Serious Question.

[RETIRED 11]

As an intro diver, I do not ever violate my training limits, I am enraptured on every dive by things which most of you probably consider mundane, but occasionally I get this feeling of "Oh wow" this is a dark scary place, and a long way from home....
It seems to get less with each dive, but is this common???

[Wizard]

I call it "the get out goblin" talking to you. Never had it for years and one day boom, on exit 400 feet from the entrance. I steadied myself on a rock and looked around for a second and it went away. Others have told me they've had it. Look around and concentrate on something or someone else and get the ol' mind back on track. Funny thing though, never had it solo diving. Guess I stayed too focused or something.

[RETIRED 11]

Steady on rock and deep breath. Remind myself that there two ways out from here only one is acceptable... works every time.. but for a split second it can be a little unnerving. Thank you... hoped it was not just me... I have discovered an awesome place to get away from it all...what more is there to life??

[TMet]

I had it on my last dive at Peacock (I'm intro too). We hadn't even made it to Pothole. I got the sinking feeling of "WTF am I doing here this is retarded and I'm going to die". Then I noticed some pretty rocks to look at, realized I had an experienced buddy, and had almost full double 104s. Then the reality set in that my instructor did a good job teaching me, I knew what to do if something went wrong, and in the particular cave even if I did go the wrong way I'd likely pass a couple of exits long before I ran out of gas. I did frantically signal my buddy... but it was my first time seeing a cave critter and I wanted to show her the crayfish. It ended up my favorite dive to date. My entire inner freakout dialogue lasted about 15 seconds. I imagine I'll have many more, I'm fine with that, they will just get me to check my gas more often. I love this hobby

[Merlin Rhoda]

We refer to it as squirrel control. If you let the squirrels out of the cage then it's over.

The above is not a reference to CDF users with squirrel in their names. From what I hear when you let *them* out of their cage the party begins

[Line Squirrel]

We refer to it as squirrel control. If you let the squirrels out of the cage then it's over.

The above is not a reference to CDF users with squirrel in their names. From what I hear when you let *them* out of their cage the party begins

[TJDiver]

We refer to it as squirrel control. If you let the squirrels out of the cage then it's over.

The above is not a reference to CDF users with squirrel in their names. From what I hear when you let *them* out of their cage the party begins

One of the instructors at our local shop calls it the "lizard brain" effect...sensing danger, real or perceived, engages a portion of your brain only capable of processing fight/flight instincts. He instructs his students to learn to control the "lizard" in themselves.

[Xenia]

Fully agree with FW. I get this feeling on the max penetration especially now that I have started single stage dives. Am I good to get out? I monitor myself very closely. It helps to see that even experienced divers like Forrest are thinking about such things. I thought I was becoming a bit of a hypochondriac.

I also agree with Rob. It definitely is a complacency check. I keep thinking about the what ifs even if everything is going smoothly. Makes me feel more calm after I start going through the steps if something happens, what will I do. What if I lose the line? What if one of my regs fails? I may even touch my valves or pocket with safety equipment.

I think as you dive more and learn yourself you find things that help you cope with these thoughts and calm down.

[DA Aquamaster]

I also agree with Rob. It definitely is a complacency check. I keep thinking about the what ifs even if everything is going smoothly. Makes me feel more calm after I start going through the steps if something happens, what will I do. What if I lose the line? What if one of my regs fails? I may even touch my valves or pocket with safety equipment.

I think the complacency prevention needs to start in the dive planning process.

I tend to lean toward progressive penetration and I won't deviate or proceed farther than planned just because we have the gas or bottom time remaining. I won't do trust me dives and I won't agree to a plan I am not comfortable with. I also tend to plan heavy on gas in general turning before thirds and I tend to add other fudge factors in terms of either more gas, less aggressive dive plan or both when diving with someone on the team who I am not very familiar with. The list of divers who don't prompt me to dial back the dive plan is pretty short and it in no way reflects on their skills but rather it reflects my lack of knowledge of how they dive, how they react and how well we function as a team.

That kind of prudence and complacency prevention goes a long way toward preventing any subsequent "WTF" moments.

[Kelly Jessop]

A form of general anxiety,that will reduce with the more cave diving you do.