Scuba diving--still #1

For a while now I've been thinking that bicycling may have replaced scuba diving as my favorite sport. After all, I am only able to dive once or twice a year for a week at a time, but I ride my bike nearly every day.

But...I just got back last night from a long weekend in Belize, and I still really love diving. Honestly, once I take that first giant stride into the water, it feels like I'm back where I'm meant to be.

Of course, I've been diving for 26 years, and bicycling regularly as an adult for only two, so it makes sense. I just needed to be reminded of how much fun diving really is.

This trip was especially fun because it was the first time my two nephews and my sister and I have all been diving together. One dive that wasn't so enjoyable was our night dive. We were in the Hol Chan Marine Park, and the current was so strong you could barely make progress against it. I was glad I ride my bike regularly and am in decent aerobic shape. I took a picture of the soft coral to show how strong the current was. We fought against it for about 40 minutes, then made it back to the boat in about 3 minutes!

Attachment 4599

Hi Divebiker,

I am a certified diver also. Actually, whole family is. We have not dove in years but I think I like cycling better probably because I am better at it.

I have such trouble reaching the correct boyuncy (sp?). I have only dove in fresh water quarries also, Dutch Springs in PA then places in Florida. We also dove in a fresh water crater in Utah.

It was fun and I probably would enjoy it more if I didn't have to think about floating up unintensionally all the time. Cycling is such a stress reliever for me and it gives me the feeling for freedom. So for me it is cycling over diving. That is about the extent of my athletic ability anyway lol

Thank you for posting the diving pic. It is so pretty below the waters.

~ JoAnn

I just got re-diagnosed with asthma so my doc says no diving for now. I thought about selling off my gear but just can't bring myself to to let it go...I'll be all better by next summer. :p

He wants to dive so badly, but son (14) and I are scared. We wouldn't stand in his way, but he wants to get certified so he can dive on our cruise in January. I don't want him to because that will be a whole day the three of us will be apart on the cruise. :(

I think my son would like it if he tried it. Unfortunately we can only try it (take the classes) in a murky lake (scary) or a swimming pool (boring). We've been snorkeling, and we all like that. (Son only in a clear river, though, not in the ocean.)

I can't watch TV shows that are about sharks or other things under the sea. I don't eat fish or seafood. I don't care much for aquariums for the same reason, although I can go in them and enjoy my son enjoying them. It creeps me out. Putting my body where I can't fully use all my senses to protect myself creeps me out. Hubby wants to dive in caves and stuff where a giant squid might be hiding! Son and I--NOT. lol.

Snorkeling doesn't have the same effect on me because the water is shallow and I can see what's around me, and usually I can just stand up. I'm not afraid of water in general and grew up with a pool and have been a swimmer since I was 4. I kayak, and water ski, too, but I don't like being out there in the water by myself while the boat comes back.

Since you opened this thread, I thought I'd post and see if anyone had any advice for this situation. I know that things are not always as bad as they seem. I'm perfectly content with never learning to dive. I'd like for my son to try it, though. I think he's less scared than me. I think he and dad would enjoy it together.

I'm happy you enjoy it so much. There's nothing like "knowing" you're where you're supposed to be. I feel that way around water, too, but not UNDER it. lol.

Karen

Janice, I can imagine you now: Floating through the water, coming up and breaking the surface, then exclaiming "I really love diving!" ;) :p It's great that you're able to renew this particular love a few times a year. When can we see more photos??

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Originally Posted by Jo-n-NY

I have such trouble reaching the correct boyuncy (sp?).

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Yeah, it really makes a difference getting the buoyancy right. I've been diving so long that I can guess how much weight I need within a pound. Fussing with adding and dumping weight from a BC really takes away from the enjoyment.

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Originally Posted by Queen

I just got re-diagnosed with asthma so my doc says no diving for now. I thought about selling off my gear but just can't bring myself to to let it go...I'll be all better by next summer. :p

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Oh, no! I hope you get a clean bill of health so you don't have to give it up. I can't imagine what I'd do if I was told I couldn't dive. As it is, I used to be able to do 5 dives a day, but now 2 is usually plenty. My ears really hurt after a week of clearing them.

