Better to be on the boat wishing you were in the water, than in the water wishing you were on the boat. (I like the strategically placed Exowear boxes)
My wife called the dive when we were ten minutes away from the mud hole when we were getting our OW certification. She was nervous, and felt worse because she felt embarrassed. I was so proud of her, and told her she was the safest diver that day. Plan the dive, dive then plan. The plan always includes the option for abort, so I counted it as a successful dive for us.
I canceled two dives in my dive career. I remember the first time, we had planned a dive to 40m and I had to work late the night before. On the three hour drive to the divesite, my car warned me a few times that I should take a break, because of my steering movements. When I arrived at the site I thought, well if I couldn't drive here safely, I should better not dive to 40m that day.
Just canceled dive this Saturday. We were learning deep dive speciality along with dry suit (I have worn dry suit just two times in a pool before). We were diving in cold Belarussian lake Dolgoe, after we reached 22m, my legs started to fill with air, and I wasn't able to recirculate the air to my upper body because of thinsulate I was wearing. So I tried to do that several times, and after the fifth time I panicked. All day after that my dive instructor was telling me something like "it's all in your head" and "you just need to calm yourself and that's it". But I was so stressed out, that I wasn't psychologically ready even to do fun dive next day. I'm feeling guilty about that even now. But also I understand, that it's always my choice and if I'm not getting pleasure from dive- something goes wrong. And if we continued to decent (we were going to reach more than 30m), it could go even worse. Happy to hear that I'm not alone in thinking that everyone can cancel dive at any time no matter what's wrong. It's our safety and our health.
There is no need to feel guilty. Somebody who says things like "you just have to calm down" don't really understand panic 😅 It's important to get a routine in every action. Routine brings safety and that is what calms you down. Hope you're feeling to dive again soon 👌
Absolutely you should cancel when feeling like that. Dry suit diving has a little more task loading and if you aren’t feeling it. You will not learn and definitely will not have fun or be safe. No guilt you did right. Do a bunch of dives to shallower depths before you go to 30 m in a dry suit. I didn’t break 15 m for about 5-6 dives when I started in dry suit, just to get used to it. Ironically shallower depths are actually a bit harder.
@@mikesbigadventures194 thanks for your advise. I'm going to have several dives in a pool, also want to ask my instructor to cut neck seal not to choke me as hard as it does. About shallower water- you are totally right. I was feeling as I'm underloaded. Also it was my first time wearing wing BCD instead of standard rental vest BCD. Now I understand that you need to know your gear well and to be capable to use it right.
@@alle_namen_schon_vergeben708 Thanks for your support! I'm feeling more than comfortable to dive in wet suit, so will continue diving in it and will do several pool dives in dry suit to get this routine actions as you said. Also I think you're completely right, routine brings safety and confidence and it's important in my case as I'm learning completely new gear configuration.
I cancelled a dive yesterday. Got to the shop for a shore dive and the surf was almost at my limit. For the last few days the wind had been getting stronger through the morning so I was concerned that the surf would be worse on an hour. Had a coffee instead, the surf got a lot worse by the time the dive would have ended. Even if the sea had been flat, I still would have been happy with my call.
*The No1 objective of scuba diving is that everyone returns safely* I will always respect a decision to abort or cancel a dive for this reason. Be safe Scuba Brothers and Sisters.
Cancelled a dive a few weeks ago. Too many equipment problems. First time diving in cold fresh water with a 7mm rental wetsuit. Trying a new BCD which didn’t have enough integrated weight pockets. Rental Weight belt kept slipping past my knees. Spent about 20 mins on bottom and sat rest of dives on the boat. Felt disappointed but realized that I just didn’t have the right gear.
I cancelled the fun dive after my Stress/Rescue certification. We had spent close to 5 hours in cold water and I started shivering after three minutes. No one argued
12 years ago I was in FL on vacation and wanted to dive the Vandenberg. I was quite inexperienced then with only around 15 dives and no wreck or deep experience but the dive center told me I could make it. They recommended and sold me a private guide to assist me on the dive so I trusted them. On site me had very strong current and the guide told me, what he was not only with me, but with 2 other divers. We went in the water and held on to a rope but half of all the divers called the dive off even before making the descent. my guide was so involved with the other two divers that he lost sight of me after just a few feet. I also should called the dive off then, but as you said in the video: I thought of the money and the experience and my ego - and we also did not talk about reasons to call off a dive. anyways... I pulled myself alone all the way down to the wreck. the current was so strong that I had to pause every few meters and hide in the slipstream of some kind of markers on the rope. I still remember the moment, when the Vandenberg appeared but fortunately I pulled myself together and turned around after touching it once. up on deck I was totally exhausted and all the crew and my guide were agitated because no-one knew were I was. They checked my Computer for Deco and the guide padded me on my shoulder, telling me, what a great diver I was. that day, only 3 divers made the decent, me being on of them. with my experience now I know, that I was very lucky that day. I was not a great diver - I was an idiot and my guide knew, that he had f'ed up - we both were lucky that day. I didn't know my limits and the danger that can come with some of these dives. In a way this dive made me more aware and respectful and I am happy to call off a dive for any of the mentioned reasons in the video. no (recreational) dive should be worth risking your life. when diving now, protocol for calling off a dive is one of my main parts in the briefing. if you (or I) have a problem, we call it off - no question asked. especially if you are inexperienced.
Same for me. I have done my classes and going for my certification in two weeks. James breaks everything down and is very enjoyable to watch. Good luck on your classes and certification dives.
Great topic that could save a life someday…. I’ve called two dives that I can remember. One time I got a little seasick while waiting to get off the boat. I thought that I’d be better once I was in the water. I was at first, but while waiting for one of our group on the surface it hit me again and I just didn’t feel like puking through my regulator. The other time I had something go ‘pop’ in my ear… it turned out to be nothing that a doctor could find, but it sure felt like something when it happened.
Cancelled my last dive in Egypt last month due to injury. The cylinder was so tight in the rack on the boat I tore my back muscles trying to get it out.Though laying on the boat for 30 minutes I eventually kitted up in water for the first dive.After returning to boat I just said that's it forget the next dive .Turns out it wasn't a muscle but I had actually crushed my vertibrae.. Needless to say I'm all good now
I cancelled a dive a few weeks ago… First dive was nice, good viz and decent conditions. Second dive…surf had picked up and there was a strong current. We were way off of drop point…when we dropped we had a hard kick and we’re getting tossed around…called the dive and had an unpleasant kick in… Always better safe than sorry. If you’re not feeling it, you’re not in for a good time.
Was on a training dive and was pushing it a bit, the captain of the boat cancel the dive before anyone got in the water. Was amazed that he then apologized to us for the wasted time. Such a tough thing for a Lake Erie boat to do and then apologized to us i was impressed
My fiancé and I are fairly new divers and we cancelled a dive on our last vacation. Flew down to Florida, had dives scheduled the next afternoon, but we ran into flight delays and a scary issue with the plane. All that resulted in a big lack of sleep and anxiety - we were physically and mentally exhausted. We talked about it and even said, “Remember what James told us during our OW training?” and then we felt confident we were making the right decision. Didn’t regret it! Learned a lesson, too….not to schedule dives the nest day after travel just in case we experience a similar situation. Thanks, James!
My buddy and I had to cancel and cut a trip short in Key Largo. Our last day of dives there they canceled due to weather. We decided to start driving back to Illinois and do our last dive of the trip, a fresh water dive. However that next morning His sunburn from the day before on the beach was so bad he was not able to put a wetsuit on. So our trip was cut short and we started driving home. Still an incredible trip and a lot of great memories made.
