OP, I am going to be the tough love guy in this thread. I see a couple words/statements that bother me. "Panic" is one, "ripped reg" is another. Look, a little anxiety is a good thing. Keeps us from getting eaten by the saber-toothed lobster. Diving as an extreme sport, lower end of the extreme scale I admit, just may not be for you. Be honest with yourself and walk away if you are going to get you or someone else hurt. Even though most of the cool stuff is in the shallows, you will severely limit your diving opportunities with those depths.
Lots have suggested warm water trip. I would agree, I never dive in cold dark water. Seems pointless to me but then again different strokes!!! Hawai'i is but a short hop for you so give it a whirl and if you still feel uncontrollable fear after a reasonable sample size, then I suggest you throw in the towel.
I have 2 hours training time in a Cessna 172 and frankly that is the extent of my flight log book. I decided early that although I would love the freedom that being a private pilot would give me, I just could not get used to the little airplane getting tossed around by the wind.
Good luck!!!
Lots have suggested warm water trip. I would agree, I never dive in cold dark water. Seems pointless to me but then again different strokes!!! Hawai'i is but a short hop for you so give it a whirl and if you still feel uncontrollable fear after a reasonable sample size, then I suggest you throw in the towel.
I have 2 hours training time in a Cessna 172 and frankly that is the extent of my flight log book. I decided early that although I would love the freedom that being a private pilot would give me, I just could not get used to the little airplane getting tossed around by the wind.
Good luck!!!