Question Local divers, how do you motivate yourself when the weather is crap?

[larsdennert]

I dived at Lake Tahoe during a huge hailstorm. Gearing up was the most dangerous part of the dive. Underwater, it looked like a James Bond film with bullets of hail streaking through the water.
All of my dives at home are now from my boat, so I get landlocked when conditions are bad. The waves were too big to be on the ocean last week, but that didn't stop two others from taking their boat out for some lobster hoop netting. Their boat landed upside down on the beach, and two legs washed up on the beach over the next two days. Knowing when not to go is the hardest lesson to learn.

PV is pretty harsh as a dive spot as well. I pulled a body out of there years ago.

 

[grantmac]

I think my big mental block is mostly when I am already cold the thought of doing something that will get me colder is just too much.

I did 100 minutes today, started warm ended warm, same water you dive in.

 

[batdiver_82]

I say to myself: "Don't think, just do it" or I decide otherwise and go skiing... Yesterday I went for a >1hour-dive(-4°C air-temp, 6°C water-temp) - it was just beautiful!

 

[Edward3c]

I say to myself: "Don't think, just do it" or I decide otherwise and go skiing... Yesterday I went for a >1hour-dive(-4°C air-temp, 6°C water-temp) - it was just beautiful!

I was hoping for an hour yesterday on a 30m dive, but my buddy (on a 15Lt, me on a 12Lt) got low on gas, so only 50 min. Saturday was 70 on a 10, but only 10m.

First water 9’C, second 11’C.

 

[Scott G. Bonser]

I ‘copy’ You on THAT one Ct…. When I was in 20s, 30s 40s…etc. getting into a full wetsuit and scooping up oysters in December & January was no big deal. At 65, I am not good w/temperature extremes. Gimme some nice clear, warm, calm water….Yeah!!!!

 

[BoltSnap]

At 65

65 isn't old at all, 99 is old but not 65.

 

[Scott G. Bonser]

Ah, to some, ‘age’ is just a number. When you are fighting Myasthenia Gravis, and AFIB, it really doesn’t matter. The gym, walking, physical work and other activities help me out a lot.

I Limit my diving and ‘swim’ cautiously into more strenuous situations as I really don’t need to impress anyone any more. Still blowin’ bubbles and chasin’ fish on MY terms..

 

[Fat old english bloke]

I just enjoy being under the water, so it’s not hard to be motivated. I hate dirty and muddy kit though, which doesn’t really align with lots of the diving that I do.

 

[WillieJustice]

65 isn't old at all, 99 is old but not 65.

I sure hope 65 isn't old. I will be there in a month and haven't been diving long enough to be good at it. Getting motivated when it is cold, windy, and raining is a matter of remembering how comfortable it is once you are in the water.

 

[TMHeimer]

I ‘copy’ You on THAT one Ct…. When I was in 20s, 30s 40s…etc. getting into a full wetsuit and scooping up oysters in December & January was no big deal. At 65, I am not good w/temperature extremes. Gimme some nice clear, warm, calm water….Yeah!!!!

I too don't like the cold at 70. But for me I think it was a matter of moving South to Nova Scotia. When we first moved here (age 51) I was almost impervious to the cold. That was because of 25 years in sub Arctic Canada where minus 40 (C-F-- they're the same at -40) wasn't uncommon. Coming to NY each summer it was the heat I hated. As well, as a 20 year old in NYC area I didn't like the cold then. A matter of what your used to over time, though I suppose age does play a little factor.