trouble recovering bc from pool bottom

[ladyfishdvr]

Last night in class I was instructed to go to the bottom of the 11 foot pool, take off my fins, bc and mask and surface leaving them there.
I then had to retrieve them. I had trouble getting down to the bottom because I cannot see in the water with out my mask. After several tries I made it down got the air in my mouth but then when I had trouble getting my mask on because it was tangled, took water in my nose and I began to panic, and abandoned the bc and surfaced. Taking my mask with me. I do not normally panic. I was then able to go down reach the bottom get my air put the bc on and surface with my mask on.

Obviously panic is bad. I can work on my surface diving skills and breath holding but the lack of vision is difficult. I have no problem taking the mask off and putting it back on underwater, however, this time I did.

How do I deal with my inability to see? I need to master this lesson. I wear glasses normally to see.

 

[boulderjohn]

What agency are you using for this training?

 

[ladyfishdvr]

Naui.

 

[emoreira]

When I did my Master Diver additional pool sessions we had to do the same drill but with a blind mask (black mask with lenses covered with black film).
A way to this is to reach the BCD following the pool wall, remembering where was the mask left and how is the BCD.
I mean, looking is something that you do not need for this drill.
The next advice should be take your time. The first thing you need to do is to retrive the second stage and start to breathe. Then relax. Follow the BCD contour with your hands. Catch your mask, follow its forms with your hands and fingers. You know where is your head, nose and eyes. You know the shape and forms of your mask, where is the nose pocket, where is the strap. Just put all together. Now you can look. The rest you know already how to do.

 

[ladyfishdvr]

Relaxing when I get the air in my mouth would have helped. After all of the attempts that I made and failed at, I was getting very stressed. I need more confidence in my skills which means I need to practice. I was definitely not relaxed.

 

[boulderjohn]

The reason I asked about the agency is that most scuba agencies discontinued this skill many years ago. I don't know about NAUI. With NAUI, though, it doesn't matter, because the instructors are allowed to add skills to the class if they wish. Thus, in some agencies the instructor would not be allowed to do this exercise, but it's OK with NAUI.

 

[ladyfishdvr]

Why was it discontinued? I am guessing that the instructor has his reasons for including it. He is very experienced and I would rather be trained for more than I need than not enough.

 

[NAM001]

oUT OF CURIOSITY WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE SKILL. OOPS... I can understand learning the realization of tasking in low vision or lost mask recovery. I am void of understanding a practical skill to be learned.

 

[boulderjohn]

I honestly don't want to get into it here. It will start a raging debate, and I would prefer that you just go ahead and do what your instructor wants you to do.

 

[warmwaterturner]

I think her question is fair. Many agencies discontinued the exercise because in their opinion it does not reflect real world situations. What is the likelyhood that a diver is going to leave all their equipment on the bottom somewhere? It is a good exercise in that it will teach you that if you have gas you can then begin to work through any problem.