ocean-scuba virgin says HI

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

thelovelymrsj

thelovelymrsj

Registered
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Location
Indiana
# of dives
0 - 24
Hi everyone! I was just open-water certified in October and the only place I have been diving is in Indiana....and I have only been down 27 feet. I am going to be diving in the Bahamas in about ten days. I am a little nervous. Any words of encouragement out there? Any tips? I love diving even in the cold, murky quarry waters of Indiana so I am pretty sure I will love diving where the water is warmer and CLEAR. I look forward to hearing from all of you!
 
Your experience in local waters will serve you well. The visibility will be a real treat and shedding most of your neoprene will be a delight.

You are right to suspect that there is a trick or 2 involved in ocean diving. Be sure to inform the DM of your viginity to the sea and I assume boat diving. Whether your first dives are from shore or boat be sure to make them with a buddy or DM that knows the drill.

Boat dives especially are almost certain to take you too new depths. You and you alone need to decide how you want to handle the 60 foot "limit" of your OW limit. In tropical waters there is almost no doubt that you will feel fine crossing that line. You need to decide if you will be comfortable with your skills and buddy. I would not entertain crossing that line until you are oriented and are diving with a trusted buddy. Above all resist the temptation to make "trust me" dives.

There is a world of joy in the first 60 feet and there you will have the longest dives so try to plan things accordingly.

Have a great time, it will be a real awakening but don't let it spoil your local enjoyment.

Pete
 
Sounds as though your comfort level is right there. I suspect that as soon as you hit the water all those second thoughts will melt away. If you can dive the quarries you should be prepared for the ocean. Best to have an experienced buddy or maybe hire a DM for your first O dive. Have fun and post your experience and pictures.
 
Hi, The bahamas will be a blast for you, you should be able to shake some of the ice water off of you for sure, i've dove there many time and have lived there for 20yrs. Where are you gonna dive at? If you need some shop advises hit me up i can help.
 
Wisely said, Spectrum. I dive here in KY & the conditions you dive in are probably very similar to what I dive in. I have been on 4 live aboards in the Bahamas. Local diving has about some of the harshest environments you can dive (cold, murkiness) Just about the only thing that would present any challenge that you won't commonly find locally are currents. Hopefully what ever dive outfit you go with, the dive master will explain to you how to handle anything you may find there. If you want to know,.... ask. They dive master should be well versed in the diving conditions there.
 
welcome aboard
 
Thanks for all the advice and encouragement. I am so excited. I will post pictures of my dives when I get back. Maybe I will even have a funny story to tell. My husband has buoyancy issues....
 
Oh, and to Freeport Ray, I am diving with Stuart Cove's. Two afternoon dives a week from Saturday and two morning dives the following Monday. I have heard good things about Stuart Cove's. So, hopefully it will be alot of fun. Any other advice? And does anyone know anything about Bohio Divers in Grand Turk? I am diving there in January.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

Back
Top Bottom