Coming back from a Scuba vacation...

[Peter Guy]

was a shock. We'd been diving for two weeks (25 dives) in Indonesia, warm water, AL80's, boat, pampered, etc. and then I came back to Puget Sound.

Well, last Sunday, after being out of the water for 10 (?) days, I did a simple shore dive -- in my drysuit, with my HP100, all my "home" diving stuff except my camera.

Now I don't have that many dives under my belt (this was about #140 since June of last year) but I was shocked at how nervous I was. For the first 15-20 minutes nothing felt right -- suit didn't feel right, tank/BC didn't feel right -- NOTHING felt right. I was VERY anxious.

So, my question for y'all is, how many of you feel the same way on your first (or second or third) dive "back home" -- especially if "back home" is WAY different from where you've been. And do you have any suggestions for making the "re-entry" less stressful?

 

[rocketry]

well, we are ALL spoiled by tropical dives (at least for those of us who do not live in tropical areas). I know I can focus much more on my skills here in the northeast, whereas in the tropics, dives are generally easier and with less "stuff" required. I personally think nice Dives stifle scuba training. While they are amazingly fun and I would never hesitate to do them, 7mm of neoprene, a hood, gloves, tanks, bc's (or w/bp), cold water goodies, smb, reels, lights. you learn gear management, and to treat situations, and to PLAN!

 

[pupdiver]

i absolutely understand what you are talking about. Tropical diving is just a lot easier. I went diving here about a week after coming back from Fiji last year and nothing felt right. I can't say I was really nervous, but I found everything was bugging me. The gloves, the hood, the weights. Nothing felt right. I got used to it on the second dive, but that first dive was just a chore.

 

[SparticleBrane]

Hop in the pool with all that gear on before you get into your regularly scheduled diving routine--it'll help you get back into it.

 

[jeckyll]

Wait. Peter, did you say you _only_ had 140 dives since last June?!?

FWIW, I took 1 1/2 months off in the summer, and my first dive back was anything but smooth...

 

[do it easy]

When I dive in warm salt water, I wear a full suit, hood, and gloves- it makes me feel like I never left the freshwater, but I'm just a bit warmer.