Scuba_Noob
Contributor
I'm posting this in Advanced because downcurrents don't necessarily seem like a basic/new thing.
I know quite a few places, like Cozumel, have great dive sites that occasionally have 'random' downcurrents. From reading numerous threads, I get that the primary strategy is to get away from the wall (or even go sideways, like with a ripcurrent). Of course, from Scubaboard and other forums, you can get a whole bunch of information, but you can't really get the comfort and experience.
People constantly say that you shouldn't dive beyond your comfort. I have a good amount of dives, and I feel really comfortable most places underwater. Downcurrents just seem kind of freaky (e.g., facing a strong downcurrent when you're lower on air at the end of a dive). I'm sure I'd be able to handle it well, but it still wouldn't be comfortable being in a downcurrent.
It seems that the only way to get comfortable with the risk of downcurrents is diving currents or drift diving (all which I'm fine with), and eventually diving with downcurrents, i.e., going beyond your comfort level. I guess it's just something I've never experienced, and a little bit of apprehension of the unknown.
The question is: How did you get comfortable with the risk of downcurrents and dealing with them?
I know quite a few places, like Cozumel, have great dive sites that occasionally have 'random' downcurrents. From reading numerous threads, I get that the primary strategy is to get away from the wall (or even go sideways, like with a ripcurrent). Of course, from Scubaboard and other forums, you can get a whole bunch of information, but you can't really get the comfort and experience.
People constantly say that you shouldn't dive beyond your comfort. I have a good amount of dives, and I feel really comfortable most places underwater. Downcurrents just seem kind of freaky (e.g., facing a strong downcurrent when you're lower on air at the end of a dive). I'm sure I'd be able to handle it well, but it still wouldn't be comfortable being in a downcurrent.
It seems that the only way to get comfortable with the risk of downcurrents is diving currents or drift diving (all which I'm fine with), and eventually diving with downcurrents, i.e., going beyond your comfort level. I guess it's just something I've never experienced, and a little bit of apprehension of the unknown.
The question is: How did you get comfortable with the risk of downcurrents and dealing with them?