Hi James excellent video I canceled a dive on the gas line in 1972 Took a little heat after waiting a week for weather we just got to the bottom at 55 ft my buddy pointed at his chest so I called it To management time is money and the people in the office who don't dive were a little ticked with me . Till they found out from the hospital my buddy had a collapsed lung With a new buddy we finished the job the next day
I might add it didn't look right he wasn't exhausting enough air. It was late November I thought his regulators were freezing up I figured we would go up fix the problem go back down it was late in the day the guys on the boat wanted to go home He Had a little burning feeling in his chest his wife sent him to emerge they diagnosed collapsed lung
Hi James, I cancelled a dive once. I was diving for the first time in over 18 months and had only 6 dives in my log book. The dive company didn’t check on my experience (or rather lack of it) nor did they offer a skills review. When kitting up, I became really anxious and tried to tell them but my feelings were brushed aside. I called the dive. The dive guide tried to convince me I would be ok and said I should not be so ‘silly’. Fortunately I did not listen to him. Now, having had more experience, I know it was the right thing to do. Thanks for another great Vid.
The first time I had to cancel a dive was on the Strength Wreck many years ago. I was in a rental suit and the water was pretty chilly. We had to descend to the upper deck railing, then wait for the rest of the group. When my buddy and I got there, I was uncomfortable, by the time the last diver got there, I was shivering and had to call it. I felt soooooooo bad for my buddy. Since then, I have called dives for lots of reasons. I guess, I'm trying to say that it's harder when you're new, but you grow a tougher skin and learn to trust your own judgment.
I've made hundreds of dives and only once did I cancel. I had already done three dives and at the end of the day I just didn't feel very well, so I just cancelled that dive. Everyone else went on the dive, and I just relaxed on the boat. Nobody asked me why, no problem. That was with Desert Sea Divers out of Jeddah KSA and I had been diving with these guys forever. I've know other people do the same thing. Your advice is right on.
Cancelled a few. First one was on my open water course with chest pain. Second one was Tofo in Mozambique - 5m swell, thunderstorm, tiny boat….had 9 dives to my day, got in water, looked down, couldn’t see bottom. Panicked, got out. Then once in South Africa due to unexpected shingles. And a couple of times afterwards due to not feeling it.
Only ever canceled one. I was DM'ing and had a ear problem. I was just setting the float with a DMC and canceled at about 20 feet down and surfaced. He set the float, we went back, i told the instructor the problem and i pulled shore duty. No harm no foul, well for the class anyway, I had minor barotrauma and had to stay out of the water for a month.
Canceled my first dive last weekend. We were cave training, team of 5, shit viz. After tying into the mainline I turned around couldn't see anyone, headed back out found buddies and gave the thumb. We all exited. Went back in later that day with a split team but something was just screaming in the back of my head to GTFO of here. Rest of the weekend went fine, I just think with such limited viz trying to keep track of 5 people was going to be a bit much. Good video mate.
I cancelled a dive a couple of weeks ago. It was a shore dive at a site I've dived dozens of time so I know it really well. Throughout the morning, on the journey down to the Cove and putting my kit together, several little things went wrong - nothing major, just little niggly things that were easy enough to fix, just annoying. When we were entering the water, I slipped on the rocks and ended up with my cylinder wedged between two rocks and needed to be hauled back up by my buddies. At that point, I called the dive. Some god somewhere was telling me not to dive that day, so I didnt! Luckily, there were a few of us diving so my buddy went on with the dive whilst I sat on the beach. Sometimes you have to listen to the voice inside your head saying "Not today".
When it happens once, it could be them. When it keeps happening, it's probably you. When little things keep going wrong, you're lacking concentration. Engaging in an activity that requires concentration at that point is unsafe. Good call.
An instructor I had one time had a “3 things” rule. If any three things go wrong, dive cancelled. Could be anything at all, gas station breakfast burrito leaks into your lap, blow an oring, forget to charge a GoPro, someone’s trying to tell you not to go diving that day.
Bad Juju!!! That's me. I was in Kenya recently and decided to pick up diving again after a few years off. Did my refresher in the pool and then had two dives planned for the following morning. I followed the advice... slept well, kept myself hydrated, and even took the dramamine for the boat ride. Get to the dive site, captain ties up to the buoy on the bow end, we kit up nice and easy and drop into the water. After a short swim to the line, I start feeling it: a memory of a panic attack I had years ago just popped into my head. So there I am at the surface, my mind is beginning to play tricks on me before I've even started the descent. Then I'm thinking about my gf and my kids and before you know it, I'm done. I wanna be out of there. I tell the DM that I'm calling it for myself and, as there were only three of us, he could go ahead with my buddy and continue the dive. So I get back on the boat and spend 45 minutes mentally kicking my own ass! I was reminding myself that I had over 200 dives under my belt, that most of my dives were in cold and murky water around the UK, that my kids would not be impressed if their "hero" daddy came home only to regale them with stories of how I bottled out. The final nail in the coffin was, as we passed another dive boat, I noticed a young DM as she helped a diver out of his wheelchair and into the water. Game over! I did the second dive and loved it with every fibre of my bruised ego!
Good stuff James. For those of you who are looking to dive with James for training. He means it when he says “no questions asked”. Great Video man. Looking forward to the footage from the Sardine Run!
James I agree with everything you said and have told my students for the past 20+ years exactly that. It needs to be said a lot because of the reasons you stated. Great job keep it up. Thanks
I aborted a dive about a month ago. I was diving dry and my son and I traded undergarments I did not adjust my weight. On decent I should hav swam back to the boat and added a couple pounds. Instead I swam down the line thinking it would get better at depth. No I was working so hard to stay down after 10 min on the bottom i was gassed and had to abort and do a free assent. We were only in 60 feet of water and we were close to the boat. Dive was bad for me I was a bad buddy all my focus was on trying to stay down. This was the first dive of a 2 tank charter. The second dive with a few more pounds weight was right, but i was off. The first one had me not relaxed and able to enjoying the dive. Thanks for making the video James I hope someone can learn from you video and my experience. Cheers
Yet another so often over looked topic but one that is far from unheard of. Also one that has both directly and indirectly affected me. Thank you Jamesy. Keep up the good work.
In the cave diving community it goes without saying anyone can cancel a dive for ANY reason at ANY time. Even after driving hours to a dive site, and just not feeling good about it.
Well, a couple of weeks ago, me and 2 friends did a wreck dive in a "harbour" environment. It's a popular dive spots and all the operators in the area are aware of it (And we had a dive flag up). Maximum depth about 12 m. After about fifteen minutes into the dive one diver in the group gets a free flowing second stage. So we decide we need to abort the dive because he's losing gas fast and can't stop the free flow. I was the first to reach the surface and see that one of the ferry boats (50 passengers capacity.) is heading in our direction. Deployed a DSMB, the captain saw us and kept his distance.
With the Covid layoff, I'd become far too Elvis-like. My drysuit was no mas, so I rented the largest 7mm wetsuit and hood the dive shop had for some boat dives in Monterey. I needed the DM's considerable efforts to get the damned thing zipped up. After my giant stride into the water, it became clear that I couldn't get a full breath, with the tightness around my chest and the hood's squeeze on my neck. I called the dive before I even attempted to descend. I knew that I had made the right decision when the relief waved over me when the hood came off and the wetsuit unzipped. Any dive that started like that wasn't going to end well.
A non diver’s dad passed away when we were vacationing on a remote island. He was frantically looking for earliest ferry to leave. I called to cancel the remainder of the dives and drive him back after taking earliest ferry available.
great video as usual 👌 I did cancel dive once just before go on the boat due to massive waves and wind ( we couldn’t get on an board) but diving centre due to financial pressure still continued diving trip in Caribbean Sea. i’m not going to mention diving centre name but never will dive with them again ! unfortunately sometimes money are more important than safety 😞
So I currently have what I think is a moderate case of sinusitis, most of the time without congestion, but feels like blocked sinuses, headaches and tender ears. I am meant to start my OW course on Monday, currently I feel unfit to dive, but that could change in five days. My last day to cancel the trip is today (the only reason I’m going on this trip is for scuba), so do I cancel? If I do I will rebook for the next shoulder season, but this is my second attempt at this trip as last time I also got ill before. Any advice?
The most recent one I cancel was in a dive spot that been diving for several time, sudden I was tearing with no reason…. That’s when I told my body have to leave…when I got out…. Everything is good!
