing your story with Scubaboard. Divers, particularly Divemasters and Instructors, can learn a lot from reading about your experience.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Davezwife, thank you for sharing your story with Scubaboard. Divers, particularly Divemasters and Instructors, can learn a lot from reading about your experience.

There was not even a DM or an Instructor with them. Maybe I missed something. What is a DM or Instructor going to learn from her experience that was not already known? Other divers, I agree....especially newer divers or less experienced divers.

 

[openmindOW]

Once again, thanks for the comments.
As for my training, let's put it this way...
When I could not remember the correct name for "the porno push" swim (or which way we should be facing to do it...) I knew the drunk idiot in Koh Tao, Thailand (OW) and the english hottie in Kota Kinabalu (AOW) should not have been instructors, nor I their student.
Bottom line, the severity (and surprise) anxiety cause me to make an error in decisions, or hindered me from making the right moves.
My only hopes in sharing this story was to help at least one diver out once. (I hope).
Thanks again.

Thank you so much for your posting. You sound like a super person.

As an Instructor, I am appalled about what your Instructors did. (The "porno push"?!)