View Full Version : Things I learnt this weekend.
kath2407
01-05-2006, 13:40
Dunno if this is the right spot to put it but whey hey - move it admins if you want!
This weekend I did dives numbers 82-85. Two at 8 Acre Lake and 2 at Capernwray. You would have thought that having clocked up 80 odd dives I'd have got the hang of this by now but last may I got a suspected bend after diving in a semi dry off the south coast. This has meant that I have gone back to being a baby new diver, trying to get the hang of a dry suit. These dives were dives number 7-11 in the dry suit!
Lesson number one - don't accept pressure!
For one of the dives I was diving in a group of 5 and the guys (they were all blokes!!) were taking the mick a bit about me being the most experienced diver. I felt that this put me under pressure when really my objective of the weekend was to drown my pony for the first time!
For one of the other dives I was diving in a 5 again but with people who were a lot more experienced than me. becuase I we still mucking around with hose routing and clip attachments they were all bobbing in the water waiting whilst I fettled. becuase of this I felt rushed and under pressure. I hasten to add that it was nothing they did, they all just bobbed around telling me not to worry, but this is somethig that my own head does to me!
I ended up doing a dive where I felt slightly uncomfortable with the hose routings and I'd inadvertantly wrapped my long hose round twice and was slowly garroting myself!!!
I've decided that I don't like diving in more than a 2 or 3. For some reason, brain thinks its OK to make one person wait for me but four is unacceptable!!
Lesson number two - don't be afraid to say you are not happy.
Thankfully, this isn't something that I learnt this weekend, but put into practise. On the 5 dive my axiety about kitting up just seemed to get worse. I was trying out my weighting and had shed a little weight and done a beautifully bouyant 6m dive for half an hour with no gas in my cylinder as a weight check. So I thought I was pretty much spot on.
However, dump me a 15m chasing the dive leader who is on a sprint round the pond, all those little anxieties get bigger and bigger. I became paranoid baout floating feet and wasn't enjoying myself. After 30mins when my buddy asked if I was OK I said no. Bugger the rest of them, you cant get lost in Capernwray! We dont NEED to follow them and I'm going to cling onto this bit of wall for a couple of minutes to calm down!!!
The two of us ascended and with my buddy holding my hand (is it OK to be a girly diver every now and then???) We carried on a pretty uneventful dive as a two but due to "random" navigation, ended up with a long surface swim back home playing eye spy!
Lesson Three - Put the Pony on Last
Very simple, all hoses and other crap go UNDER the pony (side slung) also if you attach pony before putting fins on, you need one arm longer than the other to reach AROUND the pony and put you fin on!! Otherwise you end up leaning too far foward trying to reach your foot and end up face down in the water! (I just hope no one had a camera!!!)
Lesson Four - The dry suit is an inanimate object
I have this theory that the dry suit has a contract out on me and its sole purpose in its existence is to try and kill me. I think its time we learnt a little team working. I am paranoid about gas expansion on ascent to the point where if I have a little ascent i.e. less than a meter, I'm desparately trying to dump. But theres nothing TO dump becuase the air hasn't actually expanded that much. But then I get paranoid that the air isn't coming out!
According to Odin - I am over analysing the dry suit!!
I need to stop thinking whilst diving!!! I had got everything spot on in the semi. Now this whole thing about gas in the suit etc etc, well its whole different ball game isn't it. Now I've over analysing everything to the point of being paranoid!
Before anyone asks, I've beein in the pool, had proper instruction but I think this whole thing is a confidence issue about me becoming relaxed and happy. When I'm happy, it works, one little thing and it all goes to crap! (incident pit lecture anyone!)
Well I hope if nothing else, my experiences may help someone else who feels like me. If not, thank you for listening, the therapy session of telling you all my problems has helped!!
K XX
Good honest report...
Not dive in a 5? I seem to remember a group of 16 last September!
Lesson number one - don't accept pressure!
For one of the dives I was diving in a group of 5 and the guys (they were all blokes!!) were taking the mick a bit about me being the most experienced diver. I felt that this put me under pressure when really my objective of the weekend was to drown my pony for the first time!
For one of the other dives I was diving in a 5 again but with people who were a lot more experienced than me. becuase I we still mucking around with hose routing and clip attachments they were all bobbing in the water waiting whilst I fettled. becuase of this I felt rushed and under pressure. I hasten to add that it was nothing they did, they all just bobbed around telling me not to worry, but this is somethig that my own head does to me!Keep to doing the washing up then!