We tried to dive on our honeymoon. It was my first salt water. Needed more weight. Got the resolved and finally got under...couldn't equalize so I got back on the boat with one of the guides while the rest went on. He got me settled then joined the group so I hung out with the captain in very rough water and ended up getting sea sick. Turns out, I had still managed to do some barotrauma to my ear in that time so it was a good thing I didn't push through! (And a good thing the dives were included in the resort stay so we weren't out money either 👍)
I aborted my dives in Molokai, Hawaii just this January. Beautiful day, beautiful water conditions, but I could not settle myself. It was too long since I certified, with no dives between, and I was way too rusty with my skill comfort. I was performing the skills ok, but it was taking all my mental energy to do so. Adding in following the divemaster, trying to operate a camera, look at the scenery and wildlife, keep an eye on buoyancy and gauges, etc…. Too much. I scrubbed my dives, snorkeled a bit and upon returning home enrollment in a refresher and booked more pool time (lakes are still under a foot or more of ice). Someday I’ll go back, but when I do I will be better prepared.
I would always ask why someone wants to cancel. Not to be a jerk but because they may have thought of something you never considered. Which could be a Ah-ha moment
While I'm sure James would love to teach you, that type of information is best handled face to face. James has said before on this channel that he won't be doing any instruction videos, so look up Miami Technical Diving and schedule a lesson with them if you'd really enjoy being taught by James. Safe diving.
I canceled a dive a week ago. it was a deep dive at a wreck (Paris II, Kemer Antalya) and i gained a headache from the first dive that was just getting worse and the dive was planned for me personally .
I have cancelled 2 maybe 3 dive in my entire diving history. My last one was in January 2019 when I had the plessure to dive in Palau. I was there for 14 days and the plan was to do 20 dives! have some rest and land days are highly recomendet there it's a beautifull country! So at one day after our 2 regular dives the captain asked us if anybody wants to do a third dive at a very famous wreck in the region. And although I was already tired I agreed to do the third dive! It was a very nice wreck dive I have to say! On the next day we were supposed to go out early in the morning as everyday, When I showed up in the base I did not feel well! My stomach was rebelling, so I asked the people what I should do, They gave me a bottle of water I drunk the water, did nothing. So the plan was beeing on a boat with no toilette for about 6 hours. SO I decidet to cancel the day and get myself a rest day. As soon as I walked out of the dive base my stomach relaxed and I was fine. This told my my body said, last day, the 3 dives, was to much give it a break! But for all of you reading this, let me tell you one thing, be aware that the dive or the day you cancel, the most amazing things you can imagine will happen on the dive you have just cancelled! On this particular day I canceled, sitting on the beach bar drinking colourfull coctails, My dive crew saw a Tiger Shark eating a Manta Ray! No joke, there is a video of it on youtube, just search for: Palau Tiger shark eats Manta! The video is not from my groupe but they saw the same!
Called a dive yesterday at the mooring line on Lake Michigan due to poor conditions. Weather seemed good inside the break, but turned poor soon after getting out into the water.
A tricky thing is to, not to cancel the dive, but to change the plan in the water. For example, the plan is to penetrate the wreck but for some reason you don´t want to do it. If the reason is obvious, i.e. really bad viz, it´s easy, but if it´s just your instinct or feeling, it may not be so easy to communicate. The lessson from this is to include diffrent options and "what ifs" in your plan. And yes, I´ve cancelled dives too. And yes, on occasion I´ve held a hand of a frightened buddy in bad viz, all went well :-)
100% agree! I cancelled a dive on the Raggie Reef during the Sardine Run. I am super proud of that decision. It was the best thing to do. Things were stacking up against a good dive for me and so I bailed. #diversready
We have a simple little rule for canceling a dive before we get into the water: "If three things happen, we don't go into the water" For example arriving stressed out at the site because of a traffic jam, one lamp is not fully charged, somebody forgot to put the lead on etc. The dive could go well but chances are the mind is not fully in "dive-mode"
Cancelled one last month 10 mins before dive due to IBS getting the better of me. My buddy just shrugs his shoulders and asked "when are we going next time? " we are cool with it and it's how we was trained.
Canceled a dive couple weeks ago in Lake Michigan. Hit the water and my entire right leg immediately got wet and cold. Didn't zip the drysuit all the way. Probably could have tried to address this in the water, but the longer I was there, the heavier I was getting. Couple that with the bottom temp of 46F and the fact that the dive was planned as a long (deco) dive, I would have froze my leg and had a not so enjoyable experience. Head back to the boat, drain the drysuit and live to dive another day!!
If you can't disclose it, no problem.. but who do you dive with in Key Largo? Im in Broward county and looking for recommendations on charters both in the Miami area and KL. Thanks in advance 👌
Great topic! Of course I’ve had charters cancel on me due to bad weather but I don’t want to be out in that anyway. I’ve only ever canceled for either unpleasant/unsafe current/vis from the descent line or one trip when the waters were too cold and I didn’t have proper gear so I skipped a couple dives. No regrets, no shame. Oh… I have looked up to find myself all alone (pot luck buddies) and depending on conditions I may surface or I may continue the dive. Not best practice but true.
As a Fellow UK diver, i just invested in my first propper drysuit with all the bling bling and ultima systems sitech neck kevlar reinforcements and whatnot, but since i live in a studio room apartment finding room for storange is quite hard and im abit worried since its a big investment and i dont want to damage it as little as possible but beeing able to use my sofa for other things haha, could you make a video about drysuit storange and maintenence for the coldwater divers !
I've only cancelled a dive once. Ironically, it was my advanced open water certification. I had a solo vacation in Aruba and figured this would be a good use of the time, but managed to pick up a sinus infection in Miami 2 days before. I was so feverish that I couldn't even sit on the beach and be miserable, but rather sat in the climate controlled hotel room and felt slightly less miserable. Even as a novice diver with less than 10 dives to my name at the time, I knew a sinus infection underwater was a recipe for disaster. Fortunately divemaster Karl was extremely accommodating (not to mention a hell of an instructor and an all around good dude) and I was able to delay my dives a couple days at no additional cost and I still got my AOW (and Nitrox) that week. Not all dive shops will be as customer-friendly.
@@diveinstructordaniel1095 Sorry - I don't recall his certification levels. At minimum, he was certified to teach AOW and it clearly wasn't his first time.
@@deansch6089 Then he must have been at least Instructor :) I’m just asking because when I first started I got teached by a divemaster and not an actual instructor. I didn’t know better that a divemaster is not allowed to teach.
First sea dive this year in April. I had 3 minor things go wrong, which if only one of had happened well ok no biggy as easily resolved, but aft the 3rd I just thought you know what today’s not the day to dive.
Canceled one because i was exhausted. Just didn’t get any sleep, and i wasn’t up to it. Another time in Mexico, weather forecast for the next day was horrific, pulled out. They still went , but it was ugly.
I scrubbed a dive on the Thistlegorm wreck (Red Sea - Ras Mohamed National Park). I was No.4 of 4 going down the mooring line. Very strong current diving to 30+ metres. My dive computer shows me stopping at 20.8 metres for about 30 seconds. I remember all of a sudden it being hard to get air. I stopped and concentrated, it WAS more difficult. I switched to my alternate which was fine and tried to tell the others that I had to abort. They by now had reached the ship and were wondering where I was. The dive guide came back up the line and I indicated I was having equipment problems and needed to abort. He told me to go up slowly, do the safety stop, he and the others continued the dive. I borrowed a regulator from the captain and completed the second dive as planned. I was concerned because I had to ascend and do a safety stop on potentially faulty equipment on my own. As the dive was aborted early, the ship's crew had not lowered the safety tank yet. Long story short. I had the (ScubaPro) regulator checked. No fault was found?!
God it would be a long list if I listed all the dives I've canceled. One thing I have found is that reputable operators when the forecast is dicey don't seem to mind giving you credit or a refund if you decide to canceled the day before, despite being within the 24 or 48 hour window for no refunds. Last dive I canceled, the Lake Mead B-29 dive, I paid a ridiculous $450 to do that dive. I suit up and much struggle I get my tanks on, and start descending. Half way through the descent I noticed that when puffing my inflator I felt that the air was a little wet. Thinking that it was just sweat from gearing up in the 100+ degree topside temps, I continued on. Until I got past the thermocline where it was below 60 degrees. I quickly realize that isn't sweat, I have a leak. I signal the DM and thumb it telling him to continue with the other customer. He catches up to me to ask why, I signal cold. He nods understandingly and goes back to the other customer. And I made my ascent. I did dive 2 after having someone check my neck seal. But my mojo wasn't completely there because I forgot to hook up my inflator completely, and only noticed it once I get to 90 feet.
