Thank you, and also for the links!
I'm going to wait with 2nd star course until i have a few dives under my belt, as i think taking in more information and new skills when i'm still not feeling comfortable enough will definitely be going ahead too fast.
I'm in touch with my dive center and they apparently do arrange dives with an instructor for divers my level in order to keep going on dives and practice drills etc. This sounds good to me as another thing i realize now is, that during the long course, you do tend to get used to being with same people and instructor for several hours of the day, going through the same process as you etc. but now everyone has gone their separate ways. I realize that even though it is a social sport, its also a bit frustrating to not have that one dive buddy or group you are used to in a way and i am back to being just myself and feel a little like on first day...
Hi BellDive,
just go diving for a while, don't rush through courses before you feel comfortable.
Finding diving buddies can seem daunting when you start out. At first I only went diving with my girlfriend, but I asked others in the club and found that most divers are very friendly and only too happy to go diving, even with complete beginners. You will learn lots of little tricks by observing more experienced divers and see that everybody has their own style. I started to put a message on facebook whenever I go diving and even in winter 4 or 5 people show up. There is a Red Sea forum here on ScubaBoard where you could look for buddies as well, it covers both Israel and Egypt, and Eilat seems to be an ideal weekend destination for you!
Finally, some of the SB regulars have written interesting stuff to read during your surface intervals, for example
NWGratefulDiver and
DevonDiver. More
here as well.
---------- Post added April 7th, 2012 at 10:00 AM ----------
yea i was very happy that i did not just push myself there as i was already nervous about having to do the swimming without mask down there, no need to add more pressure!
This is also why i, like you, don't feel that i'm ready for the advanced course and i sorta frown at the thought that I in theory could probably pass it, and then i would be an AOW diver on record, but i rather be "just" an OW diver and FEEL that i'm advanced enough to enter training for another level. I am sure many people have the same feeling that they are not yet comfortable but still they go ahead with AOW or 2 star courses and...well i just don't get that. But as your husband says, sometimes maybe it's what it takes to continute being in water, and maybe "easier" to just sign up for another course, it's a little harder i think to actually arrange a dive as one would "normally". But that's just what i think right now from the amount of limited knowledge i have of diving and diving community/life.
I am really, really impressed with your refusal to bow to peer pressure and not go into the swim-thru! My advice is to get very comfortable with the skills you have learned before you go on to the next course. Some people (my husband included) think that taking courses is a good way to stay in the water, work on your current skills and learn new ones. I am PADI certified and we have "open water" and then "advanced open water" - I was NOT comfortable taking a class that would certify me as "advanced" when I wasn't confident that I was remotely competent yet! I waited until I felt I had enough dives that I was a good candidate for AOW.
Go at your own pace - look at some fish - get comfortable - have loads of fun!!
---------- Post added April 7th, 2012 at 10:10 AM ----------
Thank you!
) Maskless stuff was definitely hard for me. I guess i could practice snorkling in the pool and taking it off and on, i will do this! What unit did you have trouble with? Do you mean the vest /BC ? (sorry just not sure what unit you refer to lol, plus i admit i still have to google all the scuba acronyms...maybe there is a dictionary somewhere haha?)
I had difficulty also with putting on weight belt in the water, it's not easy!
BellDive, Congratulations for finishing/getting through the maskless stuff. I had no fears going in as I did a lifetime's worth of snorkelling first. Except that maybe my ears would hurt at depth--Guess I never equalized snorkelling (and wore ear plugs--not the ones designed for equalizing). It seems the no mask drills are hardest for a lot of students. I found these a piece of cake--I just breathed through the reg and sealed off my nose passages, and bore the sting of chlorine in the eyes (hate that--salt water no problem). BUT, my toughest skill to master was taking the unit on and off. This to me is by far the most complicated of the whole bunch--many steps. It still ticks me off when I see a complete newbie do this with relative ease.
---------- Post added April 7th, 2012 at 10:13 AM ----------
Thank you!
Yes, slow works for me right now
Looking forward to learn from all of you, i'm already wiser since i found this board 2 days ago...
Good Job Belldive !
Many good suggestions above and don't get into to big of a hurry to push yourself. As others have said, practice mask clearing skills in shallow water til it almost becomes boring.
Then when you're a little deeper, again work on it.
As others have said, S-L-O-W does it, getting in a rush to remove, replace and clear causes the heart to pound and that little fear to rise.
Thanks for the post, others will learn from you.