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Thread: New to diving

  1. #1
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    Default New to diving

    Hi guys
    I just got my medical clearance today for Open water 1 (18m).

    Hope to do the training soon, and there will be the accreditation sessions at Miracle Waters. Hope I can do that before it gets cold.

    Though I dived once in Zanzibar on a DSD, as the water was clear so was not too scared. But the one thing that scares me is Sharks, especially along the KZN Coast.

    Any advice and should I not be worried ?

    Thanks
    FxF

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    Default Re: New to diving

    I been commercial Diving for 34yrs, way I see it if I can’t see them they can’t see me but then again 1mm is good vis for us
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    Default Re: New to diving

    Nothing to worry about. Miracle waters is actually better when it is cold as the visibility is better when the water is colder.

    Once you start diving more you will realize divers would actually pay to see a shark, they are no threat to divers (little to no threat).

    Zanzibar is much clearer than you can expect from miracle waters or even Durban but once you can dive in Miracle Waters, you can dive anywhere. Quarry diving is it's own kind of diving.

    What agency are you going with? PADI, NAUI, IANTD etc?
    Last edited by PsyPhin; 2023/05/04 at 08:57 PM.
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  5. #4
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    Default Re: New to diving

    Sharks normally make themselves scarce before you even lay eyes on them.
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    HENK


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    Default Re: New to diving

    Don’t be scared of sharks, they are more scared of you and the noise you make. I have been diving since 1993 and done about 400 dives with sharks ranging from zambezi’s, tigers, raggies, black tips, grey reef, oceanic white tips plus one GW off Sodwana and other species. Don’t stress! Favourite spot is Protea Banks 8km’s off Shelley Beach. Aliwal is over rated but still a good spot for raggies. You are welcome to pm me.
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    Default Re: New to diving

    When it comes to safety I would say sharks is your least worry.

    There is so much that can and do go wrong on a dive trip. Just heading out through the surf you already run the risk of the rubberduck capsizing when caught broadside.

    Your primary focus should be on mastering all the diving skills so that you do not panic when things go wrong. Panic can be a killer when in an unknown environment.

    Before my kids did their qualifying dives, I watched a few videos on youtube which covered issues underwater and what to do in those situations.

    It will also help if you can speak to some experienced divers about mistakes they made or situations in their group on previous dives.

    Diving is great fun and should be enjoyed.

    It’s better where it's wetter - Sebastian.

    Edit: Spelling and grammar
    Last edited by CabousBeer; 2023/05/06 at 08:50 AM.

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  9. #7
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    Default Re: New to diving

    I started diving in 1977 and have done loads of dives over the years sadly no more due to Eustachian tube damage. However enough of that, in all the years and seeing many many sharks and many many weird and wonderful things underwater. The greatest conclusion I came to (epiphany if you will) is that the sharks (two legged ones) on land are way bigger ,more likely to try and harm or ripp you off and definitely more dangerous.

    Just do your training properly, be conservative, stay within your comfort zone, dont let anyone rush you, bully you or try and intimidate you.

    always plan your dive and then dive your plan. Dont change a diveplan on the fly to accomodate someone else.

    I could carry on a bit here (as an ex-instructor trainer) but :

    get your bouyancy right and keep practicing your bouyancy in the pool
    do your skills and practice them. (You need them when you least expect)
    drink liquids before you dive. (Dont worry about your wetsuit, it will rinse out)😂😂

    good luck and enjoy the underwater wonders of the world.