One time i have must finish diving after the first dive. Maybe 5 minutes before we finish the dive my head start to feel extrem bad. It have hold up to i was back on the boat. For the next 50 min the reling was my best frend. End of the trip: a mix out of heathit and foodpoisen... but my diveschool have give me a complete day to dive for free for the next time! Cancel a dive? Sure if you not feel good. Better save then sorry.
James, thanks for the info about aborting dives. My daughter and I had to make 3 attempts in a row to dive our local spot recently. 2 dives canceled, almost the 3rd. 1st-weather forecast was wrong. Canceled it before we left the driveway. 2nd- she got seasick before we exited the jetties. 3rd time we finally made it out and had a great dive! #askdiversready could you share some more of your common dive hand signals? Stuff to add to the basics we learn in OW class? Thanks!
I did a double dive where i forgot to take my seasick tablets, too late when the boat is heading out to sea and the tablets are in the glove box. first dive went ok but on the way to the surface after the safety stop, as soon as the swell started to hit me, I knew i was in trouble. By the time I got on the boat I knew my day was over. When the DM asked me to get ready for the second dive, i flat out said my day was over (between throwing up over the side). The Dm was a little insistant that i do the second dive but after I made it very clear that my day was over!! I was way too sick to risk going down again. I was then left alone whilst the rest of the boat did their second dive. It took me two days to recover and feel normal again. needless to say, i will not forget my tablets again :)
Hi if you cannot respect a divers choice to abort a dive. When it's your turn to abort you shouldn't expect the divers respect. I have only called a few dives for such things as tiredness and not feeling 100%. Nothing to do with alcohol, consumption either. But I have to admit I did one shore diver at Monterrey Bay when I shouldn't have I was far to tired. But the second dive I called. I was told from day one any diver can call any dive at anytime for any reason.
Can you talk about wreck diving more, Do you have to take a special course to go to a wreck dive if you don't penatrate?? As long as you are in your qualified depth range of course
My sister had a food poisoning during our safari, but she decided to dive anyway. As a result she passed out underwater. So we've learned to be mindful about it the hard way.
On the "Bad Juju" concept, it can be entirely logical rather than superstitious. The "bad feeling" can be your sub-conscious having spotted something, or put together a set of factors that you haven't consciously worked out as being a problem.
Spot on content as usual. Can you recommend a good dive operation in Key Largo? I've used two different ones so far and not all that happy with either. Thanks Big J
He has posted on here before, he uses Horizon Divers in Key Largo. Friendly dive operator, and have worked with my crippled butt to get me in the water.
Being able to call a dive mid dive is probably the most important option in this video. If you feel something has gone wrong, call it, safety is paramount, and any properly trained diver knows this... Sure it might be disappointing to not reach the secondary goal of the dive, but the primary goal is always arrive back safely.
I will never forget a story a OW instructor told me when we were drinking some time after a lesson. He was proudly telling us he had a holiday dive with 3 experienced friends, planned to go fairly deep. And then HIS buddy had a leaking hose. After communicating a bit and his buddy told him to go on with the other two divers, and he would get back up (about 20 meters). He chose to go onwards without his buddy, who had to get back to surface on failing equipment. Luckily the other buddypair were like hell no he wont go alone and they regrouped, two going to the surface and 2 going onwards. For one: how the hell can you tell this to some fresh Open Water Divers as an instructor. Not a great example of the Buddy system. And even worse: how can you be so selfish to not take care of your own buddy, no matter what they say and however experienced they tell you they are. Equipment failure should always have priority, who knows what might happen next on the way up.
Most of the dives I have cancelled over the years were because of sinus and/or inner ear issues. Reverse sinus squeeze is not fun nor is vertigo. I don't think I have ever cancelled a dive due to equipment failure. Check your equipment at home before you ever leave for the dive. And carry spare equipment.
Was really hoping he was about to channel the Rock with "take all those thoughts, write them on a piece of paper, roll it up into little all and..." but things didn't get sideways
Cancelled a dive once on my 2nd year as a diver, also first trip in cold waters. After my AM dive, I felt completely exhausted and debriefing with myself, I believe I did build up CO2 because I was breathing superficially. Not sure why. I went to bed, drank plenty of energy drink and let my wife/buddy have our dive guide we had that day for herself. I was fine by the time the boat came back to the shore. Of course, they did have a seal encounter that time... I never regretted this call and firmly believe I would have regretted to force myself into diving that afternoon. The operator charged me for the boat trip, but not for the tank/dive. Like if I was a snorkeler. Totally fair! I am still one dive behind my wife to this day but will probably have the opportunity to do 4-5 more than her on our next trip... while she works... MOUHAHAHA!
My last cancelled dive was on a liveaboard and i was hungover as a moose on the third day of diving so i decided to stay on a shady part of the deck with a cold one that day. One might add to this story that it was just friends on our own boat that week....
Diving in the northeast it is inevitable. Not one person has ever criticized my cancelling a dive, and they have all dove with me after the cancellations. Like we all have said we all will have to Cancel a dive for one reason or another. It is inevitable. My most recent cancellation was due to poor visibility. Was mdoing a wreck dive and just was not comfortable with only being able to see 18 inches in front of me.
I know this is an older video (comment may not get read), but what are your thoughts on aborting a dive underwater. But letting the group continue. Can you reassign a buddy underwater?
Yes, you can, as long as that was a strategy discussed during the predive brief. It also depends on the reason for the abort. For instance, if you abort the dive because you feel suddenly unwell or light headed, you’re going to need your buddy to abort their dive, ascend with you and be your safety diver.
Rule number 1 never hold your breath 🤣 come on now James. In technical diving (TDI) a required skill is breath hold and swim 15 metres at depth. What you meant to say was never hold your breath while ascending 🤦🏽♂️🤿
I call off the dive after I get bumped by an alligator. I call off the dive for the day after the second time I get bumped by another alligator on the same golf course.
If you think cancelling your personal dive is bad... just remember. If you drown you're canceling everyone's dive, the second dive if you're on the first dive of two, and likely canceling your life.
Better to be on the boat wishing you were in the water, than in the water wishing you were on the boat. (I like the strategically placed Exowear boxes)
My wife called the dive when we were ten minutes away from the mud hole when we were getting our OW certification. She was nervous, and felt worse because she felt embarrassed. I was so proud of her, and told her she was the safest diver that day. Plan the dive, dive then plan. The plan always includes the option for abort, so I counted it as a successful dive for us.
This makes me happy.
That was taught in my sdi owc. Any diver, for any reason. I will always honor it.
I canceled two dives in my dive career. I remember the first time, we had planned a dive to 40m and I had to work late the night before. On the three hour drive to the divesite, my car warned me a few times that I should take a break, because of my steering movements. When I arrived at the site I thought, well if I couldn't drive here safely, I should better not dive to 40m that day.
That should be a feature in dive computers.... a bit of predictive AI to see if you're off your game and the computer just Nopes you out of the dive.
Just canceled dive this Saturday. We were learning deep dive speciality along with dry suit (I have worn dry suit just two times in a pool before). We were diving in cold Belarussian lake Dolgoe, after we reached 22m, my legs started to fill with air, and I wasn't able to recirculate the air to my upper body because of thinsulate I was wearing. So I tried to do that several times, and after the fifth time I panicked. All day after that my dive instructor was telling me something like "it's all in your head" and "you just need to calm yourself and that's it". But I was so stressed out, that I wasn't psychologically ready even to do fun dive next day. I'm feeling guilty about that even now. But also I understand, that it's always my choice and if I'm not getting pleasure from dive- something goes wrong. And if we continued to decent (we were going to reach more than 30m), it could go even worse.
