Just a question
Polar Profile
Virtual Base Camp
- 2009 Expeditions
- Completed Expeditions
- Bering Ecosystem Study: Early Spring Plankton and Benthos
- Ocean, Atmosphere, Sea Ice, and Snowpack Interactions
- Geologic Climate Research in Siberia
- Bering Ecosystem Study: Spring Plankton and Changing Ice Cover
- Prehistoric Human Response to Climate Change
- CReSIS Greenland Ice Sheet Studies
- Bering Ecosystem Study: Summer Ice-free Conditions
- Greenland Education Tour ‘09
- High Arctic Change ‘09
- Seabird Ecology in the Bering Sea
- Alaska Climate Variation ‘09
- Polar Bear Response to Sea Ice Loss
- Microorganisms in Antarctic Glacier Ice
- Antarctic Undersea ROV ‘09
- IceCube: In-ice Antarctic Telescope
- Dissolved Organic Matter in Antarctica
- CReSIS Aerial Survey of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet
- Ice Core Drilling in West Antarctica
- Completed Expeditions
- 2008 Expeditions
- Bering Ecosystem Change
- Bering Sea Benthic Studies
- Drake Passage Opening
- Greenland Atmospheric Studies
- Greenland Education Tour '08
- Arctic Tundra Dynamics '08
- Changing Tundra Landscapes
- Bering Ecosystem Study '08
- High Arctic Change '08
- Nuvuk Archaeology Studies
- Ocean Dynamics Beaufort Sea
- Kuril Islands Biocomplexity '08
- Lake Ecosystems in Antarctica
- Ancient Buried Ice in Antarctica
- Antarctic Undersea ROV '08
- Erebus Volcano Antarctica
- Oden Antarctic Expedition '08
- Measuring East Antarctic Ice Sheet Stability
- 2007 Expeditions
- Oden Antarctic Expedition '06
- SEDNA Beaufort Sea Ice
- Bering Ecosystem Study
- Greenland Snow Studies
- Bering Sea Predators
- Arctic Tundra Dynamics
- Greenland Education Tour
- Greenland Seabird Ecology
- Climate Change Svalbard
- Alaska Climate Variation
- Kuril Islands Biocomplexity
- SIMBA Antarctic Sea Ice
- Antarctic Undersea ROV
- Human Impacts in Antarctica
- Antarctic Ice Sheet Studies
- Oden Antarctic Expedition '07
- South Pole Ozone Changes
- Antarctic Weather Stations
- TREC Expeditions
- Photo Gallery
- Project Maps
- Related Programs
- Journal Archive
- Podcasts
- Polar Profiles







Hello Jacob,
It's challenging to overcome fears isn't it? I have always been a water person, so being in the water feels like a second home to me. Although deep and dark water can be intimidating, there is so much "else" going on - organisms to look at, things/places to explore, that I simply focus on the enjoyable parts and then the "scary" stuff fades away! Once your eyes adjust, you can typically see fairly well in the water and if it's really dark, we bring a flashlight so we can see! Sometimes the darkness brings out the most interesting creatures; I saw the CUTEST little octopus on one of my "deep/dark" water dives. If I had let the darkness stop me, I never would have seen it!
I believe it's good to challenge yourself to face fears - to a degree and as long as you can stay safe! You may like diving! Besides - most of our dives are in shallow water where there is plenty of light! I can always choose not to go on a dive if I am uncomfortable for any reason. But each one has been wonderful!
If I am a bit nervous, I just take it "one kick" at a time - I can always get out! Our dives are enjoyable!
Cheers,
Robin