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    Default Re: New to diving

    I didn't know open water 1 was limited to 18 m

    am sure i have seen a statistic somewhere that percent wise more people die from shallow water blackouts - snorkelling - than diving with tanks

    i would assume it's limited to pleasure diving and not pro's like clivemd

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    Default Re: New to diving

    Quote Originally Posted by RossJ View Post
    I didn't know open water 1 was limited to 18 m

    am sure i have seen a statistic somewhere that percent wise more people die from shallow water blackouts - snorkelling - than diving with tanks

    i would assume it's limited to pleasure diving and not pro's like clivemd
    I think 18m is just a number for the sake of putting a limit. At 18m the decompression limits, air use, bug out options are all relatively a non issue. You should run out of air or be close by the time a NDL is a problem and if you do, a quick swim up is all you need.
    I mean the diving course is pretty much a safety course, anyone can swim and it takes 5min max to learn to breathe through a regulator

    Snorkelers probably do not get a safety briefing.
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    Default Re: New to diving

    Quote Originally Posted by PsyPhin View Post
    I think 18m is just a number for the sake of putting a limit.
    You should run out of air or be close by the time a NDL is a problem and if you do, a quick swim up is all you need.
    18m on land is nothing. 18m below the surface is around 1000miles on land. A lot of shite can happen.

    Quick swim up is where most accidents happen. Have lost a friend who tried to do a quick swim up in Bass lake when he ran out of air. Got to around 6m from the surface and that where his lungs exploded. Most divers will suffer from panic when the air suddenly runs out and try to hold their breath to reach the surface. Big mistake. The whole pressure thing you learn from the course then takes a back seat.

    Also a dive in Bass lake, lady who did the dive got a fright when she tried to clear her mask and the very cold water hit her face. She panicked and made her way up to the surface. One friend of mine caught her from behind to slow her down and the other one had her BC in his hold in the front. About 5m below the surface he gave her a good thump on the diaphragm so that she exhales before they get to the surface. Saved her from an embolism.

    I do not believe in a thing called a shallow dive.
    HENK


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    Default Re: New to diving

    Quote Originally Posted by Henkus View Post
    18m on land is nothing. 18m below the surface is around 1000miles on land. A lot of shite can happen.

    Quick swim up is where most accidents happen. Have lost a friend who tried to do a quick swim up in Bass lake when he ran out of air. Got to around 6m from the surface and that where his lungs exploded. Most divers will suffer from panic when the air suddenly runs out and try to hold their breath to reach the surface. Big mistake. The whole pressure thing you learn from the course then takes a back seat.

    Also a dive in Bass lake, lady who did the dive got a fright when she tried to clear her mask and the very cold water hit her face. She panicked and made her way up to the surface. One friend of mine caught her from behind to slow her down and the other one had her BC in his hold in the front. About 5m below the surface he gave her a good thump on the diaphragm so that she exhales before they get to the surface. Saved her from an embolism.

    I do not believe in a thing called a shallow dive.
    You're probably right. I have become quite complacent and forget what it means to be a new or inexperienced diver. You remind me of the stories I have heard where things did go wrong.
    Last edited by PsyPhin; 2023/05/05 at 10:21 AM. Reason: grammar
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    Default Re: New to diving

    Another important factor is your instructor. Go for an older experienced instructor rather than a youngster with 60 odd dives.

    We had an ex navy diver, Chris Hugo train my wife and I and then a very well known guy on South Coast who trained my kids.

    Chris thought he was still in the Navy and made us do all types of safety drills. In 1995 when we did our Advanced course he made us kit up on beach, swim 200m to the boat, do a deep dive at Grootbank, 35m and then a 200m swim back to beach.

    Do your advanced course if possible in the ocean and not Bass lake or similar. The big open sea is a different beast. Good Training helps prevent panic in most cases. I have had a few scares and helped many divers and due to good training and experience was able to get out of a situation safely.
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    Default Re: New to diving

    DO NOT dive alone....
    Always think: Could this be sarcasm?

    André Opperman

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    Default Re: New to diving

    I was at Sodwana once doing a bike trip so out of interest I went over to the scoobie dooo club asked how much to go out for a dive, they asked for my ticket showed them my commercial ticked and was told sorry you don’t have the experience 🤣🤣🤣
    by then I had over well over 3000 Dives and who knows how many hours underwater, dives on SCUBA, SSDE, mix gas to 90m inshore off shore in conditions that person will sh— himself
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    Default Re: New to diving

    I don't know what bass lake is like but diving in a zero viz environment as a fairly new newbie is I think the best training ever in terms of keeping panic and training the common sense part of diving

    bit like doing an instrument only landing as a trainee pilot - you learn to explicitly trust your training - and keep that rising feel of panic under control

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    Default Re: New to diving

    Couple of Years since my last Dive.

