My recent accomplished goal was 150FSW on a 25 percent mix. And a 40cf filled with 80 percent. I usually dive off NJ and LI within the 120’-140’ range which is a challenge in it self. Taking into consideration the low vis, very cold waters, ripping currents, and huge seas. The Doria is a dream of mine that I promise I will accomplish one day. When? I don’t know but I will know when I’m ready. I have a long way until trimix and that’s by choice. I like mastering things one at a time. On some dives off NJ things go very bad very quick. And yes they have for me! I think for every tec diver things will go bad at some point but what makes a great tec diver is how they handle and overcome the situation. Every time I end up jack at the quarry is because I got the shit scared out of me! I don’t think any diver is or will ever be good enough to always have flawless dives. Every dive is a new learning experience.
Just a week ago we dove a wreck off Long Island. We were on a 28 foot. The seas were big and I mean very big. Turns out that 4 out of the 6 divers on the boat became very sea sick. One of them was me and one was my buddy. Keep in mind out here in the northeast we are used to boat diving and big weather. Well this time we all had to swallow our egos. Thanks god I thought rationally and I turned what was going to be a deco dive into a NDL dive. Yea we didn’t have much bottom time but let me tell you. When you are on a boat throwing up every second. Then you try to don your neoprene Drysuit on top of your 400g undergarment in 96 degree weather while rolling back and fourth, sit into your double 120’s. Stand up then try to sling a deco bottle or two still while your throwing up its not a nice sight. With all that in mind we dropped off the back of the boat and darted down the anchor line. "Wow did that cold water feel great" now your down on the bottom in 140’ of water and your better but your not all there’ you come to your turn and start back up the line, you get to 20’, your looking at your depth gauge and the line is pulling you up and down 10 feet at a time! Keep in mind I just got up to 20’ and before I was able to realiZe the weather had picked up that much I’m getting tossed around! Now it’s time to get back down to 20’ and dial in your bouyancy and let that line scream between your hands to hold your stop. We get back into the boat climbing up our double 120’s with these huge rollers. All you can think of is getting all this gear off and getting a nice piece of realastate to puke your brains out over the side for the trip home! All I’m saying is with my training I made a great call in not doing a full deco dive. The captain looks over at us and commends us for even getting in the water and say "and we do this shit for fun"