Well Meaning Relatives!

[J_glenn06]

When i took my open water class, about 6 weeks later my dad( who has had polo since he was born and broke a hip a year and a half ago) took open water at ginne. I went with him. It was the happiest day of my life and will never forget it.

[rkij]

Sadly my family is against cave diving. They love OW but hate the caves I tell them that in a 6 months I'll be 18 and I'll sign the release form myself, so they can get trained with me now or they can wait on the shore.

[Webmaster]

I started caving in Jr. high. Eventually my mother just rolled her eyes and said not to even tell her about it, she'd rather not know and worry. Diving and cave diving is pretty much the same, no one else in my family has ever had any kind of interest in anything even remotely like that.

Marbry

[BabyDuck]

i don't think my mama likes it, but i'm 40 & she doesn't interfere. in fact, she makes trips easier for me, keeping my baby so i can go.

the only thing i'll add is - if you're going to call your family after your day of diving, make sure they have an idea of when your day of diving is likely to end. mama went ape**** once, freaked with worry & called ginnie staff, because i hadn't called yet. since i dive peacock a lot, she expected a call by 5 or 6, but i was camping at ginnie and had gone on a galaxy dive. i had the phone in my hand calling her when the staff came by to say she'd called. a freaking family member really harshes your buzz, so try not to go there.

[Sludge]

make sure they have an idea of when your day of diving is likely to end.

Yes, and if I expect to be on the road by 6pm, I tell her I'll call her around 8pm. Then I call and say we got out of the water a little early.

I don't think she's wise to it yet!

[OFG-1]

Once my life insurance was increased to $500,000.00, my wife started encouraging me to dive more. "Why don't you go diving tonight? You dont need a buddy do you? Don't worry about that reel, it will untangle itself as you go. That free flow isn't too bad is it? I'm sure the rain didn't screw up the vis that bad." It's been good to have that type of support.

[Mark Vlahos]

My wife does not like it that I cave dive, but she accepts it. She knows how much I enjoy it. Her only condition is that she does not want me to tell her what time I will get in the water or what time I get out. We make arrangements for me to call at an exact time. If I call early she freaks because she thinks there has been an accident and someone is calling to give her bad news, if I call late she freaks out with worry. If I call right on time she is happy.

We have had the talk about training, diving within limitations, etc. She respects me and trusts me, but nothing stops the concern she has for my personal safety. I just hold up my end of the bargain and call when I should.

Mark Vlahos

[Sam2000001]

I have also been in the same boat as many here. I'm 24, they were encouraging me to take OW and get certified, a few years back. However, once I started diving springs and slowly making the transition towards that type of diving their attitude changed a bit. Over time they have eased up, but are still concerned. Like the OP, they were most concerned because they knew nothing of it and the training I have taken and will be taking in the future.

Instead of keeping it a mystery, I show my folks the gear I dive with, how it works, and try to answer their questions. And once they saw the big picture they were a lot more comfortable with the fact that I want to do this type of diving.

[sskasser]

Once my life insurance was increased to $500,000.00, my wife started encouraging me to dive more. "Why don't you go diving tonight? You dont need a buddy do you? Don't worry about that reel, it will untangle itself as you go. That free flow isn't too bad is it? I'm sure the rain didn't screw up the vis that bad." It's been good to have that type of support.

Hmmm, perhaps I should have a visit with you wife....then you and I can go for a dive! You trust me, right John?

[aw]

It's the same age-old battle of society to suppress the masculine giftings (desire to conquor, explore, adventure, risk, danger, etc). Just a different day. "Let us protect you from yourself, be safe and predictable like the rest of us who have no lives of our own", blah, blah, blah.

Can I take a guess that the "well meaning relatives" who sent their letters of concern were female? Just remember, if it were left up to women to do the actual explorations of Earth, we'd all still be living in Europe today.

Get off the porch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!