Izzy
Registered
Hi,
I am a new diver. I have just been certified 4 days ago in Boracay Island, Philippines. I was very very affraid of diving. I met my boyfriend how is a "dive lover" 2 years ago. I never thought about scuba diving before I met him. Not so long after we started going out we were heading to St. Marteen. He registered me in a scuba diving course and rushed me into it. I went for the first lesson and came back terrified. I had problem breathing in the classroom just thinking about it!!! I am not claustrophobic but have tendency not to feel very good when in a close space or with lots of people etc. The fact that he pushed me into it certainly doesn't help. I think that his mistake is that when people have a fear of something you cannot make it better by pushing them. The only reason why I did the course was for him. The course was a 3 weeks course but I realized that it would not be enough for me. So I dropped it and waited almost 1 year before going back again. During that year I was keeping going back and forth saying I would do it and then saying I was not sure etc... So at one point he told me to take my decision and do what I say. Inside of me I felt the pressure and I felt like it was an issue if I don't dive. I never felt reassured by him, his style is more like "talk is cheap, if you say you can do it just do it". This time I took the standard 6 weeks course. After the 6 weeks I wrote and successfully passed the exam but my instructor suggested that I do more pool practice as I was not conformtable enough. For me outside the lessons thinking about diving seemed so easy but every time I got in the pool session I was feeling the anxiety pulling me. I went for about 4 more pool practice and became much much better. Then I was waiting for my next trip down south to take the open water. The week before I left for Philippines I had the same feeling....knowing that it was approaching I felt like I didn't want to do it anymore. I was scared but most importantly I do not feel the same way as my boyfriend about scuba diving. Scuba makes him feel free like he could fly. For me I thought it was ok but I don't think the underwater world is as nice as he does. Anyhow I told him that I was quitting and that I would not be scuba diving because the only reason I was doing it was for him. Right after I felt real bad because I wished I love scuba diving and could do it with him. Before I knew it I was hiding my scuba diving book in my bag and heading to the Philippines. Inside of me I knew I was going to try to do the certification. I felt like I had to do it. I had to overcome my issue and since I was half way through I thought it was better to just finish it and get certified. I figured that the reason why I don't appreciate the underwater world is maybe because I am not use to it and I had confidence that with more practice I could enjoy it too. He does very deep dive and wreck and that kind of stuff. This is not my objective. I enjoy the 40-50 feet dive. For now anyways. So in the Philippines I talked to the instructor and went for a dive with him and he said I would not have any problem whatsoever to get certification. I did all the skills requires for open water in the pool in less than 45 minutes and I was heading in the ocean!!! I did the 4 dives and got certified within 2 days. I had so much pool practices that he said I was way better than average. But inside of me I just don't feel 100% right when I am diving. He assured me that this feeling would go away with time and experience. He was so nice and so good with me. Then after the 4 required dives I went for my first fun dive with my boyfriend and it was terrible. I didn't feel good as I was going down and all the way through the dive. I was having problems controlling buoyancy and not enjoying it. So weird the same morning I was enjoying myself. But anyways I just thought that the next one will be better. I am wondering if it's possible that I feel pressured to dive with my boyfriend and that is why I don't feel good?
I just want to share my story with other people who might be scared about diving. The only thing I can say is :"If I did it, almost anyone can do it too!!! Give yourself time and practice and you will get it. Do it for yourself and good luck to all the new divers. If anyone has the same experience as me with a boyfriend or a girfriend who doesn't dive pls don't push them into it, it really doesn't help.
Now I am looking forward to my next vacations to dive again and I am confident that I can do it, I know I will get better and better. I just hope my boyfriend will be more supportive with me.
I am a new diver. I have just been certified 4 days ago in Boracay Island, Philippines. I was very very affraid of diving. I met my boyfriend how is a "dive lover" 2 years ago. I never thought about scuba diving before I met him. Not so long after we started going out we were heading to St. Marteen. He registered me in a scuba diving course and rushed me into it. I went for the first lesson and came back terrified. I had problem breathing in the classroom just thinking about it!!! I am not claustrophobic but have tendency not to feel very good when in a close space or with lots of people etc. The fact that he pushed me into it certainly doesn't help. I think that his mistake is that when people have a fear of something you cannot make it better by pushing them. The only reason why I did the course was for him. The course was a 3 weeks course but I realized that it would not be enough for me. So I dropped it and waited almost 1 year before going back again. During that year I was keeping going back and forth saying I would do it and then saying I was not sure etc... So at one point he told me to take my decision and do what I say. Inside of me I felt the pressure and I felt like it was an issue if I don't dive. I never felt reassured by him, his style is more like "talk is cheap, if you say you can do it just do it". This time I took the standard 6 weeks course. After the 6 weeks I wrote and successfully passed the exam but my instructor suggested that I do more pool practice as I was not conformtable enough. For me outside the lessons thinking about diving seemed so easy but every time I got in the pool session I was feeling the anxiety pulling me. I went for about 4 more pool practice and became much much better. Then I was waiting for my next trip down south to take the open water. The week before I left for Philippines I had the same feeling....knowing that it was approaching I felt like I didn't want to do it anymore. I was scared but most importantly I do not feel the same way as my boyfriend about scuba diving. Scuba makes him feel free like he could fly. For me I thought it was ok but I don't think the underwater world is as nice as he does. Anyhow I told him that I was quitting and that I would not be scuba diving because the only reason I was doing it was for him. Right after I felt real bad because I wished I love scuba diving and could do it with him. Before I knew it I was hiding my scuba diving book in my bag and heading to the Philippines. Inside of me I knew I was going to try to do the certification. I felt like I had to do it. I had to overcome my issue and since I was half way through I thought it was better to just finish it and get certified. I figured that the reason why I don't appreciate the underwater world is maybe because I am not use to it and I had confidence that with more practice I could enjoy it too. He does very deep dive and wreck and that kind of stuff. This is not my objective. I enjoy the 40-50 feet dive. For now anyways. So in the Philippines I talked to the instructor and went for a dive with him and he said I would not have any problem whatsoever to get certification. I did all the skills requires for open water in the pool in less than 45 minutes and I was heading in the ocean!!! I did the 4 dives and got certified within 2 days. I had so much pool practices that he said I was way better than average. But inside of me I just don't feel 100% right when I am diving. He assured me that this feeling would go away with time and experience. He was so nice and so good with me. Then after the 4 required dives I went for my first fun dive with my boyfriend and it was terrible. I didn't feel good as I was going down and all the way through the dive. I was having problems controlling buoyancy and not enjoying it. So weird the same morning I was enjoying myself. But anyways I just thought that the next one will be better. I am wondering if it's possible that I feel pressured to dive with my boyfriend and that is why I don't feel good?
I just want to share my story with other people who might be scared about diving. The only thing I can say is :"If I did it, almost anyone can do it too!!! Give yourself time and practice and you will get it. Do it for yourself and good luck to all the new divers. If anyone has the same experience as me with a boyfriend or a girfriend who doesn't dive pls don't push them into it, it really doesn't help.
Now I am looking forward to my next vacations to dive again and I am confident that I can do it, I know I will get better and better. I just hope my boyfriend will be more supportive with me.