Happy to hear that I'm not alone in thinking that everyone can cancel dive at any time no matter what's wrong. It's our safety and our health.
There is no need to feel guilty. Somebody who says things like "you just have to calm down" don't really understand panic 😅
It's important to get a routine in every action. Routine brings safety and that is what calms you down.
Hope you're feeling to dive again soon 👌
Absolutely you should cancel when feeling like that. Dry suit diving has a little more task loading and if you aren’t feeling it. You will not learn and definitely will not have fun or be safe. No guilt you did right. Do a bunch of dives to shallower depths before you go to 30 m in a dry suit. I didn’t break 15 m for about 5-6 dives when I started in dry suit, just to get used to it. Ironically shallower depths are actually a bit harder.
@@mikesbigadventures194 thanks for your advise. I'm going to have several dives in a pool, also want to ask my instructor to cut neck seal not to choke me as hard as it does. About shallower water- you are totally right. I was feeling as I'm underloaded. Also it was my first time wearing wing BCD instead of standard rental vest BCD. Now I understand that you need to know your gear well and to be capable to use it right.
@@Klereck1 Oh yeah that’s a lot to deal with. It’s not in your head. Good choice
@@alle_namen_schon_vergeben708 Thanks for your support! I'm feeling more than comfortable to dive in wet suit, so will continue diving in it and will do several pool dives in dry suit to get this routine actions as you said. Also I think you're completely right, routine brings safety and confidence and it's important in my case as I'm learning completely new gear configuration.
Bad Juju. Good one! Thoughts and fears can create overlooks and self-sabotage.
I cancelled a dive yesterday.
Got to the shop for a shore dive and the surf was almost at my limit. For the last few days the wind had been getting stronger through the morning so I was concerned that the surf would be worse on an hour.
Had a coffee instead, the surf got a lot worse by the time the dive would have ended.
Even if the sea had been flat, I still would have been happy with my call.
*The No1 objective of scuba diving is that everyone returns safely*
I will always respect a decision to abort or cancel a dive for this reason.
Be safe Scuba Brothers and Sisters.
Cancelled a dive a few weeks ago. Too many equipment problems. First time diving in cold fresh water with a 7mm rental wetsuit. Trying a new BCD which didn’t have enough integrated weight pockets. Rental Weight belt kept slipping past my knees. Spent about 20 mins on bottom and sat rest of dives on the boat. Felt disappointed but realized that I just didn’t have the right gear.
I cancelled the fun dive after my Stress/Rescue certification. We had spent close to 5 hours in cold water and I started shivering after three minutes. No one argued
That's a great book, you're a lighthouse in this industry Shine on!
12 years ago I was in FL on vacation and wanted to dive the Vandenberg. I was quite inexperienced then with only around 15 dives and no wreck or deep experience but the dive center told me I could make it. They recommended and sold me a private guide to assist me on the dive so I trusted them. On site me had very strong current and the guide told me, what he was not only with me, but with 2 other divers. We went in the water and held on to a rope but half of all the divers called the dive off even before making the descent. my guide was so involved with the other two divers that he lost sight of me after just a few feet.
I also should called the dive off then, but as you said in the video: I thought of the money and the experience and my ego - and we also did not talk about reasons to call off a dive. anyways... I pulled myself alone all the way down to the wreck. the current was so strong that I had to pause every few meters and hide in the slipstream of some kind of markers on the rope. I still remember the moment, when the Vandenberg appeared but fortunately I pulled myself together and turned around after touching it once.
up on deck I was totally exhausted and all the crew and my guide were agitated because no-one knew were I was. They checked my Computer for Deco and the guide padded me on my shoulder, telling me, what a great diver I was. that day, only 3 divers made the decent, me being on of them.
with my experience now I know, that I was very lucky that day. I was not a great diver - I was an idiot and my guide knew, that he had f'ed up - we both were lucky that day. I didn't know my limits and the danger that can come with some of these dives. In a way this dive made me more aware and respectful and I am happy to call off a dive for any of the mentioned reasons in the video. no (recreational) dive should be worth risking your life. when diving now, protocol for calling off a dive is one of my main parts in the briefing. if you (or I) have a problem, we call it off - no question asked. especially if you are inexperienced.
taking my open water class currently in Tampa and this is the channel i've landed on for info. excellent unbiased info without fluff.
He definitely knows his stuff
Same for me. I have done my classes and going for my certification in two weeks. James breaks everything down and is very enjoyable to watch. Good luck on your classes and certification dives.
Great topic that could save a life someday….
I’ve called two dives that I can remember. One time I got a little seasick while waiting to get off the boat. I thought that I’d be better once I was in the water. I was at first, but while waiting for one of our group on the surface it hit me again and I just didn’t feel like puking through my regulator. The other time I had something go ‘pop’ in my ear… it turned out to be nothing that a doctor could find, but it sure felt like something when it happened.
+1 for Gareth Lock’s book. Needs a couple of reads to sink in, but the detail is amazing.
Cancelled my last dive in Egypt last month due to injury. The cylinder was so tight in the rack on the boat I tore my back muscles trying to get it out.Though laying on the boat for 30 minutes I eventually kitted up in water for the first dive.After returning to boat I just said that's it forget the next dive .Turns out it wasn't a muscle but I had actually crushed my vertibrae.. Needless to say I'm all good now
I cancelled a dive a few weeks ago…
First dive was nice, good viz and decent conditions.
Second dive…surf had picked up and there was a strong current. We were way off of drop point…when we dropped we had a hard kick and we’re getting tossed around…called the dive and had an unpleasant kick in…
Always better safe than sorry. If you’re not feeling it, you’re not in for a good time.
Was on a training dive and was pushing it a bit, the captain of the boat cancel the dive before anyone got in the water. Was amazed that he then apologized to us for the wasted time. Such a tough thing for a Lake Erie boat to do and then apologized to us i was impressed
My fiancé and I are fairly new divers and we cancelled a dive on our last vacation. Flew down to Florida, had dives scheduled the next afternoon, but we ran into flight delays and a scary issue with the plane. All that resulted in a big lack of sleep and anxiety - we were physically and mentally exhausted. We talked about it and even said, “Remember what James told us during our OW training?” and then we felt confident we were making the right decision. Didn’t regret it!
Learned a lesson, too….not to schedule dives the nest day after travel just in case we experience a similar situation. Thanks, James!
My buddy and I had to cancel and cut a trip short in Key Largo. Our last day of dives there they canceled due to weather. We decided to start driving back to Illinois and do our last dive of the trip, a fresh water dive. However that next morning His sunburn from the day before on the beach was so bad he was not able to put a wetsuit on. So our trip was cut short and we started driving home. Still an incredible trip and a lot of great memories made.
Hi James excellent video
I canceled a dive on the gas line in 1972
Took a little heat
after waiting a week for weather we just got to the bottom at 55 ft my buddy pointed at his chest so I called it
To management time is money and the people in the office who don't dive were a little ticked with me .
Till they found out from the hospital my buddy had a collapsed lung
With a new buddy we finished the job the next day
I might add it didn't look right he wasn't exhausting enough air.
It was late November I thought his regulators were freezing up I figured we would go up fix the problem go back down it was late in the day the guys on the boat wanted to go home
He
Had a little burning feeling in his chest his wife sent him to emerge they diagnosed collapsed lung
Hi James, I cancelled a dive once. I was diving for the first time in over 18 months and had only 6 dives in my log book. The dive company didn’t check on my experience (or rather lack of it) nor did they offer a skills review. When kitting up, I became really anxious and tried to tell them but my feelings were brushed aside. I called the dive. The dive guide tried to convince me I would be ok and said I should not be so ‘silly’. Fortunately I did not listen to him. Now, having had more experience, I know it was the right thing to do. Thanks for another great Vid.
That's an awesome story Bev, thanks for sharing. You were absolutely right!
I’ve used knowledge from this channel several time in my only 2 months of diving. As a new diver your info has been a great help
The first time I had to cancel a dive was on the Strength Wreck many years ago. I was in a rental suit and the water was pretty chilly. We had to descend to the upper deck railing, then wait for the rest of the group. When my buddy and I got there, I was uncomfortable, by the time the last diver got there, I was shivering and had to call it. I felt soooooooo bad for my buddy. Since then, I have called dives for lots of reasons. I guess, I'm trying to say that it's harder when you're new, but you grow a tougher skin and learn to trust your own judgment.
