hmm, Durbandiver needs to back to dive school. Panic attack on Friday at Birthday ledges. all ok until the descent, (which actually went well even though I had only 5kg instead of my usual 7) but at the bottom the vis was not good and my new mask felt strange, I just freaked and signalled the DM I was going up. I ascended fairly controlled but the instructor tugged my fin and slowed me further wanting me to do the safety stop. Before I knew it we were at the top - being underweighted I couldnt hold the hover. Not a happy DM.
Giving into panic is a very very bad idea (although usually panic means you are not thinking...). I have felt panicked before, especially on deep dives but I always managed to get through it by breathing slowly and turning my air up to max flow for a few breaths. Often the descent can put strain on you so you can feel out of breath which makes you feel panicky....hello.
Lesson learned, dont give in, dont give up, calm down and breathe.
Monday, 30 January 2012
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
ABORT!
Dive to Coopers wreck aborted at 20m. vis all along SA coast bad. Cyclone activity madagascar and Mozambique. big swells, green water.
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Sodwana Bay
On the 10th of January after a few more dives around Durban (some good some not so good....) we headed for 4 nights up to Sodwana Bay lodge. From Durban its about a 4 hour drive with a stop at Hluhluwe Ilala Weavers for lunch.
The resort looks after all your gear, taking it to and from the beach each day and helping make sure all gets onto the boat which is great when diving with children!
The diving at Sodwana is very good, warm tropical waters, excellent visibility and lots of reefs to choose from though the weather and conditions dictate where we end up diving.
Every day there was a steady wind blowing so the launches were quite something, often taking the skippers 3 attempts to find a way through and involving some exciting ducking and weaving. Hold on tight!
We ended up diving 5 and 2 mile reefs with a max depth of 18m but most were 12m or so which meant long nearly 1 hour dives.
The boys and I took lots of photos and got to practice our skills - a few decent shots but its something that will take time to master, particularly with the surge and current that takes you along, making it difficult to stop!
We also did the turtle tour and witnessed a loggerhead and huge 2m+ leatherback lay their eggs from the beginning to the end of the process which was a privilege.
Check the flickr link for photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/durbandiver101/
cant wait to go back!
The resort looks after all your gear, taking it to and from the beach each day and helping make sure all gets onto the boat which is great when diving with children!
The diving at Sodwana is very good, warm tropical waters, excellent visibility and lots of reefs to choose from though the weather and conditions dictate where we end up diving.
Every day there was a steady wind blowing so the launches were quite something, often taking the skippers 3 attempts to find a way through and involving some exciting ducking and weaving. Hold on tight!
We ended up diving 5 and 2 mile reefs with a max depth of 18m but most were 12m or so which meant long nearly 1 hour dives.
The boys and I took lots of photos and got to practice our skills - a few decent shots but its something that will take time to master, particularly with the surge and current that takes you along, making it difficult to stop!
We also did the turtle tour and witnessed a loggerhead and huge 2m+ leatherback lay their eggs from the beginning to the end of the process which was a privilege.
Check the flickr link for photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/durbandiver101/
cant wait to go back!
Monday, 2 January 2012
Great way to end 2011!
7am dive to Coopers Wreck which is rated at Durbans no 1 wreck dive.
Excellent vis of 20m+ but descending was a mission! The current we had been warned about was there - although apparently not too bad! We had to haul ourselves down the anchor line hand over hand but on the wreck it was less evident.
The large soft corals on the wreck were beautiful and there was plenty of sealife to enjoy. I want to go back to Coopers as I used my oxygen a bit quickly due to the exertion of fighting the current. 32 minute dive all up with max depth of 29m.
Then at 9.30 we went to Nevs Ledge, another deep dive. This was a very calm dive, no current, warm water, very relaxing. The DM Chantal and I ended up surfacing last as we had air left and were on nitrox. 42 min dive all up but not a whole lot of sea life. I did find some beautiful nudibranches which I am going to learn more about, they are amazing!
Excellent vis of 20m+ but descending was a mission! The current we had been warned about was there - although apparently not too bad! We had to haul ourselves down the anchor line hand over hand but on the wreck it was less evident.
The large soft corals on the wreck were beautiful and there was plenty of sealife to enjoy. I want to go back to Coopers as I used my oxygen a bit quickly due to the exertion of fighting the current. 32 minute dive all up with max depth of 29m.
Then at 9.30 we went to Nevs Ledge, another deep dive. This was a very calm dive, no current, warm water, very relaxing. The DM Chantal and I ended up surfacing last as we had air left and were on nitrox. 42 min dive all up but not a whole lot of sea life. I did find some beautiful nudibranches which I am going to learn more about, they are amazing!
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