Low Viz Panic - New Diver

[M&P+4]

A friend of mine went to do her check out dive last weekend and didn't fair well with the 8' of viz....does anyone have any suggestions on working thru the panic?

I thought we would spend some time in the shallows snorkeling with hopes that she would find some comort.

[brettbyers]

I suggest she work with an instructor she knows and trusts. She needs to swim around and get comfortable to her surroundings. If she trusts you, you might want to go along with them for morale support.

[M&P+4]

I suggest she work with an instructor she knows and trusts. She needs to swim around and get comfortable to her surroundings. If she trusts you, you might want to go along with them for morale support.

she had troubles and aborted on Saturday, then went back Sunday and tried again 1 on 1 with the DM but didn't have any luck. She did just fine in the pool and in the ocean last winter - just didn't like the muddy water. I told her to maybe try getting the instructor to take her to Wazee where the viz would be quite a bit better and then maybe she would be OK.

[Captain Caveman]

I was just at Wazee last weekend. I vis is not any better in the shallow water by the boat ramp. (deep side)

[BottomDweller]

You say she's been in the ocean but it was on her checkout dive that she got nervous. Is she certified yet, or is she still in the process?

Where we dive the vis is sometimes only about 3 feet, although it's more often around 6-10, and sometimes a tad more. New divers (students) are sometimes a bit nervous about it, but the DMs and instructors make a point in the pre-dive briefing of telling the group exactly what's down there, where it is, and what to expect. Once they get down there with someone they trust, like their instructor or close friend, and get used to that underwater area, they relax and have a better time with it.

Is she worried about seeing something specific, like those monster catfish in the stories about dams, or a body, or anything like that? Maybe finding out exactly what she's afraid of experiencing and addressing that specifically would help.

Just my two cents. Hope everything works out for her.

[M&P+4]

You say she's been in the ocean but it was on her checkout dive that she got nervous. Is she certified yet, or is she still in the process?

Where we dive the vis is sometimes only about 3 feet, although it's more often around 6-10, and sometimes a tad more. New divers (students) are sometimes a bit nervous about it, but the DMs and instructors make a point in the pre-dive briefing of telling the group exactly what's down there, where it is, and what to expect. Once they get down there with someone they trust, like their instructor or close friend, and get used to that underwater area, they relax and have a better time with it.

Is she worried about seeing something specific, like those monster catfish in the stories about dams, or a body, or anything like that? Maybe finding out exactly what she's afraid of experiencing and addressing that specifically would help.

Just my two cents. Hope everything works out for her.


I think she was on a discover scuba type thing with her Hawaii dive - not exactly sure of the details.

I think the low viz makes her a touch claustiphobic more than paranoid about she might see - I'll have to ask her though.

thanks!

[jafo]

Have her try to snorkel through the area first. she will get the idea of how the vis is and may help some. That's what my instrutor does with all his new divers.

[BottomDweller]

Any update on your friend? Has she overcome her anxiety? Is she diving?

[M&P+4]

Any update on your friend? Has she overcome her anxiety? Is she diving?

she hasn't made it out again - mostly due to scheduling and now the season is about gone. she'll have to spend some more time in the pool and then try the lake again next year I suppose.

[BottomDweller]

Well, maybe if she can get a few practice sessions in the pool just for fun she'll get more comfortable overall and will be more ready to take on the lake next season. Hope it all works out for her.

[M&P+4]

We're headed up to Lake Superior this weekend to dive the Madrira - maybe she will tag along and try out the clear water there....of course it will be 45* but the viz should be 40+ too.