Wanting to dive in Fiji after OW, but want an instructor with me

[Brie]

Hi all

As of tomorrow, (if all goes well), I will have completed my open water certification with just the two last dives to go.
Most things I have found fine and I am quite comfortable in the water. I am just a bit anxious with the mask clearing exercises (mask replace and removal). I can do it, but I do worry about it beforehand.

I am in Fiji for a short holiday over the new year period and I hadn't planned on diving, but it does seem too good an opportunity to pass up.
I'd prefer to do this in a small group with an instructor (or even one-on-one with an instructor) but don't have time to do the full advanced course whilst there.
Does anyone know a dive agency that would offer this as an option in Fiji?

Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[yle]

My recommendations:

When you're working on your mask skills for your OW course, think about the reward you're going to give yourself for finishing your course... i.e. diving in Fiji. And when you take off your mask, just breathe.

When you get to Fiji, find a local dive shop and tell them what you would like to do... go for a dive with an instructor/guide, or take additional training, or whatever. They will be able to arrange for you anything you like. They're in the business of making sure you have a great time.

Oh, and congratulations on your OW course! It's a lot of work to master those skills, but after you do, everything gets better with every dive.

 

[Pat.D]

Congrats on OW cert!

I'm sure any dive operator will supply you with a 1 on 1 instructor (probably for a fee) if you ask for it, but if you go out with a small dive shop group you will likely have an accompanying DM/Guide so you just need to let them (and the rest of the small group) know you're newly certified and usually everyone will keep an eye on you.

Mask clearing is something you can also practice on your own anywhere you have access to a pool. Just sit in the shallow end with your snorkel not attached to your mask and you can practice mask removal and clearing a flooded over and over until you get comfortable with it.

The best way to make what you learned become second nature is to practice practice practice. For example, a few nights ago I went to the local dive club's pool to try out a new regulator I bought. While there I took some time to practice the basics (mask removal, clearing flooded mask, swimming underwater without mask, swapping reg for octo, out of air drill with someone else...)

Pat

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Congrats on becoming a diver. Unfortunately, you are not the only one in this situation. The industry graduates a whole lot of divers who have not overcome their anxiety and realize rightfully that they are unable to dive on their own for quite some time. For this very reason, I think getting certified at home may be a better idea because you are not on a vacation time frame and you can dedicate all the time to practice and repetition. That way when you do end up in an exotic location such as Fiji, you are not struggling to learn but enjoying the dive.

My suggestion would be to hire a DM for the rest of the trip and work on the skills that you think you need, in shallow water after the dive is over. I see you are from NZ so there are plenty of great dives there. I may come to your country to dive a wreck or two.

 

[MJS1946]

Congrats on the OW (I have yet to complete). Not sure about Fiji, but every other place I’ve gone there are dive “tours” where there are a dive master and one or two other staff, so almost like having an instructor along.

For what it’s worth, I was a bit nervous about the mask clearing but it seemed pretty benign in the pool at least.

Enjoy!

 

[George Monnat Jr]

I recommend a Dive Master (DM). DMs are professionals who assist instructors and take divers, including new ones, on tours.

 

[Brie]

Thanks all for the advice!
I have booked a group dive tour at a beginner dive site with two DMs and an instructor, one of whom they will pair me up with.

Have a Merry Christmas!

 

[TMHeimer]

Congrats. Based on my only dive trip (plane to Panama), contact dive ops online and ask about diving with an instructor. And all other questions you can think of before you agree to set something up and depart.

 

[diverintheflesh]

Brie, if you're not emotionally ready to be a diver, you should wait to dive... Remember, being a diver includes the assumption that if your dive buddy has issues, you'll be there for them as well. If mask clearing causes anxiety, an "insta-buddy" you've never met that could rip off your mask or pull the reg out of your mouth is not going to make for a memorable trip. You might even need to be there for an experienced diver.

You'll have plenty of time to dive on your next trip after you build your confidence and skills. There's no time like the present to admit you should wait.

Ask yourself, would you trust your confidence and skills with someone's children?

These thoughts are not to discourage you to dive. On the contrary, I'm only stating that you should be honest with yourself. There are a lot of instructors that award certifications to those that are not ready.

If you have time before your trip, have a local instructor spend some extra water time with you working on those skills.

 

[Brie]

Understand where you are coming from- which is exactly my point, which is why I’ve booked a dive with an instructor just for me.
Not a deep or complicated or even slightly taxing dive, but just some more time in the water, with an instructor to feel more comfortable and get used to all the new skills