I ended up doing a dive where I felt slightly uncomfortable with the hose routings and I'd inadvertantly wrapped my long hose round twice and was slowly garroting myself!!!Te he - stay at home doing the cleaning!
I've decided that I don't like diving in more than a 2 or 3. For some reason, brain thinks its OK to make one person wait for me but four is unacceptable!!I forget if this was similar to the opinion you expressed about sex?
Lesson number two - don't be afraid to say you are not happy.Yeah - a woman's likely to be afraid of doing that!
Thankfully, this isn't something that I learnt this weekend, but put into practise. On the 5 dive my axiety about kitting up just seemed to get worse. I was trying out my weighting and had shed a little weight and done a beautifully bouyant 6m dive for half an hour with no gas in my cylinder as a weight check. So I thought I was pretty much spot on.Better off rehearsing with just one buddy.
However, dump me a 15m chasing the dive leader who is on a sprint round the pond, all those little anxieties get bigger and bigger. I became paranoid baout floating feet and wasn't enjoying myself. After 30mins when my buddy asked if I was OK I said no. Bugger the rest of them, you cant get lost in Capernwray! We dont NEED to follow them and I'm going to cling onto this bit of wall for a couple of minutes to calm down!!!Good call but you really should be doing the domestics at home! Thousans of year of evolution have given you women small feet so you can stand closer to the sink and you have to go diving!
The two of us ascended and with my buddy holding my hand (is it OK to be a girly diver every now and then???) We carried on a pretty uneventful dive as a two but due to "random" navigation, ended up with a long surface swim back home playing eye spy!Ahhhhh. Sweet!
Very simple, all hoses and other crap go UNDER the pony (side slung) also if you attach pony before putting fins on, you need one arm longer than the other to reach AROUND the pony and put you fin on!! Otherwise you end up leaning too far foward trying to reach your foot and end up face down in the water! (I just hope no one had a camera!!!)We do!
I have this theory that the dry suit has a contract out on me and its sole purpose in its existence is to try and kill me. I think its time we learnt a little team working. I am paranoid about gas expansion on ascent to the point where if I have a little ascent i.e. less than a meter, I'm desparately trying to dump. But theres nothing TO dump becuase the air hasn't actually expanded that much. But then I get paranoid that the air isn't coming out!I think this is a girl thing .....a bit like not admitting to farting or ....
According to Odin - I am over analysing the dry suit!!You are but you wouldn't if you were at home washing up!
I need to stop thinking whilst diving!!!Well, not really + I didn't know girls did!
I had got everything spot on in the semi. Now this whole thing about gas in the suit etc etc, well its whole different ball game isn't it. Now I've over analysing everything to the point of being paranoid!You are outside of your genetic envelope - stay at home cleaning!
Before anyone asks, I've beein in the pool, had proper instruction but I think this whole thing is a confidence issue about me becoming relaxed and happy. When I'm happy, it works, one little thing and it all goes to crap! (incident pit lecture anyone!)
Well I hope if nothing else, my experiences may help someone else who feels like me. If not, thank you for listening, the therapy session of telling you all my problems has helped!!I have learned that girls should either be at the sink or in bed waiting ..........!!!!
Kath,
Hopefully you know I'm only joking. Dry suits just take a bit of getting used to and there is only one way to do that!
As for getting stressed trying to keep up or follow the man frog - over exertion whilst diving can be a BIG problem with CO2 build up and ........ you def did the right thing. I don't even "do effort" whils diving anymore.
Rgds
Bryan
ps: Now get on with the cleaning! :) :) :)
kath2407
01-05-2006, 16:43
I shall bear your comments in mind Bryan. Extreme washing up anyone????
K XX ;)
I shall bear your comments in mind Bryan. Extreme washing up anyone????
K XX ;)
I wouldn't .... well, apart from the serious ones! :) I'm afraid extreme domestic type activities need to be done at trimix depths these days to count!
Is your DS a neoprene or trilaminate type? Do you wear ankle weights (gold ankle chains don't count! :))?
This is much more fun than doing work, which is what I've come to work to do!