    And even now clear as day I can hear my instructors voice - "When things go wrong, remember to keep breathing".

    Remember that when you get to Mask Clear and Mask recovery.

    Dunno why, but when my Mask came off, I held my breath . . . . . what an Idiot.


    Oh Yeah, and obviously, don't follow the above when you get to Regulator recovery

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    Default Re: New to diving

    Quote Originally Posted by Andre N View Post
    Couple of Years since my last Dive.

    And even now clear as day I can hear my instructors voice - "When things go wrong, remember to keep breathing".

    Remember that when you get to Mask Clear and Mask recovery.

    Dunno why, but when my Mask came off, I held my breath . . . . . what an Idiot.


    Oh Yeah, and obviously, don't follow the above when you get to Regulator recovery
    Wouldn't say idiot. Instincts say hold breath when your breathing is compromised.
    We know from diving training to keep breathing, but little thing called panic that sits on your shoulder doesn't make us think clear.
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    Default Re: New to diving

    And that Panic is right there close under the surface (pun intended) to take over your mind.

    Got another good story from my training, where I was full on Panic stations

    To set the scene - Miracle Waters, they have this steel gangway/jetty thing that you can use to walk down into the water.
    At the end of it, you are about 2 or 3 meters under the water.
    DM picked that spot for me and my Dive buddy to practice our Reg/Octo sharing for when one of you is out of air.

    So for the guys that don't know what this training entails - You and your Buddy face each other. DM is off to the side with both his hands on your Dive Cylinders.
    DM will then randomly close off one of the Cylinders, and who ever is the unlucky person will instantly be without air.
    Diver without Air would then need to do a whole set of hand signals to indicate to his buddy that A) You don't have Air, and B) that you want to share with your Buddy. Either via Octo or Reg sharing, and things then go on, on how you need to surface, etc. Very long exercise with a bunch of steps. Very Important. I mean, your life literally depends on it.

    Ok, So there we are, drifting on our knees, waiting on the inevitable. Buddy gets the short straw and is first without Air. I make a joke and indicate that I don't understand his request. Very funny. Rest of the exercise goes off without a hitch.

    No more surprises now. I know it's my turn, and the DM wastes no time to turn of my Air. Go through the whole song and dance and just as I'm about to take my Buddy's Octo this huge Force yanks me away and grips me to the bottom. Last thing I see is Buddy's Eyes getting as big as dinner plates. I flat out Panic, start struggling and kicking and in general freaking out . . . . out of Air . . . . couple of Meters under the Water . . . . I was DYING !!!

    Next moment out of nowhere the DM's Octo gets shoved into my mouth and I can breath again and I swallow my Heart back into my Ribcage and calm down.
    Me and DM do our hand signals as per last bit of the exercise and we surface.

    As we surface, DM is absolutely breaking himself laughing. Said if he could just have had a camera to record our reactions when he yanked me away and pinned me, he would have broken America's funniest home videos. Yes, You read that correctly . . . . . when He yanked me away and pinned me . . . .

    So why did he do it, simple really, We didn't do our exercise correctly.
    We did everything correctly, except for the part where we had to interlock our Arms to keep together before sharing the Octo.
    And he just put his own spin on things that could go wrong. I.E. Sea current washing you away.

    .

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  25. #19
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    Default Re: New to diving

    Now that is to me the right kind of training

    two things dont go well with water
    panic
    booze

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    Default Re: New to diving

    Best sport you can get into.

    Enjoy every minute.

    Comment above about older onstructor is true but you cant be an instructor with 60 dives. 100 minimum for DM and then most probably another 100 during instructor training.

    I owned the Dive shop in Knysna at the heads many moons ago.

    Have not dived in 10 years but miss it a lot.

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