Griswold
10-30-2003, 04:54 PM
More learning curve for me.
I took a couple of long time fishing buddies to Key West to introduce them to spearfishing in an easy environment. Both are experienced divers, but it has been 10+ years since they have had any significant bottom time. I grew up shooting in the Keys, but only freediving.
One of them went through the training with me as a refresher. We took Basic Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Nitrox over 6 months. The two of us have spent a fair amount of bottom time together, and have a good idea of each other’s abilities and limitations. My other friend said that he had hundreds of dives, is certified as a Master Diver, is a very good fisherman, and is a good boat captain. Unfortunately, he is also proud.
We anchored and made a late afternoon dive in 60 feet of water prior to a night of Yellowtail fishing. The water was clear, we could see the boat from the bottom, but since it was late in the afternoon the light wasn't great. The current was worse than expected, and we got separated while shooting. I had a bad feeling, since last time I saw my proud friend, he was having problems with his mask. I rounded up my other friend and ended the dive early. I was at the boat, getting my gear off when my friend surfaced about 100 feet behind the boat. I thought, cool everyone accounted for, but a minute or so later, he wasn't any closer to the boat. I swam to him and assisted him against the current back to the boat. The guys on the boat were watching closely and were prepared to put the anchor on a buoy to come back and get us if necessary.
I thought no big deal, until I talked to my friend and he told me that he hadn't needed any help. He said that if I hadn't been there he would have gone back down and worked his way to the boat underwater. There wasn't much air in his tank, it was getting near dusk, the current was just as bad on the bottom as on the top, and I'm sure that he came up behind the boat the first time because he couldn't find the anchor rope. His going back down could have been very bad.
I've learned that pride can get you hurt. A bad decision can take a minor problem and make it very serious.
I took a couple of long time fishing buddies to Key West to introduce them to spearfishing in an easy environment. Both are experienced divers, but it has been 10+ years since they have had any significant bottom time. I grew up shooting in the Keys, but only freediving.
One of them went through the training with me as a refresher. We took Basic Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Nitrox over 6 months. The two of us have spent a fair amount of bottom time together, and have a good idea of each other’s abilities and limitations. My other friend said that he had hundreds of dives, is certified as a Master Diver, is a very good fisherman, and is a good boat captain. Unfortunately, he is also proud.
We anchored and made a late afternoon dive in 60 feet of water prior to a night of Yellowtail fishing. The water was clear, we could see the boat from the bottom, but since it was late in the afternoon the light wasn't great. The current was worse than expected, and we got separated while shooting. I had a bad feeling, since last time I saw my proud friend, he was having problems with his mask. I rounded up my other friend and ended the dive early. I was at the boat, getting my gear off when my friend surfaced about 100 feet behind the boat. I thought, cool everyone accounted for, but a minute or so later, he wasn't any closer to the boat. I swam to him and assisted him against the current back to the boat. The guys on the boat were watching closely and were prepared to put the anchor on a buoy to come back and get us if necessary.
I thought no big deal, until I talked to my friend and he told me that he hadn't needed any help. He said that if I hadn't been there he would have gone back down and worked his way to the boat underwater. There wasn't much air in his tank, it was getting near dusk, the current was just as bad on the bottom as on the top, and I'm sure that he came up behind the boat the first time because he couldn't find the anchor rope. His going back down could have been very bad.
I've learned that pride can get you hurt. A bad decision can take a minor problem and make it very serious.