Alison Boler
01-05-2006, 16:53
Kath
Don't feel bad!! I have always hated my drysuit, and 15 years on, I still do! Apart from the fact that it keeps me dry (!) and therefore I am less cold after the dive - I was never cold during the dive - it has always been an utter pain in the a**e! I hate the way it feels bulky and flaps around when it compresses, I hate the way it never feels as streamlined in the water as a wetsuit. I hate the fact I have to think about it.
However, Odin is right! You are thinking about it too much. Set the autodump to autodump and hardly put any air in the suit at all during the dive - use your bcd. Supposing your dump is on the left arm, that arm is probably a little raised on the ascent anyway if you are holding your bcd inflator and it all looks after itself. Then you don't have 2 things to think about and apart from all of the "hates" I mention above, its not that different to run than a wetsuit.
Come on! Men wear them and it's a well know scientific fact that they can't multi task (don't talk to me now,love, I'm doing this.....I can either do this or I can do that, which would you like?) so it can't be that difficult.... ;)
Allie :)
......... and it's a well know scientific fact that they can't multi task (don't talk to me now,love, I'm doing this.....I can either do this or I can do that, which would you like?) so it can't be that difficult.... ;)
Allie :)
Well ......... not that I have been that fortunate but there are substantiated tales of some lucky individuals being involved in 3 in a bed situations and I respectfully submit that as a proven case of multi tasking? :)
Allie, I'm afraid I'm from the opposite camp from you in that I am a pro dry suit person and I only use the dry suit for buoyancy (wing is for emergency and up top).
Oh yes, auto dumps? I've said it before and I'll say it again - you wouldn't want a bottom that did that! Get a cuff dump!
:)
[EDIT]Allie - if you are worried about how streamlined your suit is then you obviously don't carry enough cylinders? :)
kath2407
01-05-2006, 17:27
Its a MTM Otter skin. The fit is good and comfy. I'd taken the ankle weights off for dive two yesterday and I think that "pushed me over the edge"!! I'm sorry all you anti ankle weighters out there - but they are going back on next weekend!!
I'm doing Exmouth next weekend. I can see some serious "bimbling" happening!
K XX
Its a MTM Otter skin. The fit is good and comfy. I'd taken the ankle weights off for dive two yesterday and I think that "pushed me over the edge"!! I'm sorry all you anti ankle weighters out there - but they are going back on next weekend!!
I'm doing Exmouth next weekend. I can see some serious "bimbling" happening!
K XX
FWIW, I'm a confirmed ankle weight wearer and do not like having to assume the silty floor finning position when I don't wear them. As you find out when you get to my age, you won't give a toss what anyone else thinks ..... mainly due to failing eyesight and hearing meaning you don't actually know what anyone else is saying or writing.
Along with everything else that is important I think getting your in water trim correct is essential to comfortable diving. If, every time you stopp finning you find yourself in a vertical position then you are just wasting energy.
It may be worth taking a moment or two to just hover and see how your trim is in the water. Apols if I'm teaching gran to suck eggs here but it is an easy thing to overlook and it is so essential to a comfy dive.
With my new kit set up I am still struggling to get the trim just right.
kath2407
01-05-2006, 17:43
I haven't quite decided whether the ankle weights are really part of my weighting and therefore i should wear them or whether they are "training wheels" for confidence.
I guess its good that (I felt like I) right royally screwed up at 15m in capernwray yesterday. As the other option is feeling like I did at 35m next weekend in the sea!!!
I'm diving with someone who has instructed me before and I feel confident in her opinion! Its easier to sort your self out when someone else can watch you and say "you are horizontal" rather than trying to figure it out yourself!!!
K XX
I haven't quite decided whether the ankle weights are really part of my weighting and therefore i should wear them or whether they are "training wheels" for confidence.
I guess its good that (I felt like I) right royally screwed up at 15m in capernwray yesterday. As the other option is feeling like I did at 35m next weekend in the sea!!!
I'm diving with someone who has instructed me before and I feel confident in her opinion! Its easier to sort your self out when someone else can watch you and say "you are horizontal" rather than trying to figure it out yourself!!!
K XX
Kath, are you sure? You know girls are no good at spatial awareness type stuff (parallel parking? :)) - perhaps you'd better take a spirit level - just to be sure. :)
Don't worry you'll crack the dry suit wearing bugs. Have fun on your next dive!
