DevonDiver
N/A
Isn't psychology interesting?
An anxiety response that occurs when the surface is close at hand (visible?), but diminishes as the surface is removed (unconsciously) from the equation. A response that also diminishes when circumstances cause a favorable distraction.
It sounds to me like there's an underlying (sub-conscious) anxiety of being submerged - which presents itself as a very mild (controllable) 'flight' stimulus when the option to the surface is immediately presented (you are shallow/can see the surface). That 'flight' stimulus retreats when the surface doesn't appear as an immediate and compelling escape.
200+ dives and DM certification would normally indicate sufficient experience to have overcome conscious anxiety, but may not have overcome a more primal distress at being underwater. Of course, the timescale over which this experience was gained is also somewhat relevant (months, years or decades?), along with frequency of diving... and, most importantly, how your conscious comfort levels have evolved over that duration.
An anxiety response that occurs when the surface is close at hand (visible?), but diminishes as the surface is removed (unconsciously) from the equation. A response that also diminishes when circumstances cause a favorable distraction.
It sounds to me like there's an underlying (sub-conscious) anxiety of being submerged - which presents itself as a very mild (controllable) 'flight' stimulus when the option to the surface is immediately presented (you are shallow/can see the surface). That 'flight' stimulus retreats when the surface doesn't appear as an immediate and compelling escape.
200+ dives and DM certification would normally indicate sufficient experience to have overcome conscious anxiety, but may not have overcome a more primal distress at being underwater. Of course, the timescale over which this experience was gained is also somewhat relevant (months, years or decades?), along with frequency of diving... and, most importantly, how your conscious comfort levels have evolved over that duration.