pelan-pelan
Contributor
Not sure if this is the right forum. I was just looking at items relating to Wakatobi. I saw the (old) video of the diver panicking and watching her reaction on the surface I thought I would make a comment and ask if anyone else has experienced the same.
As I did more dives I discovered that I was clothing claustrophobic. On a dive in Tobago I wore two lightweight suits, but felt even colder. Was uncomfortable. Next dive decided to put up with a bit of cold and wore only one suit - and felt much warmer. I feel the cold, but hoods make it worse, a lightweight hat helps much more. The same with thicker neoprene and correctly tighter fitting suits with a zip down the back all too constricting. Correctly fitting but tighter neck seals are a no no, I feel like I can't breath or move my head. As a wise diver said to me - stress will take at least two degrees off the perceived water temperature. Perceived cold is as dangerous as real cold. I acknowledge my feeling about suits and hoods, I think carefully about what I am wearing and ensure that if I dive on new gear my buddy is aware and I proceed with caution. I am lucky, the way I feel is not so bad that I panic.
I noticed the panicked diver in the video was clawing at her hood. Pressure on the throat from the hood and the suit together can affect perceived/real freedom of breathing, plus tightly covering the ears can be disorientating.
What do instructors and highly experienced divers think? Are newbie dive guides/instructors trained to be aware of "clothing claustrophobia"?
As I did more dives I discovered that I was clothing claustrophobic. On a dive in Tobago I wore two lightweight suits, but felt even colder. Was uncomfortable. Next dive decided to put up with a bit of cold and wore only one suit - and felt much warmer. I feel the cold, but hoods make it worse, a lightweight hat helps much more. The same with thicker neoprene and correctly tighter fitting suits with a zip down the back all too constricting. Correctly fitting but tighter neck seals are a no no, I feel like I can't breath or move my head. As a wise diver said to me - stress will take at least two degrees off the perceived water temperature. Perceived cold is as dangerous as real cold. I acknowledge my feeling about suits and hoods, I think carefully about what I am wearing and ensure that if I dive on new gear my buddy is aware and I proceed with caution. I am lucky, the way I feel is not so bad that I panic.
I noticed the panicked diver in the video was clawing at her hood. Pressure on the throat from the hood and the suit together can affect perceived/real freedom of breathing, plus tightly covering the ears can be disorientating.
What do instructors and highly experienced divers think? Are newbie dive guides/instructors trained to be aware of "clothing claustrophobia"?