After all this gobbiness, I'm doing my first dive after my enforced 7 month lay off with a new wing and new SSBP and will be doubtless admitting my many shortcomings to the universe in a week or so! :)
Rgds
Bryan
I need to stop thinking whilst diving!!! I had got everything spot on in the semi. Now this whole thing about gas in the suit etc etc, well its whole different ball game isn't it. Now I've over analysing everything to the point of being paranoid!
Before anyone asks, I've beein in the pool, had proper instruction but I think this whole thing is a confidence issue about me becoming relaxed and happy. When I'm happy, it works, one little thing and it all goes to crap! (incident pit lecture anyone!)This might sound a bit odd but consider having a real purpose to your next shallow dry suit dive. Borrow a camera, do a search, help an instructor out by buddying a trainee and assisting with the demos. It sounds like you need something to take your mind off your own diving.
Andy Wade
01-05-2006, 20:35
Kath
Come on! Men wear them and it's a well know scientific fact that they can't multi task (don't talk to me now,love, I'm doing this.....I can either do this or I can do that, which would you like?) so it can't be that difficult.... ;)
Allie :)
That's complete rubbish Allie! Of course men can multi task.
For example, I can drink beer, eat crisps, fart, and talk b*llocks all at the same time.
So ner. :p
Alison Boler
01-05-2006, 20:38
Hi Bryan
Yeah, well I guess my point is - use one or use the other - but don't try to use both (much) :)
You are totally right that I am a cylinder-lite stylee of diver these days :)
BTW I am stunned to read that you don't have an automatic dump at the end of a dive - I thought this was almost mandatory - and instead like to dump down your wrist!!!!????? This is quite a feat and brings an entirely new meaning to the phrase "suit flushing".....
LOL
Allie ;)
kath2407
02-05-2006, 10:06
This might sound a bit odd but consider having a real purpose to your next shallow dry suit dive. Borrow a camera, do a search, help an instructor out by buddying a trainee and assisting with the demos. It sounds like you need something to take your mind off your own diving.
My next dives are gonig to be wrecking!!!! The more I think about this weekend the more I think "I CAN actually do this". Part of me wants to pay attention to my lectures and not task load but part of me also recognises what you are saying. I think my camera will be stuck on my suit packet for the next loat of dives. That way if I want to I can use it but if not - its safe and out of the way!
K XX
PS Thanks to everyone for thier help and advise!
My next dives are gonig to be wrecking!!!! The more I think about this weekend the more I think "I CAN actually do this". Part of me wants to pay attention to my lectures and not task load but part of me also recognises what you are saying. I think my camera will be stuck on my suit packet for the next loat of dives. That way if I want to I can use it but if not - its safe and out of the way!Not sure if this will help but think back to those lectures. Have a purpose to your dive which you are clear about before jumping in, agree it with your buddy. The Exercises bit of SEEDS is not just about skills exercises, that is only one type of objective. Swimming around a wreck, photography, surveys, searches, exploration, instructing are other examples.
You can avoid task loading by only taking on one new thing at a time. Shallow water is very forgiving so it's the best place to start. Consider just exploring the wreck before taking photos. You tend to get much better photos when you have dived the wreck without a camera first - well I do.
HTH
Tristan Green
09-05-2006, 07:18
After all this gobbiness, I'm doing my first dive after my enforced 7 month lay off with a new wing and new SSBP and will be doubtless admitting my many shortcomings to the universe in a week or so! :)
Rgds
Bryan
Okay it would appear that I'm the first to crack - so how did you get on this weekend, Finless? Face in the sand and feet in the air, err water? Or was it all tickety-boo with the new kit?
Cheer me up as I'm suffering from a cold and didn't dive this weekend. :(
Cheers,
Tristan
Okay it would appear that I'm the first to crack - so how did you get on this weekend, Finless? Face in the sand and feet in the air, err water? Or was it all tickety-boo with the new kit?
Cheer me up as I'm suffering from a cold and didn't dive this weekend. :(
Cheers,
Tristan
Tristan,
Below is the info I had posted ..... elsewhere :). As I am not the only person who is no longer faithful to just one dive forum I no longer do copies of the dive reports/cock ups in all my favourite forums as it .......well, it isn't the done thing to be so forward and "me me me" :).
As you have asked I don't feel quite so guilty + apologies who have already read it or having to ignore on here as well as elsewhere! :)
Well, firstly, let me say woooooooooooooooooooooooohoo, after my financial and kit enforced 7 month absence from the sea, I'm back ...... albeit with a few problems and worries.
