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Hello everyone. I'm in the process of getting my OW cert and only have 3 more dives to go. I should only have two to go but freeked out on my 2nd dive this past Sunday.
My certification dives are being conducted just off of Catalina and before decending on my 2nd dive. (along with 11 other students ) I was having trouble catching my breath. The DM's kept telling me to breath deep and slow but the more they tried to keep me calm the more anxious I became. It eventually snowballed in to a panic and was pulled back to the boat. What a bummer!
Anyway, I'm not going to give up. I love the ocean and have always wanted to SCUBA. I'm going back out on Sunday and will do my very best. I'm glad I found this Board. I've been here reading a ton of stories and positngs from divers of all levels this week which has really help boost my confidence and excitement in this learning this sport. I look forward to more of the same
Welcome! You'll love diving off California....it is just amazing. Well, sounds like you've learned a good lesson--speak up. If you are out of breath before you descend, don't be worried about mentioning it and giving yourself a moment to catch your breath (besides that will give you a moment to enjoy the scenery topside ). You may not be the only one that needs it, just the only one to speak up.
Also, while you are on the board, make sure you check out the So. Cal. kelp divers. There are lots of us around and we love getting together (at least when our schedules allow it )
Hello, Mrjoe. This is Victor. I'm new (as you ) in this site. Please, read my greetings and let me know what do you think. Hope to hear from you soon. Victor
Good to have you with us. I've learned a lot from my challenges; hope you dow well with yours. I'm on Utila Island Honduras this week, enjoying a great dive trip, but wanted to log on long enough to welcome new members. Glad you're with us here...
Hello Ann Marie, thank you for your reply. I'll look around for the So. Cal Kelp Divers. I'm looking forward to getting out there and finishing up my OW Cert. I'll let you know how I do.
I found out last night that there are a LOT of great divers with great attitude here in SoCal. I didn't get a chance to dive (still gear challenged), but one diver who is injured offered to go to his house and grab his gear so I could use it.
As far as the anxiety, do some search on the web for biofeedback. You can do a lot of prep work prior to a dive that helps immensely during a dive. I've cut down quite a bit on air usage as a result.
I found out last night that there are a LOT of great divers with great attitude here in SoCal. I didn't get a chance to dive (still gear challenged), but one diver who is injured offered to go to his house and grab his gear so I could use it.
As far as the anxiety, do some search on the web for biofeedback. You can do a lot of prep work prior to a dive that helps immensely during a dive. I've cut down quite a bit on air usage as a result.
Welcome, and hope to see you in the water!
Thanks for the tip Undrwater! Do you anyone else reading this have any specifics on the type of Biofeed I could look research. I have had issues with anxiety in the past. especially in tight and confined places. If you have ever been in an MRI tube you know what I mean. Anyway, any further suggestions would be great.
Anxiety has a tendency to trigger physical reactions in your body, which exacerbate your anxiety, thereby triggering more physical reactions....and so on, and so on...
Biofeedback can help you break that loop by giving you the resources in monitoring your physical behaviors, and then providing some tools to manage them. If you can reduce your heart rate, you'll feel less out of breath and more relaxed. You can often trick your brain into thinking you're relaxed by acting relaxed.
Look into biofeedback for monitoring and managing heart rate and breathing. While above water, count how many breaths you take in a minute and see if you can change this by taking slower, deeper breaths. Notice how much more relaxed you feel? Your heart rate is also reduced.
Another suggestion is to sign up for a Pranayama Yoga class. Being in SoCal we have no shortage of them. Pranayama Yoga is a meditation focused on breathing, and is reported to aid in the control of mind and body.
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). You may not be the only one that needs it, just the only one to speak up. 
)
Originally Posted by undrwater