I've made hundreds of dives and only once did I cancel. I had already done three dives and at the end of the day I just didn't feel very well, so I just cancelled that dive. Everyone else went on the dive, and I just relaxed on the boat. Nobody asked me why, no problem. That was with Desert Sea Divers out of Jeddah KSA and I had been diving with these guys forever. I've know other people do the same thing. Your advice is right on.
Cancelled a few. First one was on my open water course with chest pain.
Second one was Tofo in Mozambique - 5m swell, thunderstorm, tiny boat….had 9 dives to my day, got in water, looked down, couldn’t see bottom. Panicked, got out.
Then once in South Africa due to unexpected shingles.
And a couple of times afterwards due to not feeling it.
Only ever canceled one. I was DM'ing and had a ear problem. I was just setting the float with a DMC and canceled at about 20 feet down and surfaced. He set the float, we went back, i told the instructor the problem and i pulled shore duty. No harm no foul, well for the class anyway, I had minor barotrauma and had to stay out of the water for a month.
Canceled my first dive last weekend. We were cave training, team of 5, shit viz. After tying into the mainline I turned around couldn't see anyone, headed back out found buddies and gave the thumb. We all exited. Went back in later that day with a split team but something was just screaming in the back of my head to GTFO of here. Rest of the weekend went fine, I just think with such limited viz trying to keep track of 5 people was going to be a bit much. Good video mate.
I cancelled a dive a couple of weeks ago. It was a shore dive at a site I've dived dozens of time so I know it really well. Throughout the morning, on the journey down to the Cove and putting my kit together, several little things went wrong - nothing major, just little niggly things that were easy enough to fix, just annoying. When we were entering the water, I slipped on the rocks and ended up with my cylinder wedged between two rocks and needed to be hauled back up by my buddies. At that point, I called the dive. Some god somewhere was telling me not to dive that day, so I didnt! Luckily, there were a few of us diving so my buddy went on with the dive whilst I sat on the beach. Sometimes you have to listen to the voice inside your head saying "Not today".
Good call buddy! Live to dive another day!
When it happens once, it could be them. When it keeps happening, it's probably you.
When little things keep going wrong, you're lacking concentration. Engaging in an activity that requires concentration at that point is unsafe. Good call.
An instructor I had one time had a “3 things” rule. If any three things go wrong, dive cancelled. Could be anything at all, gas station breakfast burrito leaks into your lap, blow an oring, forget to charge a GoPro, someone’s trying to tell you not to go diving that day.
That’s good. I had a Situation with 3 things last week. Inflator hose broken, tank 3/4 full and one buddy didn’t show up. Dive was horrible.
Bad Juju!!! That's me. I was in Kenya recently and decided to pick up diving again after a few years off. Did my refresher in the pool and then had two dives planned for the following morning. I followed the advice... slept well, kept myself hydrated, and even took the dramamine for the boat ride.
Get to the dive site, captain ties up to the buoy on the bow end, we kit up nice and easy and drop into the water. After a short swim to the line, I start feeling it: a memory of a panic attack I had years ago just popped into my head. So there I am at the surface, my mind is beginning to play tricks on me before I've even started the descent. Then I'm thinking about my gf and my kids and before you know it, I'm done. I wanna be out of there. I tell the DM that I'm calling it for myself and, as there were only three of us, he could go ahead with my buddy and continue the dive.
So I get back on the boat and spend 45 minutes mentally kicking my own ass! I was reminding myself that I had over 200 dives under my belt, that most of my dives were in cold and murky water around the UK, that my kids would not be impressed if their "hero" daddy came home only to regale them with stories of how I bottled out. The final nail in the coffin was, as we passed another dive boat, I noticed a young DM as she helped a diver out of his wheelchair and into the water. Game over! I did the second dive and loved it with every fibre of my bruised ego!
Good stuff James. For those of you who are looking to dive with James for training. He means it when he says “no questions asked”. Great Video man. Looking forward to the footage from the Sardine Run!
James I agree with everything you said and have told my students for the past 20+ years exactly that. It needs to be said a lot because of the reasons you stated. Great job keep it up. Thanks
I aborted a dive about a month ago. I was diving dry and my son and I traded undergarments I did not adjust my weight. On decent I should hav swam back to the boat and added a couple pounds. Instead I swam down the line thinking it would get better at depth. No I was working so hard to stay down after 10 min on the bottom i was gassed and had to abort and do a free assent. We were only in 60 feet of water and we were close to the boat. Dive was bad for me I was a bad buddy all my focus was on trying to stay down. This was the first dive of a 2 tank charter. The second dive with a few more pounds weight was right, but i was off. The first one had me not relaxed and able to enjoying the dive. Thanks for making the video James I hope someone can learn from you video and my experience. Cheers
Yet another so often over looked topic but one that is far from unheard of. Also one that has both directly and indirectly affected me. Thank you Jamesy. Keep up the good work.
In the cave diving community it goes without saying anyone can cancel a dive for ANY reason at ANY time. Even after driving hours to a dive site, and just not feeling good about it.
Well, a couple of weeks ago, me and 2 friends did a wreck dive in a "harbour" environment. It's a popular dive spots and all the operators in the area are aware of it (And we had a dive flag up). Maximum depth about 12 m.
After about fifteen minutes into the dive one diver in the group gets a free flowing second stage. So we decide we need to abort the dive because he's losing gas fast and can't stop the free flow.
I was the first to reach the surface and see that one of the ferry boats (50 passengers capacity.) is heading in our direction.
Deployed a DSMB, the captain saw us and kept his distance.
Exactly what happened yesterday on the Spiegel because of the current.. Nice meeting you by the way and hope you guys can go back soon!
Hi Phillippe! We got the course done! Perseverance paid off!
With the Covid layoff, I'd become far too Elvis-like. My drysuit was no mas, so I rented the largest 7mm wetsuit and hood the dive shop had for some boat dives in Monterey. I needed the DM's considerable efforts to get the damned thing zipped up. After my giant stride into the water, it became clear that I couldn't get a full breath, with the tightness around my chest and the hood's squeeze on my neck. I called the dive before I even attempted to descend.
I knew that I had made the right decision when the relief waved over me when the hood came off and the wetsuit unzipped. Any dive that started like that wasn't going to end well.
Great decision making Oren! Well done for calling it.
Great video, too many divers forget this and would rather "man up".
A non diver’s dad passed away when we were vacationing on a remote island. He was frantically looking for earliest ferry to leave. I called to cancel the remainder of the dives and drive him back after taking earliest ferry available.
great video as usual 👌
I did cancel dive once just before go on the boat due to massive waves and wind ( we couldn’t get on an board) but diving centre due to financial pressure still continued diving trip in Caribbean Sea.
i’m not going to mention diving centre name but never will dive with them again !
unfortunately sometimes money are more important than safety 😞
So I currently have what I think is a moderate case of sinusitis, most of the time without congestion, but feels like blocked sinuses, headaches and tender ears. I am meant to start my OW course on Monday, currently I feel unfit to dive, but that could change in five days. My last day to cancel the trip is today (the only reason I’m going on this trip is for scuba), so do I cancel? If I do I will rebook for the next shoulder season, but this is my second attempt at this trip as last time I also got ill before. Any advice?
The most recent one I cancel was in a dive spot that been diving for several time, sudden I was tearing with no reason…. That’s when I told my body have to leave…when I got out…. Everything is good!
We tried to dive on our honeymoon. It was my first salt water. Needed more weight. Got the resolved and finally got under...couldn't equalize so I got back on the boat with one of the guides while the rest went on. He got me settled then joined the group so I hung out with the captain in very rough water and ended up getting sea sick. Turns out, I had still managed to do some barotrauma to my ear in that time so it was a good thing I didn't push through! (And a good thing the dives were included in the resort stay so we weren't out money either 👍)
Thank you.
