Whats the big hurry?

[pnevai]

One constant I've seen over the years, even on livaboard trips is what you could call the rush. Boat drops the anchor and then it begins, everyone rushing to get geared up, rushing to get in line at the dive platform, then when submerged the quest to cover as much ground as possible.

I have to admit that for quite a while I was right there, If I did not cover the area of at least a half mile during a dive I felt that I did not see all that I could have. We'd zip here to there trying to explore as much territory as possible. Took me a long time to break that habit. Once a interesting area is reached it pays to slow down.

Rewind back to 1992 or so, The week end was continious training sessions with OW1 and OW2 classes. So being the instroctor in training, I had my hands full. The paying customers had a great time but just ask any dive professional how their day goes. Babysitting the compressor filling 20 tanks into the wee hours of the morning, Shlepping tanks and getting them unloaded and loaded on the boat, being on compressed air in the water 8 to 10 hours a day amongst of other chores. By Sunday afternoon I was pretty beat. So as the last excersise the Instructor wanted to do with the OW2 class was search and recovery. So he hands me this anchor and a lift bag and tell me to haul it about 100 yards from the boat and hide it. I should stay with the anchor in case the class is not able to find it.

So off I go towing the anchor on the lift bag out about 170 kick cycles or so, I find a nice rock to hide the prize behind. So I deflate the lift bag and square away the anchor. Being pooped at this point I make myself comfortable, wedge my tank into a crevise in the rock and sat back to wait. Well I must have relaxed a bit too much because I fell asleep. Out like a light. The rythmic sound of my breathing, the bubbles, the warm water, and weightless environment did me in. I was out about 20 minutes, before I snapped awake, scared the crap out of myself. I checked my spg and I has still over 1200 psi in the tank partly thanks to the shallow depth 26 feet and my slowed breathing while sleeping. The next thing I noticced was that I was surrounded by hundreds of fish and other critters. Seems like during my nap, all the fish and other little creatures went into hiding when I first approached that rock. After a while seeing that I was not a threat and seemed to be a new addition to thier habitat, They came out and started to explore every nook and cranny of my gear. I was being explored by a couple of cleaner shrimp and number of little crabs, and a swarm of little reef fishes.

I had my own little private show going on. And that was about the time the OW2 class showed up. In a flash all of the little critters were gone again. So that encounter marked a change of my diving habits. When ever I would find a suitable spot I sit down in a open patch of sand or another reef safe anchoring point and I would slow my breathing and wait. I have not been dissapointed yet. Sea critters quickly exit their hidy holes and come out to investigat and to return to their normal lives. And you see and experience things the diver without that patience will ever see. So slow down, stop even ther ocean is not going anywhere.

[Capt Hook]

Learned that lesson from my wife; was always motioning for her to keep up. One day, I followed her much slower pace, and saw lots more!

[chinacat46]

I agree with going slow and anybody who dives with me better get used to it. I sometimes just hang under the boat after everybody splits and wait for the stuff to come back out. Some of the best dives I've done I've covered less then 35 feet. I once spent about 80 mins on a night dive at Wakatobi and I don't think we moved more then 25 feet. It was a tremedous dive saw tons of kewl stuff. We even had a sea snake swim right at us.

[coralcrazed]

You fell asleep.... thats not good. However you probably had a show and you are right slow and easy does it. You do see alot more that way. Its just that I dive on vacation as a group so you kinda have to keep up with everyone. However I havefound that you can swim close to the DM in front and as you see something interesting you can drop back to the end of the line and than do it all over again.

[diverdad]

I like your idea of going slow. Im a very curious person so i want to stop and look at everything and most people are in such a hurry the miss 90% of the interesting stuff.

[Mtrewyn]

fell asleep?

[BuzzGA]

Many times I've found a nice sandy spot on a reef and just sat there on the bottom and watched the world go by and every time I've been amazed by something I saw. Diving, while always an adventure, is supposed to be relaxing so why feel like you've just done your cardio for the week? Not to mention you air lasts a lot longer

[Zenagirl]

We did a 2 week liveaboard this summer and often had dives where we spent the entire time practically under the boat (the mooring is right on top of the dive site). We noticed during the second week of our trip where there were quite a few folks who had never done ocean dives (quarry only) were zipping here and there, but as the week went on you could see them slowing down.

Can't say they ever got as slow as me and my husband, but he's a photographer and not many people go slower than a photographer.

[Vercingetorix]

Thanks for the story, and lesson, pnevai. I'm a very new diver with only one...ONE...blue water dive. I'll take this lesson to heart when I finally dive blue water. Not much to see in the local scuba park (Clear Springs at Terrell,TX). A few perch and cat swim by. So, just sitting an waiting willl get you a whole lotta of sitting and waiting.

[coralcrazed]

thats it... time to buy a camera. I know that'll slow me right down. another item to add to the wish list. I just wonder with the diving I do (warm water resort) if the DM will wiat up??? probably not. any suggestions what to do?