The fear of "whats in the water"

[jeckyll]

I had to laugh at this. One of the biggest adrenaline rushes I've had underwater was on my fourth or fifth dive, when we were in typical lousy summer viz, and out of the dark in front of me swam something BIG AND DARK. My heart jumped into my throat and my eyes got really wide and my breathing got fast for a moment . . . Until I saw the big, green Nitrox stickers on the double tanks. Whew!

The first few times I got buzzed by seals on night dives scared the CRAP out of me

Now I just get annoyed because the eat all the fish

 

[dpbishop]

So if you touch this fire coral what happens? and dont some jellyfish have deadly or very bad venom? Like the box jellyfish?..
QUOTE]

Fire Coral stings, so do jelly fish. Usually a little vinegar will fix it. My GF's arms are covered in bumbs from the micro jellies at La Paz, but they don't even itch now. It would be a rare treat to see a Portugese Man-of-War under water. I understand a really bad sting from one can be fatal, but my Dad was hit by one and survived OK. The box jellies in Australia are deadlier, but they're so small you can hardly see them, so there's no point in worrying.

When I used to dive for abalone there was one spot were a Bat Ray with a 4' wing span would buzz me, usualyy when I was upside down with my head under a rock. The first few times I almost swallowed my regulator!

 

[TSandM]

Oh, yeah, the seals can give one quite a start, too. Especially if they body-slam you chasing fish!

 

[FoxTrot]

Isn't it true that your body has the same physiological response to both fear and excitement, the rest being mental?

So just tell yourself you're excited (not afraid) and you are good to go!

 

[c r0ck 1]

So if you touch this fire coral what happens? and dont some jellyfish have deadly or very bad venom? Like the box jellyfish?..
QUOTE]

Fire Coral stings, so do jelly fish. Usually a little vinegar will fix it. My GF's arms are covered in bumbs from the micro jellies at La Paz, but they don't even itch now. It would be a rare treat to see a Portugese Man-of-War under water. I understand a really bad sting from one can be fatal, but my Dad was hit by one and survived OK. The box jellies in Australia are deadlier, but they're so small you can hardly see them, so there's no point in worrying.

When I used to dive for abalone there was one spot were a Bat Ray with a 4' wing span would buzz me, usualyy when I was upside down with my head under a rock. The first few times I almost swallowed my regulator!

yea i saw the special on the (hope i spell this right) "Irukandji" When you get stung by this you feel EXTREME pain all over your body for like 36 hours or something like that.. on the show the people were in bed screaming for a whole day...!! And you cant even see it.. its the size of a dime!... No diving in australia for me.. LMAO..

 

[BTravlin]

Don't worry about what might be under the surface. Be happy about what won't be down there.....

No bill collectors
No tax man
No muggers
No boss wanting you to work on Saturday
No ex wives
No screaming rug rats
No....

Well, you get the idea.

Diving is relaxing. Enjoy!

 

[lambsfarm 13]

hi.youve nothing to worry about (probably) its the unknown that makes it so appealing. you never know what you are going to see. last fri nite me & couple of mates did nite dive off the south coast, just walk in n start swimming till you are deep enough. not great vis but great dive. turn lights off & it was blacker than black. but if you sway your arm thru the water you get this bright green sparkling stripe appear. i thought it was my eyes at first but no its all the little plankton i think??!! i sat on bottom for about 5 mins in the dark waving my arms about. i know i was born in the sixties but that cant be the answer! it never entered my head that its the middle of the nite & i,m 7mtrs under water in the pitch black. we were a;ll having too much fun.

 

[DeputyDan]

bacteria in the water - stay away!

 

[lambsfarm 13]

that explains the really big pipe & bad vis. how glad i am of dry suit & dry gloves. i have green hair now.

 

[Fyshebait]

seriously post a pic of this... so called trigger fish.

I know that there are some fish that are poisoness.. like at home i have a reef setup and i was gonna buy lion fish and the guy was like once you buy these do not stick your hand in the tank or get it next to them cause they sting.. Now i can only imagine how big they get in the wild.. so i stuck to clown fish and tangs instead.

Here are a couple of pictures I took a few years back. First on is an Ocean Triggerfish from Cozumel; second is a Queen triggerfish from Cuba. Been around quite a few of them, and while I've heard the stories of their aggression, I've never experienced it.