lv2dive
Formerly known as KatePNAtl
I've made a couple decisions about going into overheads that were ill-conceived at the time. I've been around wrecks pretty much since I've been certified, but was never a big penetrator. When I got back into diving in 2009 I started getting presented with opportunities to explore swimthru's on ARs such as the Spiegel Groove and the many options off Ft Lauderdale.
I distinctly remember the first time I dove the swimthru's on the SG. My dive buddy was a friend, who also happened to be an instructor. We were diving AL80's. I had tried to get bigger tanks but they fell through at the last minute so it was AL80's or not dive. I figured if everyone else was ok with the AL80's, I should be too (now I wouldn't do the dive on a single AL80; then I was at least aware enough to realize it was inadvisable). (Decision 1)
Anyway, a third joined us as an instabuddy on the dive boat, he volunteered to show us the swimthru's bc he knew the boat. I was wary, but was advised that there were several "escape" hatches along the swimthru and we had nothing about which to be concerned. My buddy/friend was very reassuring. I decided if there were multiple avenues of exit then it would be ok. (Decision 2) Please understand - it had been almost a decade since since I had gotten certified with PADI - to be honest I don't even remember signing any statement about not going in an OH environment
Anyway, the third buddy went in, then my friend, when it was my turn, I could not see any "escape" routes and opted to wait on the outside. My friend ended up coming outside eventually and insisted I come the swimthru. Finally I followed her in. (Decision 3) Almost immediately after we started I did start to see the exits so I felt better but I should have stood my ground. What was going through my head was that although this was an OH environment if one stayed in the main swimthrus on the side, it should be just fine*
At the time, I was also feeling like I had to accommodate my friends wish to dive inside the wreck even though I wasn't sure I wanted to. Now, if it is something i don't feel is appropriate, I am not concerned about disappointing my buddy - if they don't understand, that is on them. Finally, I was very trustful that my friend, being an an instructor - had a good grasp on the level of difficulty of the dive.
Now, I dive in a team but I don't abdicate my personal responsibility. This dive had a lot to do with me looking for "something" different in terms of diving... I knew I made decisions I wasn't comfortable with - none of them large transgressions individually - but each with opportunity for issue and certainly together, with even greater opportunity for fecal matter to hit the oscillating device. I'm glad I had the experience bc it made me think about what I was doing.
*in fact, even since then, I've questioned the swimthroghs - are they OH? At this point I would say yes, then I would not have counted them as OH.
I distinctly remember the first time I dove the swimthru's on the SG. My dive buddy was a friend, who also happened to be an instructor. We were diving AL80's. I had tried to get bigger tanks but they fell through at the last minute so it was AL80's or not dive. I figured if everyone else was ok with the AL80's, I should be too (now I wouldn't do the dive on a single AL80; then I was at least aware enough to realize it was inadvisable). (Decision 1)
Anyway, a third joined us as an instabuddy on the dive boat, he volunteered to show us the swimthru's bc he knew the boat. I was wary, but was advised that there were several "escape" hatches along the swimthru and we had nothing about which to be concerned. My buddy/friend was very reassuring. I decided if there were multiple avenues of exit then it would be ok. (Decision 2) Please understand - it had been almost a decade since since I had gotten certified with PADI - to be honest I don't even remember signing any statement about not going in an OH environment
Anyway, the third buddy went in, then my friend, when it was my turn, I could not see any "escape" routes and opted to wait on the outside. My friend ended up coming outside eventually and insisted I come the swimthru. Finally I followed her in. (Decision 3) Almost immediately after we started I did start to see the exits so I felt better but I should have stood my ground. What was going through my head was that although this was an OH environment if one stayed in the main swimthrus on the side, it should be just fine*
At the time, I was also feeling like I had to accommodate my friends wish to dive inside the wreck even though I wasn't sure I wanted to. Now, if it is something i don't feel is appropriate, I am not concerned about disappointing my buddy - if they don't understand, that is on them. Finally, I was very trustful that my friend, being an an instructor - had a good grasp on the level of difficulty of the dive.
Now, I dive in a team but I don't abdicate my personal responsibility. This dive had a lot to do with me looking for "something" different in terms of diving... I knew I made decisions I wasn't comfortable with - none of them large transgressions individually - but each with opportunity for issue and certainly together, with even greater opportunity for fecal matter to hit the oscillating device. I'm glad I had the experience bc it made me think about what I was doing.
*in fact, even since then, I've questioned the swimthroghs - are they OH? At this point I would say yes, then I would not have counted them as OH.
