shakeybrainsurgeon
Contributor
The first time I felt uncomfortable in the water was this morning. I had purchased a new BC, a glide plus, and was anxious to try it out before going to Aruba next month. I went to our local quarry using a 5 mil wetsuit and, since we planned a short dive and to stay above the thermocline, no hood and no gloves. The air temp was only 41, water temp above the thermocline in the mid-sixties. As I descended, I went down a little too rapidly and I quickly penetrated into water in the mid-forties--- and that water flooded my wetsuit like ice.
Like stepping into a cold shower, I started to hyperventilate faster than my reg would deliver it and felt, for a brief moment, a surge of panic even though I knew I was in no trouble and could surface easily, and even be on shore in two minutes. Moreover, my buddy was an instructor and sensed that my breathing seemed off and pulled me up into warmer water, asking if I was OK. I forced myself to breathe more slowly, said i was OK and headed off. It took several more minutes before my anxiety faded and I finished the dive uneventfully.
Lesson learned...be aware of the environment you are diving in and how it might affect you. I underestimated the impact of the cold, even though I have been in the quarry many times before in similar conditions. I need to get a dry suit...
What I found interesting though, was that there were two people in my head, one freezing and fighting for air and another yelling at the first, saying "calm down you baby, it will pass, just don't hyperventilate yourself into passing out". Has anyone else had this experience, namely feeling in trouble and simultaneously reassuring yourself you are not in trouble?
Like stepping into a cold shower, I started to hyperventilate faster than my reg would deliver it and felt, for a brief moment, a surge of panic even though I knew I was in no trouble and could surface easily, and even be on shore in two minutes. Moreover, my buddy was an instructor and sensed that my breathing seemed off and pulled me up into warmer water, asking if I was OK. I forced myself to breathe more slowly, said i was OK and headed off. It took several more minutes before my anxiety faded and I finished the dive uneventfully.
Lesson learned...be aware of the environment you are diving in and how it might affect you. I underestimated the impact of the cold, even though I have been in the quarry many times before in similar conditions. I need to get a dry suit...
What I found interesting though, was that there were two people in my head, one freezing and fighting for air and another yelling at the first, saying "calm down you baby, it will pass, just don't hyperventilate yourself into passing out". Has anyone else had this experience, namely feeling in trouble and simultaneously reassuring yourself you are not in trouble?