Why is low viz in a cave so much more unnerving?

[LCF]

I've only done a few reduced visibility dives in caves - one in Ox Bel Ha, a couple in Naharon and Jailhouse, and one in P3. They were all in the 30 - 40 foot range, so not bad, just not clear.

I dive 10 to 15 foot viz at home in OW all the time, and it doesn't bother me. Heck, I've dived where you practically had to put your face in the bottom to SEE the bottom, and although I don't like it much, it doesn't make me edgy.

Low viz in a cave does. And it isn't the dark, because low viz night dives at home don't bother me. I think it's a combination of not being able to use the walls for reference all the time, and some kind of fear that I'll lose the line.

Has anybody else found this to be true for them?

[MORGAN]

I don't know - I think low vis bothers me more in the ocean. When I encounter low vis in a cave, I just make sure I'm on the line and feel pretty comfortable. In the ocean I get to thinking about how big it is, and the limitless space available for me to get lost in.

[whodunit68]

after doing my first real penetration dive on a wreck, done at night, I got a real chance to see for myself the difference. Low viz in a cave doesn't bother me much at all. Low viz inside of this wreck the other night, at night, bothered me a bit. Then, after starting up the line, I got to thinking about the same as Senhor Morgan....actually more even on my initial descent...it's a BIG, big ocean out there and all kinds of things are swimming around (some may even want to consider me as their dinner), and at 110fsw and a tiny bit disoriented initially, I had to force myself to take a breath and get oriented all the while thinking how easy it is for me, or anyone, to lose sight of where he or she is and not make it back. I suppose maybe it was because it was my first real ocean wreck night dive....maybe not, but low viz never really bothered me, even the first time, in a cave. There's walls, lines, and stuff to follow in the places I go (some of them small, silty, and got to squiggle to get through).

[JahJahwarrior]

I enjoy low viz in a cave. Just close your eyes and enjoy the exit.

Low viz in the ocean freaks me out. Same for lakes or rivers. Nothing that's gonna bite me in a cave

Low viz when off the line in sidemount cave can be unnerving. But, it also means that you were a bit unresponsible with running a line, and a good lesson.

[PfcAJ]

I enjoy low vis in OW less than in a cave. Guess its all about what you're used to

[AB8CD]

My biggest problem is an OW night dive with surge... I have a tendency to feed the fishes.

The mental issue with low vis is just an exercise that I can control... My stomach is an exercise that always wins.


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[bullfrog]

Maybe the problem with low vis in a cave is that is so far from the extemely great vis we usually have. I have recovered fishing equipment for friends doing braille dives. literally putting down an anchor and feeling for somthing hard and straight while making circles on a line. I have called a dive at madison blue, martz sink because 2 foot vis made me pucker.It was my first time in there too which added to the stress.

[a64pilot]

Maybe it's because silt outs in a cave are sometimes connected with fatalities in a cave, and we all know that? Ya think?

[fno]

Maybe it's because low vis usually leads to no vis in a very short period of time, I will take low viz any day.......

[CaveMD]

Maybe the problem with low vis in a cave is that is so far from the extemely great vis we usually have. I have recovered fishing equipment for friends doing braille dives. literally putting down an anchor and feeling for somthing hard and straight while making circles on a line. I have called a dive at madison blue, martz sink because 2 foot vis made me pucker.It was my first time in there too which added to the stress.

Thats what I'm going to start calling some of the north alabama cave dives.