dotyj
Contributor
Hi all:
I finally had my first sessio with my instructor today. I was scheduled to meet him at 9:30am and showed up at 9:00am.
Things started off with a review and grading of each of my five quizzes I took at home, each quiz review followed by a test administered by my instructor. I scored 100% on quizzes 1 and 2, 80% on 3, 100% on 4 and 90 (something percent) I don't have my log book in front of me, on quiz 5.
I then had a final exam. I scored 92% on. I missed one question because I misread it, the unconsious diver question becauseIassumed I was in the water and thought it was more important to get myself buoyant then help the diver, and OOA handling order. For some reason I kept thinking buddy breathing before alternate. I had to discuss that one verbally and now think I have the order right. There was one other I missed but don't recall it at the moment.
I then showed my gear off to my instructor. "Wow, that's an old regulator." he said while looking at my donated, unused, three year old Sherwood Classic. He liked the Aqualung Octopus XLC as well. He's gonna setup my gear this week and test and maintain it so I can pick it up when I go back.
I then went to the locker room and got my swim trunks on. I went out to the pool and followed my instructor to the deep end side. He says that I have to swim 200 meters, I was hoping for yards myself, that's four full laps of the pool. At the moment there was a buoy barrior up. I asked if that was the opposite end of the pool for me and he said "Nope, I don't think we'll make things that easy for you."
I got out of my chair and crawled to the edge of the pool. I sat down with my feet dangling in the warm pool water and paused. I've been in a wheelchair now for 29 years and I always get into a pool by scooting down the steps. Here I was wondering what to do to protect my back and the back of my head from poolside damage, then I remembered one of the Quicktime vids I watched which showed a disabled diver putting each hand on one side of his body and pivoting into the pool. My arms are kinda short and not terribly strong so I knew I couldn't do so exactly the same way.
So I put my right arm across my stomach and pushed off with my left while I pivoted slightly. Off the edge of the pool I went, clear down to the bottom in 12 feet of water. My feet hit the bottom and I bent slightly at the knees. I thought to myself that this situation was interesting. I didn't know I could sink like that.
My instructor had never seen me in a pool, or swim, so I wonder if he had an anxious moment..
Anyway, I kicked off the bottom of the pool ad shot back to the surface. I doubt I was underwater for more than a couple or three seconds all told and wasn't the least bit concerned myself.
Boy this is getting wordy.
I touched the side of the pool, then started swimming to the other end to do my four laps. My instructor warned me that this wasn't a speed run and to take my time. I said that I had no problem taking my time. I swim pretty well, not pretty fast.
So here I was swimming and listening to the music on the loudspeakers, and singing along when I saw a shape. It was a woman in full dive gear practicing. She was swimming towards the deep end of the pool and was maybe five feet or so below me and slightly to my left. I was envious.
So I swam to the shallow end of the pool, which turned out not to be so shallow. I was concerned about kicking the bottom which is why at home I swim laps across the width of our apartment building pool rather than the length. I didn't kick the bottom.
I touched the other end and started back. I sang to a song that I like while it played on the speakers. I touched the deep end side and started lap two. I continued to the shallow end, touched and headed back. A twelve year old boy passed me. Damned I am slow.
I started my third lap with no trouble. Started my fourth lap then thought "What if I can't make it? I'm a bit tired but feel okay, but I've got nearly 50 meters to go." I told myself to shut up and keep swimming. We'll I made it. Then I had to tread water for 10 minutes.
While floating a few feet from the wall I watched a class of three women in their 60's getting out of the pool and preparing to clean up their gear. I chatted with my instructor and I just listened to music.
Finally my instructor said that I'd done my ten minutes and asked me to exit the pool.
I couldn't get out unaided at the end so swam to a nearby ladder and pulled myself out. I can't climb the ladder at home but this one was pretty easy considering how much work I'd just done.
My instructor drove my chair to me and I climbed back in. (Note to self, bring a towel for the powerchair. My seat cushion is still wet after seven hours.)
My instructor said the hard part is over and starting this coming Saturday we'll be doing the skills. Plus because of my disporportianate body I'll be learning to use a drysuite since my arms and legs are so thin that I'd have a hard time making a wetsuite work for me.
Now I'm really hyped up. And people thought I was making them nuts before.
