OW test at Casino Point, freaked out, didn't pass

[Scubagolf]

I believe that if my wife had attempted her OW in Catalina, she would have not made it. She did her dives on referral from the shore on Maui. 150+ dives later she is pretty obsessed.

 

[Lorenzoid]

A 7 mm only feels bulky at first. Once you are comfortably dialed in you don't notice the neoprene and weight. You are not moving much anyway. Just floating along looking at stuff.

I guess some people deal with the "constricted" feeling better than others. Maybe after several dives one notices it less, but that doesn't help a person who is just trying to get through the initial certification dives. I think the more physically fit one is, the better they are able to deal with it. Really, if one isn't fit, it can take all the strength one has just to not fall over on one's face when waddling into the sea on a shore entry. My first wife (who was not very fit) and I took the OW course in 7 mm suits, and she absolutely HATED it--just couldn't get past the Michelin Man feeling and the cold water on her face enough to concentrate on dive skills. She made it through the class and a tropical vacation after that but never dived again. (Present wife is more fit and loves diving but refuses to dive in 7 mm suits unless guaranteed to see a dancing whale shark.)

 

[pasley]

From what the OP has said it sounds like the suit, and hood were worn for the first time in the ocean dive. If that is the case then the diver did not have an opportunity to get use to the feeling of it and to dealing with the buoyancy changes. That may have played a role here in her difficulties.

Melvin Pasley
NAUI Instructor 50764
Handicapped SCUBA Association International Instructor 3017

 

[lkws]

To everyone who commented on this post:

I had a great private one-on-one session with my instructor at the pool in which I did great! Got all the skills, no fears, plus the pool was heated so I did it sans wetsuit, and it felt much, much better! Perhaps I am meant to be a skin diver in warm waters!

This Saturday we're going out to Laguna Beach's Diver's Cove to re-test me for my OW skills!! Wish me luck! *finger cross* hope I do well and not have a freak-out again like Casino Point. I do feel more confident and better about my skill level this time though so I just hope the water's not too cold and the visibility is not too horrible! I'll let you know the outcome!

Thanks everyone :cool2:

 

[blinkswiler]

I take students to the Casino Park frequently and I relate to them that stress is OK. Its not a natural act to be underwater for an extended period of time. Just remember that
1. you're not that far from shore
2. you're under the direct supervision and control of a highly experienced professional dive instruction team, trained in how to handle emergencies if the need arrises.
3. There're nothing down there that will hurt you
4. you will be asked to do nothing other than what you've already completed successfuilly in the pool sessions
5. not all dive are great or successful. I've scrubbed many for various reasons. Thats OK.
6. First dives are always high stress.The more you dive the more comfortable withthe environment and equipment you will get and the stress factor will deceline rapidly.
7. the view is well worth the trip.
8. Once completed, you'll be a member of a select group of individuals who get to see and experience things 99% of the population can never even imagine. Its not like what you see on Discovery Channel. What a privledge!

Relax and enjoy the trip.

 

[drbill]

Although it was 45 years ago and I had been diving freshwater for several years, my first dive off Catalina on August 24, 1969, involved some stress. I had always dived relatively warm fresh water (besides, we didn't own a wetsuit back then) so exposure protection wasn't a factor until I dove here. It does indeed take a little getting used to. I think I was more stressed about great white sharks though... but I had my Jim Bowie of a dive knife back then. Over the years I've gotten used to thick wetsuits and the fact that the great whites don't see me as particularly palatable.

 

[lkws]

I did it guys!!I passed!!! Woohoo!! :cheerleader:

It was a shore dive at Diver's Cove in Laguna....entry was a little bit rough though. I got caught on a wave, lost my balance and got swept away.....unfortunately, I lost my mask & snorkels. I had a moment of panic and freaked out (mostly because I couldn't get up) but thankfully, my husband sat this dive out and lent me his mask/snorkel to finish my skills....once I finally got in the water (after a little struggle w/ the waves), it was great. Happy to say I got all my skills done and swam around with my wonderful instructor for a little bit. Visibility was awful (about 5 ft) but the water wasn't too cold (had a hood and 7mil wetsuit on). I feel much more confident now! I feel like I still need practice but I am so grateful that I passed! Thank you for all those who chipped in words of encouragements and advice. I greatly appreciate it!!

See you in the ocean!

 

[jscan1]

Not sure where in So. Ca. you are, but on May 10 Powerscuba is having a Dive/Barbecue at Lajolla Shores tailored towards getting New Divers in the Water! I did my first "Beginner Level" Dive boat with these guys fresh out of my OW Certification and was made incredibly comfortable by all on board! So comfortable in fact, I've done all my additional Certs with Bill, and dive with the group every chance I get! The CLub is great and pretty much Dives every week in some capacity! Get out there and dive often with people that dive often and you will gain a level of comfort and competency pretty quick!

 

[Skittl1321]

Congratulations on passing! Especially managing to stay calm after the gear change.

I got certified in a 7mm, and though I practiced in a hood, I was SO glad that it was warm enough the day of the checkout (water temp 55-65 degrees depending on the depth) that I could go without it. It just feels like it is choking me. While the 7mm suit wasn't a problem, the hood issues were enough that I decided I'm a warm water diver

 

[fnfalman]

Congratulations on passing the test.

I took half of my OW checkout dives at Veteran's Park in Redondo Beach. Got tumbled by a wave and almost wrenched my right knee off.