Top shelf info, James! Enough said. Well done! Thank you
You have to be consistent - I thought rule #2 was "Don't touch the fishes!". Just kidding - great content as always.
I aborted my dives in Molokai, Hawaii just this January. Beautiful day, beautiful water conditions, but I could not settle myself. It was too long since I certified, with no dives between, and I was way too rusty with my skill comfort. I was performing the skills ok, but it was taking all my mental energy to do so. Adding in following the divemaster, trying to operate a camera, look at the scenery and wildlife, keep an eye on buoyancy and gauges, etc…. Too much. I scrubbed my dives, snorkeled a bit and upon returning home enrollment in a refresher and booked more pool time (lakes are still under a foot or more of ice).
Someday I’ll go back, but when I do I will be better prepared.
I would always ask why someone wants to cancel. Not to be a jerk but because they may have thought of something you never considered. Which could be a Ah-ha moment
James, could you do a video on the right procedure for an emergency exit?
While I'm sure James would love to teach you, that type of information is best handled face to face. James has said before on this channel that he won't be doing any instruction videos, so look up Miami Technical Diving and schedule a lesson with them if you'd really enjoy being taught by James. Safe diving.
I canceled a dive a week ago. it was a deep dive at a wreck (Paris II, Kemer Antalya) and i gained a headache from the first dive that was just getting worse and the dive was planned for me personally .
I have cancelled 2 maybe 3 dive in my entire diving history. My last one was in January 2019 when I had the plessure to dive in Palau. I was there for 14 days and the plan was to do 20 dives! have some rest and land days are highly recomendet there it's a beautifull country! So at one day after our 2 regular dives the captain asked us if anybody wants to do a third dive at a very famous wreck in the region. And although I was already tired I agreed to do the third dive! It was a very nice wreck dive I have to say! On the next day we were supposed to go out early in the morning as everyday, When I showed up in the base I did not feel well! My stomach was rebelling, so I asked the people what I should do, They gave me a bottle of water I drunk the water, did nothing. So the plan was beeing on a boat with no toilette for about 6 hours. SO I decidet to cancel the day and get myself a rest day. As soon as I walked out of the dive base my stomach relaxed and I was fine. This told my my body said, last day, the 3 dives, was to much give it a break!
But for all of you reading this, let me tell you one thing, be aware that the dive or the day you cancel, the most amazing things you can imagine will happen on the dive you have just cancelled! On this particular day I canceled, sitting on the beach bar drinking colourfull coctails, My dive crew saw a Tiger Shark eating a Manta Ray! No joke, there is a video of it on youtube, just search for: Palau Tiger shark eats Manta! The video is not from my groupe but they saw the same!
Called a dive yesterday at the mooring line on Lake Michigan due to poor conditions. Weather seemed good inside the break, but turned poor soon after getting out into the water.
A tricky thing is to, not to cancel the dive, but to change the plan in the water.
For example, the plan is to penetrate the wreck but for some reason you don´t want to do it. If the reason is obvious, i.e. really bad viz, it´s easy, but if it´s just your instinct or feeling, it may not be so easy to communicate. The lessson from this is to include diffrent options and "what ifs" in your plan.
And yes, I´ve cancelled dives too. And yes, on occasion I´ve held a hand of a frightened buddy in bad viz, all went well :-)
100% agree! I cancelled a dive on the Raggie Reef during the Sardine Run. I am super proud of that decision. It was the best thing to do. Things were stacking up against a good dive for me and so I bailed. #diversready
I was extra careful on my 13th dive... I’m not superstitious, I just wanted no problems 😂
We have a simple little rule for canceling a dive before we get into the water: "If three things happen, we don't go into the water" For example arriving stressed out at the site because of a traffic jam, one lamp is not fully charged, somebody forgot to put the lead on etc. The dive could go well but chances are the mind is not fully in "dive-mode"
Cancelled one last month 10 mins before dive due to IBS getting the better of me. My buddy just shrugs his shoulders and asked "when are we going next time? " we are cool with it and it's how we was trained.
Canceled a dive couple weeks ago in Lake Michigan. Hit the water and my entire right leg immediately got wet and cold. Didn't zip the drysuit all the way. Probably could have tried to address this in the water, but the longer I was there, the heavier I was getting. Couple that with the bottom temp of 46F and the fact that the dive was planned as a long (deco) dive, I would have froze my leg and had a not so enjoyable experience. Head back to the boat, drain the drysuit and live to dive another day!!
If you can't disclose it, no problem.. but who do you dive with in Key Largo? Im in Broward county and looking for recommendations on charters both in the Miami area and KL. Thanks in advance 👌
I dive with Horizon Divers in Key Largo frequently.
Great info!! Thanks James!! Always helpful. 💙
Great topic! Of course I’ve had charters cancel on me due to bad weather but I don’t want to be out in that anyway.
I’ve only ever canceled for either unpleasant/unsafe current/vis from the descent line or one trip when the waters were too cold and I didn’t have proper gear so I skipped a couple dives. No regrets, no shame.
Oh… I have looked up to find myself all alone (pot luck buddies) and depending on conditions I may surface or I may continue the dive. Not best practice but true.
Thanks Rebecca! Have fun in Tanzania!
As a Fellow UK diver, i just invested in my first propper drysuit with all the bling bling and ultima systems sitech neck kevlar reinforcements and whatnot, but since i live in a studio room apartment finding room for storange is quite hard and im abit worried since its a big investment and i dont want to damage it as little as possible but beeing able to use my sofa for other things haha, could you make a video about drysuit storange and maintenence for the coldwater divers !
I've only cancelled a dive once. Ironically, it was my advanced open water certification. I had a solo vacation in Aruba and figured this would be a good use of the time, but managed to pick up a sinus infection in Miami 2 days before. I was so feverish that I couldn't even sit on the beach and be miserable, but rather sat in the climate controlled hotel room and felt slightly less miserable. Even as a novice diver with less than 10 dives to my name at the time, I knew a sinus infection underwater was a recipe for disaster. Fortunately divemaster Karl was extremely accommodating (not to mention a hell of an instructor and an all around good dude) and I was able to delay my dives a couple days at no additional cost and I still got my AOW (and Nitrox) that week. Not all dive shops will be as customer-friendly.
Was Divemaster Karl an instructor or Divemaster ?
@@diveinstructordaniel1095 Sorry - I don't recall his certification levels. At minimum, he was certified to teach AOW and it clearly wasn't his first time.
@@deansch6089 Then he must have been at least Instructor :) I’m just asking because when I first started I got teached by a divemaster and not an actual instructor. I didn’t know better that a divemaster is not allowed to teach.
Thanks James, great advice.
First sea dive this year in April. I had 3 minor things go wrong, which if only one of had happened well ok no biggy as easily resolved, but aft the 3rd I just thought you know what today’s not the day to dive.
Canceled one because i was exhausted. Just didn’t get any sleep, and i wasn’t up to it. Another time in Mexico, weather forecast for the next day was horrific, pulled out. They still went , but it was ugly.
I scrubbed a dive on the Thistlegorm wreck (Red Sea - Ras Mohamed National Park).
I was No.4 of 4 going down the mooring line. Very strong current diving to 30+ metres.
My dive computer shows me stopping at 20.8 metres for about 30 seconds. I remember all of a sudden it being hard to get air. I stopped and concentrated, it WAS more difficult. I switched to my alternate which was fine and tried to tell the others that I had to abort. They by now had reached the ship and were wondering where I was. The dive guide came back up the line and I indicated I was having equipment problems and needed to abort. He told me to go up slowly, do the safety stop, he and the others continued the dive.
I borrowed a regulator from the captain and completed the second dive as planned.
I was concerned because I had to ascend and do a safety stop on potentially faulty equipment on my own. As the dive was aborted early, the ship's crew had not lowered the safety tank yet.
Long story short. I had the (ScubaPro) regulator checked. No fault was found?!
God it would be a long list if I listed all the dives I've canceled. One thing I have found is that reputable operators when the forecast is dicey don't seem to mind giving you credit or a refund if you decide to canceled the day before, despite being within the 24 or 48 hour window for no refunds.