I finally had my first sessio with my instructor today. I was scheduled to meet him at 9:30am and showed up at 9:00am.
Things started off with a review and grading of each of my five quizzes I took at home, each quiz review followed by a test administered by my instructor. I scored 100% on quizzes 1 and 2, 80% on 3, 100% on 4 and 90 (something percent) I don't have my log book in front of me, on quiz 5.
I then had a final exam. I scored 92% on. I missed one question because I misread it, the unconsious diver question becauseIassumed I was in the water and thought it was more important to get myself buoyant then help the diver, and OOA handling order. For some reason I kept thinking buddy breathing before alternate. I had to discuss that one verbally and now think I have the order right. There was one other I missed but don't recall it at the moment.
I then showed my gear off to my instructor. "Wow, that's an old regulator." he said while looking at my donated, unused, three year old Sherwood Classic. He liked the Aqualung Octopus XLC as well. He's gonna setup my gear this week and test and maintain it so I can pick it up when I go back.
I then went to the locker room and got my swim trunks on. I went out to the pool and followed my instructor to the deep end side. He says that I have to swim 200 meters, I was hoping for yards myself, that's four full laps of the pool. At the moment there was a buoy barrior up. I asked if that was the opposite end of the pool for me and he said "Nope, I don't think we'll make things that easy for you."
I got out of my chair and crawled to the edge of the pool. I sat down with my feet dangling in the warm pool water and paused. I've been in a wheelchair now for 29 years and I always get into a pool by scooting down the steps. Here I was wondering what to do to protect my back and the back of my head from poolside damage, then I remembered one of the Quicktime vids I watched which showed a disabled diver putting each hand on one side of his body and pivoting into the pool. My arms are kinda short and not terribly strong so I knew I couldn't do so exactly the same way.
So I put my right arm across my stomach and pushed off with my left while I pivoted slightly. Off the edge of the pool I went, clear down to the bottom in 12 feet of water. My feet hit the bottom and I bent slightly at the knees. I thought to myself that this situation was interesting. I didn't know I could sink like that.
My instructor had never seen me in a pool, or swim, so I wonder if he had an anxious moment.
.Anyway, I kicked off the bottom of the pool ad shot back to the surface. I doubt I was underwater for more than a couple or three seconds all told and wasn't the least bit concerned myself.
Boy this is getting wordy.
I touched the side of the pool, then started swimming to the other end to do my four laps. My instructor warned me that this wasn't a speed run and to take my time. I said that I had no problem taking my time. I swim pretty well, not pretty fast.
So here I was swimming and listening to the music on the loudspeakers, and singing along when I saw a shape. It was a woman in full dive gear practicing. She was swimming towards the deep end of the pool and was maybe five feet or so below me and slightly to my left. I was envious.
So I swam to the shallow end of the pool, which turned out not to be so shallow. I was concerned about kicking the bottom which is why at home I swim laps across the width of our apartment building pool rather than the length. I didn't kick the bottom.
I touched the other end and started back. I sang to a song that I like while it played on the speakers. I touched the deep end side and started lap two. I continued to the shallow end, touched and headed back. A twelve year old boy passed me. Damned I am slow.
I started my third lap with no trouble. Started my fourth lap then thought "What if I can't make it? I'm a bit tired but feel okay, but I've got nearly 50 meters to go." I told myself to shut up and keep swimming. We'll I made it. Then I had to tread water for 10 minutes.
While floating a few feet from the wall I watched a class of three women in their 60's getting out of the pool and preparing to clean up their gear. I chatted with my instructor and I just listened to music.
Finally my instructor said that I'd done my ten minutes and asked me to exit the pool.
I couldn't get out unaided at the end so swam to a nearby ladder and pulled myself out. I can't climb the ladder at home but this one was pretty easy considering how much work I'd just done.
My instructor drove my chair to me and I climbed back in. (Note to self, bring a towel for the powerchair. My seat cushion is still wet after seven hours.)
My instructor said the hard part is over and starting this coming Saturday we'll be doing the skills. Plus because of my disporportianate body I'll be learning to use a drysuite since my arms and legs are so thin that I'd have a hard time making a wetsuite work for me.
Now I'm really hyped up. And people thought I was making them nuts before.
