OW test at Casino Point, freaked out, didn't pass

[lkws]

You're so right!! My goodness, the whole time I felt like I was choking with the dang hood on!! I hate that thing! I definitely think I'm supposed to be a warm water diver too!

Congratulations on passing! Especially managing to stay calm after the gear change.

I got certified in a 7mm, and though I practiced in a hood, I was SO glad that it was warm enough the day of the checkout (water temp 55-65 degrees depending on the depth) that I could go without it. It just feels like it is choking me. While the 7mm suit wasn't a problem, the hood issues were enough that I decided I'm a warm water diver

 

[fnfalman]

Go with a half-hood. It's enough to cover the top of the head where the greatest heat loss is, and it doesn't choke you.

 

[BUDMANOK]

"?I wonder if it's better to squeeze beginners into a tight restricting 7mm wetsuit or teach them to dive a drysuit right off the bat? Not trying to the open another can off worms but it seems the op had a real issue with the bulk and constriction of the wetsuit.

Course the hood was a problem also and I'm not sure how to fix that. I wear the thinnest hood possible for the temp

I'm not sure if a drysuit would have been better or not but maybe worth a try? personally I will never go back to diving wet in cold water.

 

[AZTinman]

Congrats on passing! It sounds like you had an instructor who was interested in your success.

Now, spend some time to find yourself some gear that you feel a little more comfortable in and get some dives in.

I watched several people working pretty hard to get into wetsuits that didn't fit very well this past weekend. They had to be uncomfortable. I was surprised to see some of them actually able to walk and move their arms. A few years ago, I tried to get into an old 7 mil suit I had stashed in a closet; it was amazing to see how much that suit had shrunk...

-Philip

-Philip

 

[drbill]

I watched several people working pretty hard to get into wetsuits that didn't fit very well this past weekend.

Gulp... you could see all the way to Catalina?

Of course I like a reasonably tight fit in my wetsuits to compensate for all the holes, but understand how too tight a fit can be constricting. I do have a brand new 7mm (well, dived once when I needed a "dry" wetsuit for a night dive to film mating squid with J-M Cousteau), but it is tight, difficult to get on and VERY buoyant.

Personally I would not suggest a new diver get certified in a dry suit. It just adds another level of complication and one which can have consequences for safety. That's why I make sure my dry suit also has large holes in it so the legs fill up with water and I don't ascend feet first.

 

[jscan1]

I think put another 10 dives together in our waters and the hood becomes a non factor! Hell I'm going to Hawaii in July and last year was a little cold on the third dives with a 3 mm...The solution "I'm bringing my hood" , Hood keeps you warm

 

[pasley]

Congratulations. Welcome to the brotherhood of divers.

Melvin Pasley
NAUI Instructor 50764
Handicapped SCUBA Association International Instructor 3017

 

[HalcyonDaze]

Welcome to the club!

Funnily enough, I was just in SoCal last weekend - broke out the 2-piece 6.5-mil semidry (which I use for some snorkeling jobs in Florida in the winter; sure it's gross overkill but if I'm going to be in 75-degree water and colder air for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for three weeks I'm taking no chances). And I remembered what a relative pain in the *** cold-water diving is. I did feel somewhat constricted in the heavier wetsuit with a 20-pound weight belt (I have a backplate setup, so most dives in Florida I need minimal or no additional weights). Breathing at least at first wasn't so effortless, although some of that might have been due to having to hike down to the dive site (drastic changes in natural elevation and negotiating them while in 70-80 pounds of dive gear being another thing I'm now unfamiliar with). Still, I was okay although my second dive at Malaga Cove was hardly ideal - 5-7 viz at best and a bit of surge.

As far as hoods, it depends on your cold tolerance but I personally figure that if I need one I'll want my neck covered as well. Aside from that it's just a matter of getting used to the feeling. I find myself sympathetic to the complaints you hear from the actors who have played Batman over the years.

 

[ScubaNoey]

I did it guys!!I passed!!! Woohoo!! :cheerleader:

It was a shore dive at Diver's Cove in Laguna....entry was a little bit rough though. I got caught on a wave, lost my balance and got swept away.....unfortunately, I lost my mask & snorkels. I had a moment of panic and freaked out (mostly because I couldn't get up) but thankfully, my husband sat this dive out and lent me his mask/snorkel to finish my skills....once I finally got in the water (after a little struggle w/ the waves), it was great. Happy to say I got all my skills done and swam around with my wonderful instructor for a little bit. Visibility was awful (about 5 ft) but the water wasn't too cold (had a hood and 7mil wetsuit on). I feel much more confident now! I feel like I still need practice but I am so grateful that I passed! Thank you for all those who chipped in words of encouragements and advice. I greatly appreciate it!!

See you in the ocean!

GREAT JOB!! Congratulations! :balloons:

---------- Post added April 28th, 2014 at 06:29 PM ----------

Congratulations on passing the test.

I took half of my OW checkout dives at Veteran's Park in Redondo Beach. Got tumbled by a wave and almost wrenched my right knee off.

I did half of my advanced dives at Vet's and got tumbled up too... must have swallowed a bunch of water or something too because I was SICK for about a week after.. Still have a hard time getting back to Vet's :depressed: