[fullsailor]

I'm a relatively newbie diver (only 80 dives), but there have been a few times where something unexpected or new happens that can send you into at least a mild panic. Recognizing this panic and how to recover is the critical thing.

A most recent example was on my last trip I tried UV-light diving, which is when you only use UV-light with a filter on your mask to protect your eyes. You get to see some incredible new things. The divemaster stressed how important the filter was to protect your eyes. During the dive the filter on my mask came off. As instructed, I immediately closed my eyes and Waited for the divemaster to notice and tap me to let me know they had switched back to white light and it was safe to reopen my eyes. That half minute felt like an eternity.

A number of unusual situations can trigger a panic. Primary regulator failure, your mask being knocked off, unexpected fauna behavior, becoming lost, losing your group or your buddy, unexpected currents. All of this is covered in the training/certification, but not all training is equal, adequate, or regularly revisited.

[malandrew]

Can you tell me more about the UV light diving? A cursory search doesn't seem to show up anything about the dive mask filter you mentioned. From what I found, it looks like the lights are similar to regular low-power UV-A black lights that are not a hazard to skin or eyes.

What was the model of dive light used? Was is a long-wave light like those in tanning beds or disinfecting lamps? I would imagine that any light unsafe for your eyes would also be damaging to the coral and fish.

[fullsailor]

I think you're right. I don't recall the specific equipment, we were visiting and only did a short training before. Now I've read more on it and I do feel (sheepishly) misinformed. The light may have been way less damaging than we were told. Thinking on it, I wouldn't have put it past the divemaster to troll us that way.

First, the kind of diving is more commonly referred to fluorescent diving and it doesn't use UV light, its blue (440-480nm) light. Second the filters were yellow light filters to remove the remaining light so that it didn't overwhelm the blue and you could see the fluorescence.