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Originally Posted by Tuckervill

Since you opened this thread, I thought I'd post and see if anyone had any advice for this situation. I know that things are not always as bad as they seem. I'm perfectly content with never learning to dive. I'd like for my son to try it, though. I think he's less scared than me. I think he and dad would enjoy it together.

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Well, I'd say anyone who is interested in diving should go for it! Your husband and son could take the lessons in the pool, then go to the Caribbean and do the checkout dives in warm water. It's a great excuse for a vacation!

If you are really uncomfortable being the water with the creatures that live there, then by all means you should respect that. But I found that I'm much less scared now that I know what's down there and I know nothing will bother me if I don't bother it.

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

Janice, I can imagine you now: Floating through the water, coming up and breaking the surface, then exclaiming "I really love diving!" ;) :p When can we see more photos??

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Ha, I probably said that a time or two!

My camera doesn't have a very good flash, so most of my pictures are not clear and bright, but since you asked here are a few that turned out ok.

Grey angel fish

Attachment 4602

Flamingo tongue

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Spotted drum

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Nurse shark

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My nephews and me diving

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Originally Posted by Tuckervill

...Since you opened this thread, I thought I'd post and see if anyone had any advice for this situation. I know that things are not always as bad as they seem. I'm perfectly content with never learning to dive. I'd like for my son to try it, though. I think he's less scared than me. I think he and dad would enjoy it together.

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There should be a "Discover Scuba" program offered on the cruise. It's not a full class, but more of a fun orientation that's done in a pool, the participants get to mess with the gear and sit on the bottom of the pool and breathe out of a scuba tank. It's a very good way to determine if scuba would be interesting enough to take a full class...try it, you may fall in love with it like the rest of us!! :D

Awesome!!! What great pictures.

And here I thought you were in Nebraska this weekend! Ha!

Glad you took back to diving like a duck takes to .... well... water! ;)
For me ... I was just a tad too claustrophobic to handle diving very well. Snorkelling is about all I'll do for now. But then, in Belize....well, I suppose the visibility there is a bit better than Long Island Sound, where I used to dive! :rolleyes:

Belize, how freakin cool! I got certified in Miami at 12 years old. My Dad and I used to dive off Ft. Lauderdale alot 30-60' waters. We did much more snorkling, though, cause we had a house on Marathon too. Back then we would get lobster limit in an hour or so snorkling. He and I have been planning a dive trip to Great Barrier for about a year. Its on hold till I get better, but I can't wait. It is so wonderful that you go twice a year. I would probably need a refresher course. :) Any more pics?

Excellent!

I haven't been diving in years, but it is a great sport. I fall into the "I like biking better because I'm better at it" category as well, though! I just don't dive enough to get terribly good at it. DH teases me incessantly because I use up my air so quickly. I am ever so slightly claustrophobic, so I just breath a LOT when I'm diving. :rolleyes:

I've also sworn off diving ANYWHERE a wetsuit is required. No more diving in CA for me.

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Originally Posted by invsblwmn

Belize, how freakin cool! I got certified in Miami at 12 years old. My Dad and I used to dive off Ft. Lauderdale alot 30-60' waters. We did much more snorkling, though, cause we had a house on Marathon too. Back then we would get lobster limit in an hour or so snorkling. He and I have been planning a dive trip to Great Barrier for about a year. Its on hold till I get better, but I can't wait. It is so wonderful that you go twice a year. I would probably need a refresher course. :) Any more pics?

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The refresher is a good thing, I was amazed at the differences in what is being taught now as opposed to when I was originally certified in 1979!

I miss diving the Keys like we could back then, catch bugs and grouper and have ceviche on the boat between dives and lobster for dinner...YUM!! :p



BTW - Divingbiker...my asthma was a mis diagnosis, I have mold allergy's instead.

