Did NOT complete OW certification

[edithjg]

Hi,
This is my first post. I've been reading for a couple of weeks and everyone seems really nice.

Here is my delema:

I WAS taking a PADI OW course at Sierra College. I thought I would do great, but to my suprise the very 1st pool session didn't go so hot. The very first thing we did was go underwater (4ft) and just get used to breating through the regulator. At that point alone I felt closterfobic and very paniced. I ended up lasting a couple of minutes under water until the panic get full hold of me and I went up and left the pool. I was crying and a nervous wreck.

Later the instructor offered to do a private a no charge to get caught up to the class. I called him later that week and we went back to the pool.

I was very nervous, but we actually finished all module one skills! It wasn't easy, mentally, but I did it. I was very proud. I had come along way in my opinion from being too scared to just breath underwater to completing a whole set of skills.

I was then all caught up to join the class. I ended up completing half of module 2 skills (this time in deeper pool water 12ft). Again, not easy, but I was learning how to control my panic and relaxing a bit.

Then came the mask removal skill. I tried it 3 times and all the times I went up to the surface becasue I felt like water was going up my nose and I would choke. One of the times I even spit out the regulator half way coming up (I know, very bad).

After the 3rd time the instructor told me to get out of the pool and that maybe this wasn't for me. I got out and we talked later on when the class was taking a break. He said that if I still wanted to do this he recomended spending as much time in the pool with my snorkel and getting comfortable with my face in the water and that there was still room in the Fall semister class.

I've always felt VERY uncomfortable with my nose in the water. I've alwayed used one hand to plug it. I really want to learn how to scuba and I KNOW I can because most of my problem (the panic even when there is no reason to at all) and if anyone can control my mind it's me (even though it's much harder than it sounds).

Does anyone have any advice or have gone through similar situations. I don't want to be unsafe which is what I will be if I can't control myself. Help? Thanks.

PS. also any tips on that full mask removal skill would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sasscuba]

Welcome to the board. My wife practiced for about 2 weeks doing the mask removal and clearing. Took her some time but she got it down. Don't rush and try it in a pool until you feel comfortable. I even held her down at the shoulders and kept her down until she gave me the thumbs up. Good luck to you.

 

[wedivebc]

Like your instructor suggested, get used to having your face in the water. Snorkeling will get you to started. After you are comfortable in the pool with a snorkel and mask, try removing the mask and learn to snorkel without it. When you get that far you should be ready to resume training.
Hope that helps,

 

[scubatoad]

All the advice that has already been given is the key. Even if you were able to complete the class, you would never be able to safely dive at any depth with that panic still in your mind. Ideally, you would to be as comfortable under the water as you are sitting on your couch at home. My 10 year old son had NO problems with the skills test but my wife needed more than one try. It is all about comfort and confidence under the water. At depth you need to resolve your problems at depth. A quick trip to the surface can cause serious problems or death.

 

[Marvel]

Like your instructor suggested, get used to having your face in the water. Snorkeling will get you to started. After you are comfortable in the pool with a snorkel and mask, try removing the mask and learn to snorkel without it. When you get that far you should be ready to resume training.
Hope that helps,

First, welcome to SB, Edith!!! Dave (wedivebc) makes a darned good suggestion & one that I have seen others with your same issue overcome it with. You don't indicate where in the world you are but if you are anywhere near my area, please drop me a PM. Perhaps we can work on some things that will make you more comfortable.

 

[TSandM]

THIS thread includes an excellent post by Walter on a methodical way to desensitize yourself to mask problems.

This is a very common hurdle for new divers. You're not alone in having problems with it.

 

[EvilSlumLord]

Yes, welcome to SB.

My opinion might seem a bit harsher than others but pls take it as advice given to keep you safe vs. to be hard on you.

My opinion about diving is that you shouldn't make it thru the OW class by the thinnest of margins. Given the inherent risks for you and your buddy having lots of margin in being able to pass and feel comfortable with the concepts/skills seems like a VERY good idea to me. It isn't the easiest set of skills one could imagine mastering but it isn't that hard either. Being really uncomfortable or panicking in a controlled, planned situation doesn't bode well for the situation where you will really *need* the skills (or your buddy will) and there won't be the opportunity to try it again until you get it.

I am far from being a great or knowledgeable diver and I wish you the very best in finding a way to overcome your discomfort so that you can enjoy diving like I and others do. At the same time, if after really putting an effort into it you still have a lot of doubts or discomfort, my advice would be to try something else and not put yourself or a buddy at risk. Diving isn't for everyone and I would rather see someone give it up vs. get hurt (or live with causing others to get hurt).

Just as an example, in my OW course there was a lady that was taking the course for the 3rd time. The first time she made it thru the pool work and had a panic attack on the first OW dive. The second time she missed the OW dives because her SO (and diving buddy) was sick (I suspect the panic attack just came on before she left home). On the OW dives where I was there she lost it on the 3rd dive (after we had done all the tough skills the day before) and was escorted to shore. They gave her a referral to finish the dives in a warm water location (if I were the instructor I would have said "good college try but this just isn't for you"). Bottom line, there is no way I would ever go diving with her and I only hope she had the sense to know when the game was up and she should do something else.

Again, no intent to slam you about this, just hope you will be willing to do the right level of introspection and decide if this is really the right path for you. There is no shame in recognizing it isn't (for me mountain climbing, skydiving, etc. are all things I just wouldn't ever feel good about doing).

Best of luck in your choice.

 

[Louma]

EvilSlumLord excellent post. You will have to change your name to BenevolentSlumLord. I wish more people would take stock of their experiences, abilities and reasons why they want to dive. Diving is not for everyone. There would be a lot less of the posts we have been seeing on SB about the abilities of the divers that are out there.

 

[BiggDawg]

This is a very common hurdle for new divers. You're not alone in having problems with it.

Others have posted techniques in this thread, and the one linked by TSandM is good, too.

That being said, you need to remember that, as TSandM said, this is very common. Your instructor and the certifying agencies know that, which is why the drill in the first place.

We (land dwelling) mammals possess the mammalian reflex which causes us autonomically to stop breathing when our faces are in water. On a primal level, it was to keep us alive. Most land dwelling mammals avoid the water.

This reaction is something that, to some degree or another, we all had to overcome to be successful divers. For some, it was much easier, for others it is much more difficult. Unfortunately for you, you seem to fall into that latter group, but it is nothing that you cannot overcome with patience and practice. I only wish that your instructor had not suggested that this might not be for you.

Please, please, please do not let this discourage you. You have no reason to be embarrassed or to let it make you cry, though I can certainly understand your reaction. Remember that many of your new friends here, and in your OW class, are pulling for you.

Please come back and let us know how you did.

 

[Sasquatch]

I must agree with Evil and Louma. There's no shame in honestly realizing that maybe this isn't the sport for you. On the contrary, what a great level of self awareness that you can realize it!

On the other hand, if you believe, with practice, you can be a good, safe diver (and buddy) then practice, practice and then PRACTICE! Grab a mask, snorkle and fins and spend as much time in the water as you can stand.

Best of luck, welcome to SB and please let us know how you're doing!

Dave