TheScubaBOB
Contributor
Greetings Everyone,
Just Certified on Oct 12, 2008.
My Confined Water Class was the weekend of OCt 4th. I actually had a small Claustrophobic Panic attack the first time we went to the bottom of the deep end of the pool (10ft). There was just too much happening in the small space with 8 students & the instructor. Made it through the weekend and signed-up for my Open Water the following weekend.
So the 11th comes and I get to the Quarry. We're suited-up and get wet, do the buoyancy checks and surface swim out to the platform. Looks liek we're ready for our "adventure" dive. We ascend to the 20ft platform and I'm doing just fine. We start out on our swim, heading first to the quarry wall. Then I feel my weight belt shift from my waist down to my hips (which makes it feel like I'm being dragged down). I pause & look towards the surface which only make me feel like I'm sooo far from it. Then I look ahead just in time to see the diver in front of me fade from view. So I try to speed-up to catch up to him. I get to the group where they have paused at the wall and I'm over-exerted now, great.
So my breathing becomes a little erratic. Suddenly the full hood I'm wearing feels like it's closing in on me! I recgonize what's happening- a Claustrophobic panic attack! I try to calm my breathing but just can't. In fact it starts to get worse. Now I start thinking about getting out of here, can I make? That's when I know I have to get to the surface before it gets worse.
I head up! As soon as I'm at the surface I must clear the stuff off my face, I need to feel un-confined to stop the panic that is rolling through me. I remove my mask and spit out my regulator. Yeah I know, NEVER DO THAT! Then I want to inflate my BCD but I hit the wrong button and start to sink. The DiveMaster saw me surface and followed me up. He surfaces and sees my mistake, grabs my inflator and gets me buoyant quickly. once I'm laying onmy back, we remove my hood & loosen the straps on my BCD
Once we get back to shore we make some adjustments to my gear. Most of my weight is moved to the BCD so my weight belt only has 8 lbs on it and I shed the hood.
I'm able to make the second (skills) dive of the day without a problem.
The next morning Orest (Instructor) and Mike (DiveMaster) take me out to make-up the missed dive. We have a good dive without any problems.
I'm able to make the last two skills dives just fine. There was a minor hiccup in the mask removal, replacement & clear. I got a nose full of water but Orest was able to help me maintain calm, recover & finish clearing my mask.
After the Cert Dives, I went on a Fun Dive and was able to go down to 40ft without a problem!
I'm very proud of my PADI Cert especially as I had to overcome a Claustrophobic Panic Attack in the process.
While picking my gear I took this experience into account.
Here is the set-up I have purchased:
SeaQuest Pro QD with I3 inflator system and Integrated Weights.
SeaQuest Legend Regulator & ABS Octopus
Vyper 2 Dive Computer with PC Interface Kit.
Hot Head Hood (not a full one but the "beanie" style with chin strap)
Magna Clip Air2 holder
SeaLife ReefMaster Mini UW DigiCamera with Mares Coil Cord to attach to my BCD.
The attached image is of my daughters & I on the day I bought my gear. They want to learn to Scuba now!
Just Certified on Oct 12, 2008.
My Confined Water Class was the weekend of OCt 4th. I actually had a small Claustrophobic Panic attack the first time we went to the bottom of the deep end of the pool (10ft). There was just too much happening in the small space with 8 students & the instructor. Made it through the weekend and signed-up for my Open Water the following weekend.
So the 11th comes and I get to the Quarry. We're suited-up and get wet, do the buoyancy checks and surface swim out to the platform. Looks liek we're ready for our "adventure" dive. We ascend to the 20ft platform and I'm doing just fine. We start out on our swim, heading first to the quarry wall. Then I feel my weight belt shift from my waist down to my hips (which makes it feel like I'm being dragged down). I pause & look towards the surface which only make me feel like I'm sooo far from it. Then I look ahead just in time to see the diver in front of me fade from view. So I try to speed-up to catch up to him. I get to the group where they have paused at the wall and I'm over-exerted now, great.
So my breathing becomes a little erratic. Suddenly the full hood I'm wearing feels like it's closing in on me! I recgonize what's happening- a Claustrophobic panic attack! I try to calm my breathing but just can't. In fact it starts to get worse. Now I start thinking about getting out of here, can I make? That's when I know I have to get to the surface before it gets worse.
I head up! As soon as I'm at the surface I must clear the stuff off my face, I need to feel un-confined to stop the panic that is rolling through me. I remove my mask and spit out my regulator. Yeah I know, NEVER DO THAT! Then I want to inflate my BCD but I hit the wrong button and start to sink. The DiveMaster saw me surface and followed me up. He surfaces and sees my mistake, grabs my inflator and gets me buoyant quickly. once I'm laying onmy back, we remove my hood & loosen the straps on my BCD
Once we get back to shore we make some adjustments to my gear. Most of my weight is moved to the BCD so my weight belt only has 8 lbs on it and I shed the hood.
I'm able to make the second (skills) dive of the day without a problem.
The next morning Orest (Instructor) and Mike (DiveMaster) take me out to make-up the missed dive. We have a good dive without any problems.
I'm able to make the last two skills dives just fine. There was a minor hiccup in the mask removal, replacement & clear. I got a nose full of water but Orest was able to help me maintain calm, recover & finish clearing my mask.
After the Cert Dives, I went on a Fun Dive and was able to go down to 40ft without a problem!
I'm very proud of my PADI Cert especially as I had to overcome a Claustrophobic Panic Attack in the process.
While picking my gear I took this experience into account.
Here is the set-up I have purchased:
SeaQuest Pro QD with I3 inflator system and Integrated Weights.
SeaQuest Legend Regulator & ABS Octopus
Vyper 2 Dive Computer with PC Interface Kit.
Hot Head Hood (not a full one but the "beanie" style with chin strap)
Magna Clip Air2 holder
SeaLife ReefMaster Mini UW DigiCamera with Mares Coil Cord to attach to my BCD.
The attached image is of my daughters & I on the day I bought my gear. They want to learn to Scuba now!