Last dive I canceled, the Lake Mead B-29 dive, I paid a ridiculous $450 to do that dive. I suit up and much struggle I get my tanks on, and start descending. Half way through the descent I noticed that when puffing my inflator I felt that the air was a little wet. Thinking that it was just sweat from gearing up in the 100+ degree topside temps, I continued on. Until I got past the thermocline where it was below 60 degrees. I quickly realize that isn't sweat, I have a leak. I signal the DM and thumb it telling him to continue with the other customer. He catches up to me to ask why, I signal cold. He nods understandingly and goes back to the other customer. And I made my ascent.
I did dive 2 after having someone check my neck seal. But my mojo wasn't completely there because I forgot to hook up my inflator completely, and only noticed it once I get to 90 feet.
One time i have must finish diving after the first dive. Maybe 5 minutes before we finish the dive my head start to feel extrem bad. It have hold up to i was back on the boat. For the next 50 min the reling was my best frend. End of the trip: a mix out of heathit and foodpoisen...
but my diveschool have give me a complete day to dive for free for the next time!
Cancel a dive? Sure if you not feel good. Better save then sorry.
James, thanks for the info about aborting dives. My daughter and I had to make 3 attempts in a row to dive our local spot recently. 2 dives canceled, almost the 3rd. 1st-weather forecast was wrong. Canceled it before we left the driveway. 2nd- she got seasick before we exited the jetties. 3rd time we finally made it out and had a great dive!
#askdiversready could you share some more of your common dive hand signals? Stuff to add to the basics we learn in OW class?
Thanks!
Great question! Answer coming in this month's channel update video!
Easy answer,
Always. It's always ok to cancel a dive.
Great Video as usual💪🏼
I did a double dive where i forgot to take my seasick tablets, too late when the boat is heading out to sea and the tablets are in the glove box. first dive went ok but on the way to the surface after the safety stop, as soon as the swell started to hit me, I knew i was in trouble. By the time I got on the boat I knew my day was over. When the DM asked me to get ready for the second dive, i flat out said my day was over (between throwing up over the side). The Dm was a little insistant that i do the second dive but after I made it very clear that my day was over!! I was way too sick to risk going down again. I was then left alone whilst the rest of the boat did their second dive. It took me two days to recover and feel normal again. needless to say, i will not forget my tablets again :)
I always get queasy on a boat after the first dive. I was recommended looking the horizon until the feeling passes and it actually works for me.
Hi if you cannot respect a divers choice to abort a dive. When it's your turn to abort you shouldn't expect the divers respect. I have only called a few dives for such things as tiredness and not feeling 100%. Nothing to do with alcohol, consumption either. But I have to admit I did one shore diver at Monterrey Bay when I shouldn't have I was far to tired. But the second dive I called. I was told from day one any diver can call any dive at anytime for any reason.
Can you talk about wreck diving more, Do you have to take a special course to go to a wreck dive if you don't penatrate?? As long as you are in your qualified depth range of course
Amazing topic as usual … than you for the video
My sister had a food poisoning during our safari, but she decided to dive anyway. As a result she passed out underwater. So we've learned to be mindful about it the hard way.
On the "Bad Juju" concept, it can be entirely logical rather than superstitious. The "bad feeling" can be your sub-conscious having spotted something, or put together a set of factors that you haven't consciously worked out as being a problem.
Spot on content as usual. Can you recommend a good dive operation in Key Largo? I've used two different ones so far and not all that happy with either. Thanks Big J
He has posted on here before, he uses Horizon Divers in Key Largo. Friendly dive operator, and have worked with my crippled butt to get me in the water.
Being able to call a dive mid dive is probably the most important option in this video. If you feel something has gone wrong, call it, safety is paramount, and any properly trained diver knows this... Sure it might be disappointing to not reach the secondary goal of the dive, but the primary goal is always arrive back safely.
I will never forget a story a OW instructor told me when we were drinking some time after a lesson.
He was proudly telling us he had a holiday dive with 3 experienced friends, planned to go fairly deep. And then HIS buddy had a leaking hose. After communicating a bit and his buddy told him to go on with the other two divers, and he would get back up (about 20 meters). He chose to go onwards without his buddy, who had to get back to surface on failing equipment. Luckily the other buddypair were like hell no he wont go alone and they regrouped, two going to the surface and 2 going onwards.
For one: how the hell can you tell this to some fresh Open Water Divers as an instructor. Not a great example of the Buddy system.
And even worse: how can you be so selfish to not take care of your own buddy, no matter what they say and however experienced they tell you they are. Equipment failure should always have priority, who knows what might happen next on the way up.
Most of the dives I have cancelled over the years were because of sinus and/or inner ear issues. Reverse sinus squeeze is not fun nor is vertigo. I don't think I have ever cancelled a dive due to equipment failure. Check your equipment at home before you ever leave for the dive. And carry spare equipment.
Was really hoping he was about to channel the Rock with "take all those thoughts, write them on a piece of paper, roll it up into little all and..." but things didn't get sideways
Cancelled a dive once on my 2nd year as a diver, also first trip in cold waters. After my AM dive, I felt completely exhausted and debriefing with myself, I believe I did build up CO2 because I was breathing superficially. Not sure why. I went to bed, drank plenty of energy drink and let my wife/buddy have our dive guide we had that day for herself. I was fine by the time the boat came back to the shore. Of course, they did have a seal encounter that time...
I never regretted this call and firmly believe I would have regretted to force myself into diving that afternoon.
The operator charged me for the boat trip, but not for the tank/dive. Like if I was a snorkeler. Totally fair!
I am still one dive behind my wife to this day but will probably have the opportunity to do 4-5 more than her on our next trip... while she works... MOUHAHAHA!
Hello, a question totally off topic. Your thoughts of ditch able weights and the balanced rig?
My last cancelled dive was on a liveaboard and i was hungover as a moose on the third day of diving so i decided to stay on a shady part of the deck with a cold one that day.
One might add to this story that it was just friends on our own boat that week....
Understandable. I heard you start diving at 7 in the morning. And late diving too 😅
Diving in the northeast it is inevitable. Not one person has ever criticized my cancelling a dive, and they have all dove with me after the cancellations. Like we all have said we all will have to Cancel a dive for one reason or another. It is inevitable. My most recent cancellation was due to poor visibility. Was mdoing a wreck dive and just was not comfortable with only being able to see 18 inches in front of me.
After 2 unforseen events I usually call off a dive. One can happen. After 2 it's no go.
do we feel it is bad form if my buddy cancels a dive before it begins and I do the dive with someone else?
I don’t think it’s bad form. There are many reasons for someone to cancel their dive, it’s a safe and smart decision
@@DiversReady right, not bad form on the buddy cancelling. I meant for me to go do the dive with someone else
I know this is an older video (comment may not get read), but what are your thoughts on aborting a dive underwater. But letting the group continue. Can you reassign a buddy underwater?
Yes, you can, as long as that was a strategy discussed during the predive brief. It also depends on the reason for the abort. For instance, if you abort the dive because you feel suddenly unwell or light headed, you’re going to need your buddy to abort their dive, ascend with you and be your safety diver.
Diving and Egos don't make good bad fellows.
Rule number 1 never hold your breath 🤣 come on now James. In technical diving (TDI) a required skill is breath hold and swim 15 metres at depth. What you meant to say was never hold your breath while ascending 🤦🏽♂️🤿
The rule is any diver can call a dive at any time and not give a reason.
I Canceled the dive in the parking lot because the student was still hammered from the night before
I call off the dive after I get bumped by an alligator. I call off the dive for the day after the second time I get bumped by another alligator on the same golf course.
@S M Golf ball diver
@S M asking
@S M I recover 1.5 million yearly. Got 35,000 this week.
02:40 thanks for this
#askdiversready
How do you tell a bad/dangerous diver they're being a bad/dangerous diver?
Great question! Answer coming in this month's channel update video!
If you think cancelling your personal dive is bad... just remember. If you drown you're canceling everyone's dive, the second dive if you're on the first dive of two, and likely canceling your life.
I thought rule number 2 was don't touch the fish? hehehe