Has anybody ever done this?

[TSandM]

It seems that the slower I go, the more I see.

I keep playing with the idea of going on a dive and not going anywhere -- just parking myself in an interesting-looking spot and sitting there for a half hour or so, and just watching what goes by and how life plays out. The only reasons I haven't done it is that sitting still gets cold awfully fast, and I don't think I could find a dive buddy who'd be willing to do it with me.

Has anybody else done this? Just found a likely-looking spot and hung out to see what happened, and what crawled out of the woodwork when it thought you were gone?

 

[fisheater]

I have.

In Monterey on a low-vis day, I was insta-buddied with another photog and this guy was very methodical and very, very s-l-o-w.

I took my shots and was ready to move on, but he was still at it, so I just floated there and waited. Just as I was about to get severely bored and annoyed, I noticed that damned near everything I looked at was, in fact, a crab. It was fascinating. Wait long enough and stare at the same part of the rock, and it would start moving!

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[thefeve]

I think that's an awesome idea! Sounds kind I relaxing.

Recently, being that I've not had as much time for diving, I've realized how much I enjoy the slow, calm relaxing dives more than the "lets see everything we can!" Dives.

I'd be down to try it could be cool on a night dive, though could be kinda nerve racking just wagging for something to come along

 

[tracydr]

It seems that the slower I go, the more I see.

I keep playing with the idea of going on a dive and not going anywhere -- just parking myself in an interesting-looking spot and sitting there for a half hour or so, and just watching what goes by and how life plays out. The only reasons I haven't done it is that sitting still gets cold awfully fast, and I don't think I could find a dive buddy who'd be willing to do it with me.

Has anybody else done this? Just found a likely-looking spot and hung out to see what happened, and what crawled out of the woodwork when it thought you were gone?

Last year when I was doing my DM, I spent a very long time waiting for my "rescue". I waited in one spot for my buddy to find me and had a very fun time watching the crayfish clean out their houses when I put little rocks in. If I would put a pebble in they would push it out right away. It was hilarious watching their antics. I really enjoyed it for at least 45 minutes.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Most of my dives are like that. I rarely move more than fifty feet, but have been known to stay in one spot for several minutes.

 

[Scott]

When I was on Grand Cayman in July, I did just that on the Oro Verde. I was trying to capture that perfect image of a Jawfish. It never happened. I grew frustrated and put the camera down and just watched. Fish swimminmg about like they were playing tag, an eel working its way through the wreck trying to avoid approaching divers, the Jawfish popping up and down like wack a mole when something approached and someting burrowing in the sand underneath me.
Was actually quite relaxing.

 

[lowviz]

...//... I keep playing with the idea of going on a dive and not going anywhere -- just parking myself in an interesting-looking spot and sitting there for a half hour or so, and just watching what goes by and how life plays out. The only reasons I haven't done it is that sitting still gets cold awfully fast, and I don't think I could find a dive buddy who'd be willing to do it with me. ...//...

Yeah, it works extremely well. The critters begin to tolerate rhythmic bubbles and get back to their business. Quite fascinating to watch. Still working on my ultimate goal, a solo cert that will open up a most interesting "closed to solo" quarry.



cold? Merino wool against your skin, Capilene over that, then whatever you use as an undergarment.

 

[KeithG]

Yep, but basically because I am really, really lazy.

The worst example was on a recent live aboard trip where'd we headed into the shallows and found 2 palm tree stumps in about 15 feet of sandy bottom. We spent 40 minutes lying motionless In the sand as we played with about 30 shrimp living underneath the horizontal stump. There were banded coral shrimp, pedersons cleaning shrimp (on a couple of anemones), peppermint shrimp, spotted anemone shrimp and a bunch of other small juvenile fish.

The download of my dive profile from my computer was basically a flat line at 12 feet for the full 40 minutes we were there.

Had to eventually head back to the boat because I got hungry.

Awesome dive.

---------- Post added September 24th, 2013 at 01:24 AM ----------

P.s. this is also the best way to watch things like sailfin blenny's and bulldozer shrimp at half moon key in Belize. 20 minutes can go by in the blink of an eye.

 

[seattlepaul1975]

It seems that the slower I go, the more I see.

I keep playing with the idea of going on a dive and not going anywhere -- just parking myself in an interesting-looking spot and sitting there for a half hour or so, and just watching what goes by and how life plays out. The only reasons I haven't done it is that sitting still gets cold awfully fast, and I don't think I could find a dive buddy who'd be willing to do it with me.

Has anybody else done this? Just found a likely-looking spot and hung out to see what happened, and what crawled out of the woodwork when it thought you were gone?

I would be up to try it. We are both in the same area . Let's try it one day. I enjoy just floating in a spot. Almost like meditation.

 

[pocky21]

One of the most inspiring dive stories I've heard came from a former colleague who sat in 6' of water watching two hermit crabs fight for 45 minutes. It reminds me to stop trying to see everything, and let everything see me. The change in animal behavior from fright to curiosity is as astounding as it is beautiful.