Failed Open Water Dive Update

[RJHinPDX]

For those of you who have not yet heard my tale of woe (and are at all interested), see the original "Failed Open Water Dive" thread.

For those of you who commented on the original thread, thanks again for your advice and words of encouragement.

I had the first of two extra pool sessions a week ago. Met my instructor at the shop and had a chat. To my repeated request for a pool session with a wet suit, I received an unequivocal "no". I was told it was a safety issue, that they were concerned I would overheat. As an aside, my instructor said, "And they don't really want their wetsuits used in a chlorinated pool" [pause] "but it's mostly a safety issue".

Went through skills at the pool. My instructor agreed my skills were fine, that I shouldn't have any trouble with open water, that my difficulty is my unfamiliarity with the exposure gear. Even so, the only solution is for me to go to a warm water destination for open water dives and to get "more experience".

I have one more pool session at the end of the month. The extra sessions have been helpful. I am more comfortable moving around under water and more confident with the skills.

I actually managed to hover this last time. I moved up and down a bit in the water column, but at least I didn't bob up to the surface the way I did the last time. Oh, and I was upside down. My instructor suggested I was over-weighted.

So there it is. I'm not happy about it, but I'll be going somewhere else for my open water dives. Perhaps the Florida Keys or Bonaire? When I come back, I'll be working with a different dive shop.

 

[nimoh]

FWIW, I always wear my 3mm in the pool, never overheated once. I have been warm at times, but that is easily fixed by pulling on the collar and allowing a free exchange of water....there is no safety issue.

 

[oreocookie]

So they're basically telling you never to dive in cold water... If you're comfortable with the skills, getting experience with the skills in warm water where no or very minimal exposure protection is needed is not really going to help you with the unfamiliarity you have with thick wetsuits, hood and gloves. Is there any way you can get a private session in open water so you have more time to work out any issues you have with the exposure protection before doing skills?

 

[RJHinPDX]

FWIW, I always wear my 3mm in the pool, never overheated once. I have been warm at times, but that is easily fixed by pulling on the collar and allowing a free exchange of water....there is no safety issue.

This would be a 7mm Farmer Jane. Still, I think the same solution would apply.

---------- Post added January 15th, 2013 at 10:59 AM ----------

So they're basically telling you never to dive in cold water... If you're comfortable with the skills, getting experience with the skills in warm water where no or very minimal exposure protection is needed is not really going to help you with the unfamiliarity you have with thick wetsuits, hood and gloves. Is there any way you can get a private session in open water so you have more time to work out any issues you have with the exposure protection before doing skills?

Yes, you're correct, going to warm water will not help me with cold water diving, which was my original goal. I have pointed this out several times. I keep getting the same advice - go get experience diving in warm water.

I think the decision is made. I asked about going back to Hood Canal with my instructor and got only, "Well, we'll see."

I'm hoping if I take the referral and get certified I can find another local dive shop that will help me with my cold water skills. I'm not expecting anymore help from my current instructor on that issue.

 

[nimoh]

This would be a 7mm Farmer Jane. Still, I think the same solution would apply.

well, that changes things a bit.

While I still don't see it as a safety issue, a 7mm is too warm for a pool. You should be looking for a confined open water site to try this (outside).

 

[Altissimus]

Well done for hovering. Hovering in a pool is more difficult than hovering at depth - for reasons to do with the more rapid changes in pressures at shallower depths, your buoyancy is harder to control. This, incidentally, is why lots of people have ear problems between 3-7 meters, and comparatively very few ear problems between 13-17 meters. In a pool, anything even closely approaching neutral buoyancy is a win - fin-pivots on the bottom of the deepend is the best test - and you're right, they tend to put way too much weight on beginners. As for being upside-down, Australians live like that, so you'll get used to it. As your skills and experience improve, so will your ability to control your orientation with a flick of hand or fin.

I missed your previous thread, but in my experience the key thing in the OW is to relax, take your time, and focus on getting the skills practiced until *you're* happy with them. If *you* know that you can recover your reg if you lose it, if *you* know that you can clear your mask if it floods, and if *you* know that you know how to control your buoyancy under water, then you'll know that you're independent and capable of keeping yourself safe under water. From that point, everything will come with more experience.

Did I mention it's a good idea to relax? This can be quite difficult for folks at first, because, believe it or not, we're not designed to spend long period of time underwater. As a consequence, your brain says "um...underwater here...you sure this is a good idea? Dude? Seriously? Surface now?". It takes a while to trust your kit/buddy/skills/experiences/instructor, etc, and meanwhile you're not very relaxed. So it's a pretty good idea to force yourself to breathe slowly, deeply, and regularly. This will help you to relax, and make everything else easier. It's also a pretty good idea to remind yourself to breathe slowly, deeply and regularly when you've just stressed yourself out - e.g., mask flooding/clearing.

Anyhow, in 300 dives time you'll look back at this and wish you could do your OW again

Best,
A.

 

[flots am]

I had the first of two extra pool sessions a week ago. Met my instructor at the shop and had a chat. To my repeated request for a pool session with a wet suit, I received an unequivocal "no". I was told it was a safety issue, that they were concerned I would overheat. As an aside, my instructor said, "And they don't really want their wetsuits used in a chlorinated pool" [pause] "but it's mostly a safety issue".

Your instructor is either misinformed or lying. There is absolutely no "safety issue" with wearing a wetsuit in the pool.

I wear a full 3mm wetsuit in the pool every single time and students regularly wear 3mm or 5mm or whatever they happen to own or rent. On a number of occasions I've worn a drysuit.

Unless your pool is very warm (in the high 80's or better) it is nearly impossible to be "too warm" in the pool and there is certainly no safety issue. You could always leave the suit unzipped if you need to be cooler.

flots.

 

[dbulmer]

RJHinPDX,

Personally I think the shop you went to has let you down.

I think the shop is amateurish. I get the feeling that they just can't be bothered and that finding another instructor would be a better course of action for you to take - an action I see that you are prepared to take.

Don't be discouraged by this - a competent instructor will get you over this.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I dive my drysuit year round with the same undergarments.....4th Element Arctic. I did a 1.5 hour dive in 77° water (a shallow cess pool that we call a local mud hole ) and was very comfortable. Once I opened the suit up, I got hot but I find my suit.undies regulate the temperature very nicely. If I did much diving where the water was 70°+ I would buy lighter undergarments but simply can't justify the expense since it is uncommon. If I ever travel to the "tropics", I dive a 2 pc 3 mm suit that keeps me nice and comfortable in waters as warm as 85°.

I definitely agree that a 3mm suit in a pool is NOT a safety issue. I also do not believe that a 7mm presents much of a safety issue as long as the OP keeps hydrated and can circulate water.

 

[randytay]

Where are you located? Maybe I may be of service