Underwater Housing and a new Diver

PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

Barmaglot_07 wrote:

theEntreriCode wrote:

I'm pretty good buoyancy control, but am extremely inexperienced so obviously I have a lot to learn. I have a singularly difficult time equalising and managing my claustrophobia. Especially if I have the slightest bit of a sinus issue.

The thing about buoyancy control (and breathing control as well) is that it doesn't just need to be good - it needs to be automatic. When you dive normally, you can afford to concentrate on keeping buoyancy and controlling your breath - but if you're also looking for critters, figuring out framing and lighting, camera settings, etc, and then some current comes along - if you're not keeping your buoyancy without thinking about it, you can easily crash into stuff and damage the reef.

Or much worse. My late wife was taking photos of a Lionfish on our third dive off a liveaboard in Fiji. She was drifting down at the same time, and she ripped her eardrum. Granted, that was a weak ear anyway as it had ripped twice before, but stuff like this happens.

She spent most of the time in our $6000 liveaboard week sitting on the boat. Toward the end of the week she couldn't stand it anymore and did three dives with a ripped ear.

I am sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how bad she must have felt at being on such an exotic and luxurious holiday and not being able to do what she loved.

I wish my wife dived with me, she used to, but stopped a few months before we met. She is petrified of the sea now.