shadowcat410
Guest
Got OW certified in 2009. First dive was in 2010 in Playa w/ Dive Mike. (should have gone to Coz, yes - i know!)
So, the positives of my first dive:
Saw a huge sea turtle (about 3x the size of the ones in Akumal Bay)
And the highlight being when we came upon a school of Tarpons. They were massive and I was afraid but I grabbed a rock on the bottom to hold, while they swam around me, no not around me, but THRU me! one even hit my leg. It was an amazing experience and that's why I want to dive again. Wow, talk about adreline pumping. Being a novice, i had no idea what what going on when my DM told us to stop and look. Dangerous? But it was crazy fun. Wow.
Anyway...the negatives:
I was the only newb in our small group. Just the DM and 2 other veteran divers. I was having buoyancy problems and got lost from the group. I tried to keep up with them but the current was strong. Talk about scary! I didn't see their bubbles in any direction i look but then she tapped on her tank and I found her. She tells me to relax, breathe slowly and "go w/ the flow" But then the next thing I know, we are drifting along and I'm at the top of the water, head bobbing looking down at them. Yes, I need more practice w/ my bouyancy in salt water. Plus it didn't help I was nervous but couldn't control my breathing as I would've liked. Also, I don't think I was weighted properly. So, my DM finally had to just grab my hand and I felt like a "tag along" but I finally got to relax a bit and LOOK at everything I was missing. Since then I haven't dove and I'm afraid of drift diving.
This is normal for noobs right? Do I really have to totally geek out on scuba to enjoy it? As I will only be able to dive once a year? I just want to be able to enjoy it and not stress because I'm afraid of being "lost at sea" again. The Tarpon experience was incredible yes, but I've been to afraid to dive again.
What should I try next? Suggestions?
So, the positives of my first dive:
Saw a huge sea turtle (about 3x the size of the ones in Akumal Bay)
And the highlight being when we came upon a school of Tarpons. They were massive and I was afraid but I grabbed a rock on the bottom to hold, while they swam around me, no not around me, but THRU me! one even hit my leg. It was an amazing experience and that's why I want to dive again. Wow, talk about adreline pumping. Being a novice, i had no idea what what going on when my DM told us to stop and look. Dangerous? But it was crazy fun. Wow.
Anyway...the negatives:
I was the only newb in our small group. Just the DM and 2 other veteran divers. I was having buoyancy problems and got lost from the group. I tried to keep up with them but the current was strong. Talk about scary! I didn't see their bubbles in any direction i look but then she tapped on her tank and I found her. She tells me to relax, breathe slowly and "go w/ the flow" But then the next thing I know, we are drifting along and I'm at the top of the water, head bobbing looking down at them. Yes, I need more practice w/ my bouyancy in salt water. Plus it didn't help I was nervous but couldn't control my breathing as I would've liked. Also, I don't think I was weighted properly. So, my DM finally had to just grab my hand and I felt like a "tag along" but I finally got to relax a bit and LOOK at everything I was missing. Since then I haven't dove and I'm afraid of drift diving.
This is normal for noobs right? Do I really have to totally geek out on scuba to enjoy it? As I will only be able to dive once a year? I just want to be able to enjoy it and not stress because I'm afraid of being "lost at sea" again. The Tarpon experience was incredible yes, but I've been to afraid to dive again.
What should I try next? Suggestions?