shallow diving question(30-40 ft.)

[scratchmyback]

I believe I probably made the same statement when I first decided to learn to dive. I wasn't about to go deeper than 30 feet or so. My boyfriend is a Divemaster, and he just said there's lots to see at that depth.

Now the majority of our dives are cold water, wreck diving in the great lakes. There isn't much to see at that depth! So I've obviously been a lot deeper than that, but it was my decision to go there. I think your wife will be just fine once she gets certified and gets out there and does some diving on her own. That arbitrary line will probably disappear for her too.

 

[BKP]

Actually 80 % of our local diving takes place in that range. Even in Bonaire a few weeks a go we commented that the nicest parts of the dive were in 40 feet or less. That range will have the best light intensity and color depth, your air will of course last longer and light means plants and plants mean fish so all in all that's where the action is. Aside from occasional deep attractions those shallow depths are where the fun is.
Pete

Absolutely agree.

We enjoy the light, and the color, at 30-50 ft. as well (not to mention the longer bottom time).

However, your S.O. may find, after her comfort level increases, that deeper translates into easier as well. Buoyancy issues mitigate as you go deeper... And, while I love the reefs, the wrecks are breathtaking (no pun intended). Watching something like the Spiegel loom into view as you descend is incomparable, and unique...

 

[zamboni19]

I am right with you guys. In my experiences so far, I have seen more and had much more fun on 35 foot reefs than I ever have on deep dives (60'+) here in South Fla.

It really just is personal preference, but I put my money where my mouth is and mostly only go on shallower dive charters. (Beach dives are for suckers...

 

[diver 85]

My wife will be taking scuba class shortley after I finish. She is very anxious about it and fears deep water. She has the notion that she doesn't ever want to dive past 40 ft. post ow cert.
I realize that notions change after experience is introduced.
My question is this: Are there others out there who have been certified that maintain the notion of staying shallow(30-40ft.)?

IMO(not really answereing your question, though), she'll change her mind about deeper than 40'...Once she gets to 40', she'll see how 'easy' it is to go deeper......I wouldn't worry about it, it will come naturally(going deeper).....good luck.....

 

[2905luvsbubbles]

My youngest daughter was the last of our family to get certified at 20 and she wouldn't go any deeper than 25 feet! Of course we were diving cold Ohio quarries. After a few dives she wanted to see what was on the bottom besides rock and mud and is now comfortable diving deeper than her original 25 feet. Given time, and experience your wife will become more willing to dive deeper. On the other hand, if you force her to dive deeper and she is uncomfortable and panics at depth, the best case scenario is she may never dive again. Never force a person to dive outside of their comfort zone, as that is when the panic starts to set in. And then things just spiral out of control.

 

[muddiver]

In Hawaii I am usually happy between 30' to 50'. The shore dives by the hotel are all 10' to 25' between the reefs and there is plenty to see.

Off the Southern California coast you would be hard pressed to make a dive deeper than 40' off the beach. The contenital shelf runs at a rather shallow angle and it is a real long swim out to 60'+ depth (with the exception of the canyons at La Jola and Redondo).

So by default most beach diving is in the range you mentioned.

 

[deepblueme]

Santa Rosa shallow in Cozumel is a great dive and you can do the "deep" side as a shallow dive too.

To me Roatan on the North side has the best "shallow" diving I have ever seen the reef starts at the surface. Followed by St. Croix, then Bonaire.

 

[Kingpatzer]

I'm a newly certified diver, so maybe my perspective is a little biased, but . . .

There's very good reason to stay shallow until you are completely comfortable with the gear, procedures, etc. Diving beyond one's limits is asking for an accident to happen. OW Cert by itself doesn't make one ready to push those limits.

Let your wife go at her own pace.

 

[CLEAR BLUE]

AfterI did my OW cert I did 4 more lake dives and then went to Bonaire. I had it in my mind that 40 feet was about my limit. It was on my last dive in Bonaire (my 21st) that I felt comfortable and didn't pay too much attention to my depth gauge. My deepest dive was 58 feet. It's all a matter of practice and experience that makes you more comfortable. We were in the Keys a couple weeks ago and as they said, on the reef dives it's almost impossible to get below 30 feet. I was very comfortable here (even did a night dive). I'll be interested to go back to the lake and quarry this summer and see if my comfort level still holds. Anyway....as everyone has said...stay within your comfort level!

 

[fisherdvm]

An exception to the shallow diving that has better sights I think is Cozumel. Alot of the shallow reefs has been crumbled by Wilma, and there is more to be seen deeper than 60 ft where the corals are less damaged.

I will be doing most of my dives now with my son, who is 11 and is limitted to diving less than 40 ft. I don't think I'll miss too much. I will enjoy the increased bottom time, and prettier colors.