I had a unusual and unsettling experience while spearfishing in Devon this Summer. While out at sea a sort of hazy fog formed late in the dive and, with the light chop, it caused me to completely lose sight of the shore line. Quite unsettling and potentially scary.
Fortunately I was diving over the large tidal reef at South Milton beach, so I knew I wasn't far from shore. Also, I had just dived through the prominent rock arch from the back, so knew that I should be facing shore - but then it occurred to me that I didn't really know at what angle the arch was to the shore. I started to swim slowly towards where I thought the shore was. Fortunately I bumped into a SIT kayaker and, being higher up, he could see the shore and pointed me to my entry point. Had I continued I would likely have reached shore but a bit further down, as long as I didn't get any further disorientated.
So, no harm done but I decided to cut my dive short at that point and call it a day.
I wondered if anyone else had a similar experience? Or had any tips?
Fortunately I was diving over the large tidal reef at South Milton beach, so I knew I wasn't far from shore. Also, I had just dived through the prominent rock arch from the back, so knew that I should be facing shore - but then it occurred to me that I didn't really know at what angle the arch was to the shore. I started to swim slowly towards where I thought the shore was. Fortunately I bumped into a SIT kayaker and, being higher up, he could see the shore and pointed me to my entry point. Had I continued I would likely have reached shore but a bit further down, as long as I didn't get any further disorientated.
So, no harm done but I decided to cut my dive short at that point and call it a day.
I wondered if anyone else had a similar experience? Or had any tips?