I am another one who loves the water and enjoys swimming but would be nervous about scuba diving--not so much because of the things that live down there (some of them would be really cool to see!!) but more because of the things that can go wrong in a place where it would really be bad news. I definitely wouldn't want to do cave diving or things like that; I'd be afraid of getting lost down there!! Open water maybe.

Hi Divingbiker!!!!

Thanks for the pics. I LOVE diving too ... I was a divemaster years and years ago and now only get to go once a year too. I miss it terribly and find that every time I go I just want moremoremore. So, not really sure where that puts the biking vs. diving. They're just so different ... I'm just happy I have both in my life. Oh, plus skiing and waterskiing too ... throw that into the mix and then what :confused: There just isn't enough time ...

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I miss diving the Keys like we could back then, catch bugs and grouper and have ceviche on the boat between dives and lobster for dinner...YUM!!

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My favorite was a sweet apple left on the boat after a dive. The saltwater on it, also, YUM! "Bugs" I had forgotten that term, geez, it has been awhile. How about the barracuda that would follow you with a bag of bugs? Remember the sound they would make in the bag, like rubbing your finger on wet rubber? I don't eat things that had moms anymore(lobster included), but thanks for the memories with my dad. :)

Another scuba weenie/snorkeling fan. no fear of creatures but more a feeling of not being in control. I didn't even like it in the pool.

How funny that this thread was resurrected recently...I just got back from a week diving in Curacao, so I do have more pictures! And I still really do love diving.

Somehow I got the knack of my camera (a point and shoot Canon in an underwater housing) and I got a lot of decent pictures this time. Here are a few of my favorites, either because of the subject matter or how cool the picture is.

My favorite, a four-eye butterfly fish looking right at me.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...fishedited.jpg

My other favorite, a juvenile trunkfish (with a feather duster). It's the size of a pea, and I've only seen this fish 3 times in my 25 years of diving. This one I found on my own. It made my trip.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...fishedited.jpg

This is what an adult trunkfish looks like.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...fishedited.jpg

My other favorite, a juvenile spotted drum. Just gorgeous.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...drumedited.jpg

There were tons of Christmas tree worms everywhere.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...ormsedited.jpg

A school of squid in formation.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...quidedited.jpg

A frogfish. They look like sponges, and are very hard to spot.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...Feb2008366.jpg

Lots of small stuff, like this banded coral shrimp.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...Feb2008120.jpg

I have so many pictures of eels; here are just a couple.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...Feb2008116.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...Feb2008145.jpg

A pufferfish. I saw a huge puffer, but the pictures didn't turn out very well.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...Feb2008300.jpg

One of the most gorgeous, a queen angelfish.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...Feb2008441.jpg

Oh, awesome!
I'm amazed you spotted that juvie trunkfish. And that queen angelfish is just beautiful!
Welcome back....
Are you going to put together a book for these trips???

Love the Christmas tree worms!! I spent an entire dive once just watching those pop in and out.

I don't trust those eels...
Really great shots, though!

Glad you added some more photos - those are great.

I love those worms - they are so funny. I'm with Queen - we could jut spend the dive playing with them. :D

If you guys are interested, why not plan a scuba diving trip to sites in Western Australia? We have the Ningaloo Reef, Rottnest Island and many other places!

I'd love to scuba!

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

If you guys are interested, why not plan a scuba diving trip to sites in Western Australia? We have the Ningaloo Reef, Rottnest Island and many other places!

I'd love to scuba!

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I'd love to dive in Australia! But having a non-diving partner is problematic when planning hugely expensive dive trips.

Weeel..if you drink wine Western Australia has the Margaret River region. Wine n dine there plus the Margaret River Chocolate factory and Yahava Koffeeeee will keep you entertained.

Oh, I dream of diving in Australia, but I've never thought about the western side. And Palau and Yap and Papua New Guinea are on my list, too.

I've found a few more pictures from the Curacao trip that turned out ok...and Regina, maybe I'll try to do a little scrapbookish thing the next time you have a get-together.