I have moved from twin 10s to twin 12s with a new OMS wing and back plate and, due lack of access to a pool, have only had 3 practises with the new rig. The first 2 attempts would best be described as "learning experiences" - one of which is that if your trim isn't correct it is possible to imitate a plough share at 4 mtrs in Eastbourne Marina.
Anyway, finances have recently improved slightly so, with the opportunity to get a shallow dive in, I decided Sunday the 7th May would be the day I would venture back under water for a dive on the F D Lambert with a max depth of 25 mrs (on a low neap tide).
Fortuitously the conditions were very good as, although I don't suffer from seasickness, the added stress induced by an age based lack of confidence and long absence from diving had caused me to be a bit nervous as I was not entirely certain everything was in the right place (kit wise). Also, having owned my previous set up for a number of years that feeling of "being comfortable and knowing where everything is" was not with me.
Whilst sat in the lock waiting to be let out to sea I remembered that I had left my dive computer in the boot of the car. FFS, I got to Eastbourne about 18 hours early just to make sure I didn't do anything stupid like leave something behind. Already knowing that (per the PADI tables) that I could do 40 mins at 26 mtrs on 32% I was happy enough to dive with just my bottom timer.
As always, due to my FFM kitting up requirement I went in last (with Colinicky). Having just given the "thumbs down descend signal" and allowing Colin to descend first I got that sinking feeling that I wasn't ...... going to sink that is! Having had all my weights attached to my rig for several years I had forgotten that I was now using a weight belt and that said weight belt was back on the RIB - FFS! You may have been wondering what "muppery" (as per the title of this thread) means - well, it should be "muppetry" but I needed the "T" to use in the word TWAT!
To cut a long story short, with the aid of Markus and Bill (both were eventually soggy to the elbows) on Inspiration I was re weight belted whilst in the water (lovely job guys!) and then towed back to the shot for what seemed like miles but was probably 50 mtrs?
The surface vis was brilliant but it was a bit murkier at the bottom - maybe a cloudy 6 mtrs in places? Coincidentally, Colin had done one circuit of the boilers (having decided I had a problem with my new kit and previously agreed to go our seperate ways etc) and other big sticky up bits and was at the bottom of the shot when I arrived on the bottom 10 minutes after him. I sent the anchor up on its lift bag and then we mooched around and I seemed to be suffering neck ache no matter what position my head was in - which was quite distressing. Also, I really felt the cold and was beginning to shiver after about 25 minutes so ascended after 30 mins bottom time - max depth in the scour 25.7 mtrs, water temp 9C.
Right, the FD Lambert - a nice easy starter dive. The engine/boiler still sits 3 or 4 mtrs proud of the sea bed. There are a lot of bunched up/caught up nets (orange in colour) around the boiler engine but are no problem as they are easily visible and not flapping around. There are ribs sticking up and a large ....erm.... mass of metal around which I presume was .......... erm ............ I got the impression of being in a mini amphitheatre but the stands were scrap metal. Anyway, there was a nice big shoal of pollack and others swimming around which made a very nice sight in the torch light.
I saw one scallop and one brown crab but no other shell fish - paerhaps they are still in deeper water or perhaps if was the sandy/gritty nature of the wreck site that doesn't suit dinner ....er I mean crabs and lobbies?
If you are in the area and looking for your first ocean wreck dive then the F D Lambert would be an OK one to do.
Oh, I nearly forgot, dwarfism! Well, this was my first proper dive with twin 12s and F/Me, are they big! I'll be doing another post in the appropriate bit about what I'm doing wrong but, although my trim seemed to be very good (phew) I was able to hit the manifold with the back of my head despite being on the maximum adjustment I can make without drilling new holes in my SSBP - is this normal on 12s? I am wondering if I should get dumpy 12s (I'm 5'8").
Anyway, as Arnie says "I'll be back" - I can actually say that under water you know! Another benefit of a FFM? :)
Just to complete the tale and the day a post dive Stella was very much enjoyed on the balcony of the brand new Yacht Club bar on the first floor of their very nice new building - V/posh!
Tristan Green
09-05-2006, 16:38
Tristan,
As you have asked I don't feel quite so guilty + apologies who have already read it or having to ignore on here as well as elsewhere! :)
Ta - although to be honest I'll be turning in right now and I'll have a read of your yarn tomorrow morning over my cereal. Nice to hear you are back safe and sound though.
Cheers,
Tristan
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