shallow diving question(30-40 ft.)

[scubatoys]

I understand your point but, wow, you don't really do that, do you? That's just not right to trick people into doing something they didn't think they wanted to do, even if their feelings do change. It has to be their choice. If something were to go wrong, you'd be toast in court. Maybe even criminally negligent.

Now I kinda' tossed out the readers digest, abridged, poetic Justice version to show a point. In my response, I said, don't ever take anyone past their comfort level, and with this person who said they really didn't feel they wanted to go past 40 feet because it would be cold and scary. (As it was in the Lake where I did this persons check out dives... and now we're in Cayman). I told them I was going to be their buddy - we'd make a nice slow ascent, and at any time, they give me the up sign and we'll make a nice slow ascent together. As we are slowly working down, I'm repeatedly asking for an ok sign - and getting one back - they are doing great - comfortable, happy, having fun. We slowly circle onto a big sandy patch - get another ok - then show them that they are past their mythical 40' and she started laughing in the reg, and pointed down the reef at a turtle swimming by - which we headed toward.

If that experience could be declared criminally negligent, then someone throw me in Jail as I would repeat it with any diver I'm training - it was a great experience for my student, and for me with safety always my biggest concern - but enjoyment of scuba has to be close behind. If everyone wanted to be safe... they'd stay on the boat.

 

[spectrum]

RTRski,

You are right that breath hold dives and a CESA in some ways are diametrically opposed skills and that the diver must understand the differences to avoid making a wrong move. Both skills are vital and sporadically taught today. It all comes back to training.

Pete

 

[trucker girl]

People change. Below 40 feet in cold, murky water is way less appealing than in warm, tropical water. In the quarry, I'm happy to stay above 30 feet. 40-60 feet means freezing my tukus off! Just so long as you dive you become better divers- all is well in the world! Some folks get on their high horse about a false sense of security, but IMO, when you're a brand spanking new diver, JUST DIVING is a little nerve racking. So- do your dive plans with 40 feet max planned in. Get more comfortable with diving and your gear. Then, should you and she so desire, discuss expanding your horizons.

A competent diver is better than a confident diver any day in my book!

 

[philmayer]

Many of the reefs in the Keys are in the 15 to 25 ft range. I f you want to go deeper than 30 ft you will need a shovel.

trtldvr
www.divealive.org

Absolutely! Looe Key is consistently voted one of the best reefs in the US, and you will never go deeper than 30 feet. At the end of some of the coral ridges I was in less than 6 feet of water.

There are TONS of fish there -- goliath grouper, lobster, barracuda, angelfish, parrotfish. It's all there and there is TONS of light!

 

[scubaag03]

Yea, my Fiance is the same way, Cozumel has many great dives that stay around 40 feet!

 

[bgsnmky]

scubaag03 - where do you recommend in Cozumel??

 

[redacted]

Or... Just buy a computer for her, and set it to meters instead of feet... "No problem honey... we won't go past 30!"

Don't even think about it. You'd go broke trying to buy her enough neoprene.

 

[Teamcasa]

...Just be accepting and encouraging of your wife's wishes. Once she's comfortable in the water she may well go beyond 40.

Sound advice.
My wife was the same way until she realized we were at 65' for 30min, the she realized how much fun it was and the fear disappeared.

Dave

 

[Spencermm]

Absolutely! Looe Key is consistently voted one of the best reefs in the US, and you will never go deeper than 30 feet. At the end of some of the coral ridges I was in less than 6 feet of water.

There are TONS of fish there -- goliath grouper, lobster, barracuda, angelfish, parrotfish. It's all there and there is TONS of light!

What hooked me on this notion of scuba(I had been contemplating it for a few years- weighing the pros and cons against finances. "It's not easy for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind." Dr. Suess) was a snuba trip, first one for me, in Key West a month ago. 20' depth- OH, I was in heaven!! Beautiful fish, grouper the size of a boulder! The first thing I saw that I recognized was a 6' ray of some sort- we were eyeball to eyeball- wow!

 

[scubaag03]

bgsnmky- Paraiso is a great dive, lots of coral and marine life, very easy. Tormentos is another good reef, it's max depth is around 70 feet.