An intermediate French angel (it will lose its stripes when it's an adult.)
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...Feb2008406.jpg

A stonefish, camouflaged very well.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...Feb2008381.jpg

Two banded coral shrimp in a bunch of colorful coral and sponges.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...Feb2008311.jpg

A front-end view of a trunkfish.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...Feb2008290.jpg

A stoplight parrotfish.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...Feb2008252.jpg

A Pedersen's cleaner shrimp on some odd kind of anemone.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...rimpedited.jpg

A flounder.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...nderedited.jpg

And since you love them so much, two more Christmas tree worms.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...llowedited.jpg

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Originally Posted by divingbiker

And since you love them so much, two more Christmas tree worms.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...llowedited.jpg

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http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...ilies/clap.gifhttp://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...ilies/clap.gifhttp://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...ilies/clap.gifhttp://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...ilies/clap.gifhttp://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...ilies/clap.gifhttp://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...ilies/clap.gif

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

Weeel..if you drink wine Western Australia has the Margaret River region. Wine n dine there plus the Margaret River Chocolate factory and Yahava Koffeeeee will keep you entertained.

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Ooooooo.....
Wine, dine, chocolate, coffee, and coral reefs.
Sounds like heaven!
:D

WOW!!!

I have had some friends pestering me to get certified and join search and rescue. To get shots like you captured would be the icing on the cake. What fantastic pictures! Hmmm.......... adding up the cost of scuba gear................

Thanks for sharing.

Hi!
I was so surprise to find this subject in your posting! Diving and Biking consume my life! I've been a professional diver for years as an instructor, marine researcher and model/photographer/traveller. Looking over your comments, I too find it difficult in keeping up with both sports. I got burnt out on scuba diving from teaching too much and turned to biking lately and have been enjoying it for the past year. I was thinking the other day how it seems that biking has taken over scuba diving. But you're right, it's always going to be a love and a passion. I'm slowly turning into both a fairweather diver and biker and a balance is a good thing.
Nice pictures by the way. In response to some of your postings, a refresher course is always a good thing if you haven't been in the water for 12 months or more. They're normally very cheap and easy. Even if you do get in the water often, it's also good to do refreshers so that you can keep your safety skills up to date!
Also, I've had many students that have been scared of the water, etc. Some of them have even been poor swimmers that took scuba lessons just to get over their fears. I highly recommend it. Scuba classes help you ease into the sport and if you tell your instructor immediately, he/she can help you overcome your fears. I've found for both myself and my students that once you start diving underwater, your fears of the water disappear because you start to see what's underneath and how harmless it is.
Good luck and have fun to both bikers and scuba divers. If you have any questions about diving, I'm happy to answer any! As far as biking, thanks to this website for helping me with gear choices and training!

Another biking scuba diver here - 32 yrs north Atlantic wreck diving. If I found myself in warm clear water I'm not sure I'd know what to do? :D

I got caught in a riptide, hung onto a rock for dear life, ran out of air, and had a lovely panic attack.

2 weeks later a friend of mine got caught in a riptide with nothing to hold onto, got suit pinch and was unable to equalize her mask, was whipped down to 125 feet, and got some owies.

Can't dive anymore. Panic city.

But I can snorkel and swim just fine!

It's all good.

Wow Knotted - riptides are not good places to be. Glad you got out of that one alive. I've had some close calls myself but looking back nothing too bad though for a little luck could have gone very wrong very fast. But when you dive a lot, and I was a mate on a dive boat for several years, I've seen a lot of bad stuff go down, and been through 4-5 chopper evacuations. You really don't wanna go there. Enjoy your snorkeling and live to tell your grandchildren about it.

That sounds rough! Thank goodness you got out of that riptide! Definitely worth being safer than sorry, but there's also still lots of diving opportunities outside of riptide zones where you can enjoy diving and be fear-free.

I did try a couple times after that. Very quiet little bays.
Much deeper than about snorkeling level, and I would become so anxious that I just wasn't having fun anymore.

I'm happy snorkeling, puttering around near shore and looking at the cool critters. Someday I might try diving again, but meanwhile I'm not feeling deprived.