Managing Fear

[Dominick Gheesling]

I am still just a newbie but have experienced one really terrifying dive at least two decades ago in open water... without all of the details it involved going offshore way too soon after a typhoon had come through the region, 15+ foot swells, a really small boat, an idiot who wanted to chum for sharks, surge that was causing the fish to have a hard time swimming down to 80 feet or so, overexertion descending too fast and swimming too hard, diving air too deep, a regulator that might have needed servicing, me definitely getting slightly narced and overbreathing (hypercapnia?), all of which led to big time panic and a team at least 20-30 below me and oblivious. It took everything I had to not shoot to the surface and embolize. Ultimately, concentrated on breathing and slowing ascent. As long as we can breathe there are no real problems. I wasn't comfortable until I got back up to around sixty feet and spent the rest of the tank breathing deeply and off-gassing and fortunately the idiot had not chummed for sharks This pretty much fixed me for risky deep air diving. It also led me to realize that in most situations I have to be prepared to self rescue. I took a long break from diving, not due to this incident but due to lack of interest once I returned from the pacific and saw what the springs had to offer. Now, I am a newly minted Cavern diver and I have taken my time and continue to take my time acclimating myself to the environment and gear configurations. Currently I am building up bottom time before moving on to Intro to Cave. If you'd ever like to spend some time just hanging out in the Cavern Zone let me know and I would be happy to join you.

[FW]

I am still just a newbie but have experienced one really terrifying dive at least two decades ago in open water... without all of the details it involved going offshore way too soon after a typhoon had come through the region, 15+ foot swells, a really small boat, an idiot who wanted to chum for sharks, surge that was causing the fish to have a hard time swimming down to 80 feet or so, overexertion descending too fast and swimming too hard, diving air too deep, a regulator that might have needed servicing, me definitely getting slightly narced and overbreathing (hypercapnia?), all of which led to big time panic and a team at least 20-30 below me and oblivious. It took everything I had to not shoot to the surface and embolize. Ultimately, concentrated on breathing and slowing ascent. As long as we can breathe there are no real problems. I wasn't comfortable until I got back up to around sixty feet and spent the rest of the tank breathing deeply and off-gassing and fortunately the idiot had not chummed for sharks This pretty much fixed me for risky deep air diving. It also led me to realize that in most situations I have to be prepared to self rescue. I took a long break from diving, not due to this incident but due to lack of interest once I returned from the pacific and saw what the springs had to offer. Now, I am a newly minted Cavern diver and I have taken my time and continue to take my time acclimating myself to the environment and gear configurations. Currently I am building up bottom time before moving on to Intro to Cave. If you'd ever like to spend some time just hanging out in the Cavern Zone let me know and I would be happy to join you.

Are you retired now? If so, maybe we can get in a dive when I drop off your doubles.

[floridabob]

Honestly, I disagree with most of what's been said in this thread. If you feel uneasy or anxious, IMHO you shouldn't go cave diving. What's the point? If you aready feel uneasy even though nothing bad has happened, what is going to happen when something bad goes down?

I don't wanna sound like a dick but I wouldn't want to dive with somebody that feels anxious before the dive... it doesn't sound safe to me. If I knew my buddy was anxious about being in a cave it would make me anxious. Nobody seem to say it anymore these days but cave diving is not for everyone.

What if it was diving with you that made them anxious, dick?

Bob

[Dominick Gheesling]

Are you retired now? If so, maybe we can get in a dive when I drop off your doubles.

Retired! That sounds fantastic!!! Nope, I teach photography at Valdosta State University (7th year). I suppose academia is the next best thing to retirement I would love to join you for a dive when you get down here!

[FW]

Retired! That sounds fantastic!!! Nope, I teach photography at Valdosta State University (7th year). I suppose academia is the next best thing to retirement I would love to join you for a dive when you get down here!

It will be in the middle of the week.

[Dominick Gheesling]

It will be in the middle of the week.

Sounds great! I don't have classes during the summer.

[FW]

Sounds great! I don't have classes during the summer.

Perfect!

[bent]

What if it was diving with you that made them anxious, dick?

Bob

Mmmmh, that's deep.
I don't know. I guess that's a chicken first or egg first (or crocoduck first) type issue.

[ARY]

Why would one need to manage it when you can enjoy it?

[Northernone]

Why would one need to manage it when you can enjoy it?

I tend to separate my enjoyment of natural high from the fight or flight response from cave diving. Seems good for my longevity.

Do you mean enjoying fear in another way?

Regards,
Cameron