Ocean Diving

[MedicDan]

Try to stay relaxed.... seems like easy advice but so important.

Pay attention to your air consumption and to your breathing technique. A clam mind will give you a great diving experience and the longer your air lasts the greater the ocean dive will be for you!


Safe Diving!
-Dan

 

[oddible]

Where are you diving? Dry suit or wet suit? If you're diving in a dry suit the difference between a 15 and 60 foot five just means you're going to have a lot more air in your suit to work with - keep good trim, remember to tuck and get upright if the air goes to your feet, and vent your air out your shoulder gradually as you ascend. If you're diving wet then you won't really find much difference at all except you'll be equalizing a lot more : ) well, perhaps a bit more weight to compensate for salt water.

 

[ajduplessis]

Like most members pointed out just relax, slow down all your actions, check your air regularly and clear your ears often (a least every 10ft). On my first ocean dive I made sure I am stayed close to the DM, they will show you all the nice things. They generally also move slowly/relaxed and this has a knock-on effect on diver around them.

Mindset before & during dive: Diving is SAFE & FUN. Enjoy!!!!

 

[Blu Diver]

MFlann41,

Recall the rules that you've been taught and have been diving by so far? Keep following them. Pay attention to all of the briefings (details), ASK QUESTIONS if you're unsure. There may be someone else that has the same question. This helps eliminate confusion and keeps the dive safe and on track.

Set up your gear, double check your gear and do a buddy check that includes hand signals...before entering the water. Don't assume everyone uses the same signals as you. Most incidents that happen in the water, could have been prevented before entering the water.

Slow down...take it easy...this will help you relax and settle into your dive. Making for a more enjoyable experience. By slowing down you will also improve your air consumption. No one is going to see the enitire ocean in a single dive, it's not a race. You will see more cool stuff if you slow down,than if you race through the dive. Check your air and depth guages frequently.

Be aware of your surroundings. Don't get sucked into what is only ahead of you. Look up, down and side to side, look into the distance.

Pay attention to your buddy, ask if him/her if they are "OK?' occassionally throughout the dive. If you see something interesting that your buddy might be over looking, point it out to them, share your experience.

If you're a novice diver I would plan to dive to 50' with a contingency of 60'.

Know your physical and mental limitations. If it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it. Meaning if something just doesn't feel or seem right...don't do it. If there is a stong current and you have no experience with currents, I wouldn't place myself or anyone else in that situation.

Most likely, you're going to have a blast because everything is going to be OK. When you finish you're going to want to do it again and you will be proud and thinking about the dive for a week afterwards. "That was awesome! I can't wait to do it again."

We expect a recap of your trip. Have FUN and be SAFE.

 

[DiverDean59]

You will have a great time. Where are you going on your dive? I think someone has already mentioned it but just go with the flow of the surge. On my first dive I tried to fight the surge. Relax and watch the fish. You can learn a lot from them in the surge. They relax when the surge carries them and use their fins when the surge travels away from them. Enjoy.

 

[Bob DBF]

Remember at 50' and under new conditions you will be sucking down air a lot faster than at 15' in your pond so keep a close eye on your pressure gauge. Oh yeah, have a great time.


Bob

 

[BrianKon]

All good stuff here!

 

[Lee Taylor]

SLOW decent, SLOW decent, SLOW decent, SLOW decent, SLOW decent, SLOW decent

ascend SLOWLY, ascend SLOWLY, ascend SLOWLY, ascend SLOWLY, ascend SLOWLY

Trust your gear.

ENJOY!

 

[spectrum]

Hey guys Im fairly new to diving, I've done a few lake dives in C.T. with low Vis and only about 15 feet of water. However this weekend I have my first ocean dive and I'm just looking for any advice you'd be willing to offer I'm alitle nervous to be 60ft below the surface so any help would be much appreciated
thanks guys
Mike

Hi Mike,

This thread sounds like a Bon Voyage party but I don't see where you mention a destination.

If 15' was your prior max are you even certified?

Falling off a warm water boat is pretty straight forward especially with any sort of DM support.

If you are diving locally this weekend you could be in for some surprises.

Assuming you are diving wet I would not be heading to 60 feet. Keep it very conservative you will chill fast and want to be able to exit before hypothermia sets in. This may help.

You want to be using a cold water regulator to avoid freeze-up and free flows.

Your tides are less than here in Maine but you still need to know where you are in a cycle to predict exit conditions.

If you need to understand currents and any reversals the tide may bring.

I would make sure your buddy has local knowledge.

If your lake experience was in milder seasons you are really looking at a cold water and ocean orientation. This calls for someone capable of mentoring if not a DM.

If this is a warm water trip have a nice time but listen to the voice in your head and begin with something a little closer to your comfort zone.

Have fun and dive safe,
Pete

 

[lulubelle]

It's hard to give you advice on your question as you don't indicate where and how you are going to dive. There is a big difference between plopping into pretty clear water with no current in the Caribbean and doing a free descent and ascent and plopping into chilly water in the Atlantic in 4 foot waves with a bunch of current and using an anchor line.

Make sure your equipment is in good working order, get into the pool or some freshwater to check it out if you are not sure.

Be very conservative with your air management and don't assume that your consumption will be anything like that in still freshwater. It won't. Keep an eye on your gauges.

Best thing I did on my first deeper dive here in NC was to plan my dive well and to choose a buddy with 500 plus dives. If your buddy is not experienced, I'd suggest that you swap out buddies with another experienced buddy pair or go as a foursome.

Oh, and what Lee said, but I'd highlight and make bigger the ASCEND SLOWLY part.

Have a great time. Enjoy the critters!