victorzamora
Contributor
Well if you have access to a pool, then let me give you another piece of advice that might help you GREATLY. If you have your own Mask/snorkel/fins.....then I have two exercises that are the hardest things for some people to get over.
Stand in the pool in an area that you can comfortably get your head back OUT of the water (the key)....but preferably not so shallow you really have to crouch. In that area, breath through your snorkel. Then, pull your snorkel out of your mouth, sit for a second, and then put it back in your mouth before you clear and do it again. The feeling of being underwater and NOT having an air source is something that freaks a lot of people out really quickly. The other one is a mask skill. I'd try to let a little pool of water in your mask and just keep breathing. If it goes well, then try holding your face underwater with your mask off, breathing through the snorkel.
Failure to be comfortable with the above tasks is the most common problems I see with new Scuba divers.
Stand in the pool in an area that you can comfortably get your head back OUT of the water (the key)....but preferably not so shallow you really have to crouch. In that area, breath through your snorkel. Then, pull your snorkel out of your mouth, sit for a second, and then put it back in your mouth before you clear and do it again. The feeling of being underwater and NOT having an air source is something that freaks a lot of people out really quickly. The other one is a mask skill. I'd try to let a little pool of water in your mask and just keep breathing. If it goes well, then try holding your face underwater with your mask off, breathing through the snorkel.
Failure to be comfortable with the above tasks is the most common problems I see with new Scuba divers.