Scuba-dooba-do
Registered
I have been taking ssi training for 6 weeks now. We are training in a heated pool. I have many skills down but many I struggle with. We have been in a total of 5 pool instruction classes. I go to the pool on Fridays at 10 a.m for 5 hours to practice. I am a slow learner. I have to do things multiple times to have it really click. These classes move quickly. The instructors show the training first e.g. Mask 1-4, Regulator 1-5 etc. I have chosen not to do the open water dive test because I know that I am not ready. It still takes me about 10 minutes to get my buoyancy just right. Which slows down the class. The instructors get irritated (which makes sense) I am slowing them down. I have had a few dive buddies. One of them is a navy diver from 40 years before doing refresher courses so he can dive again. He helped me a lot. I would take personal lessons however the instructor has to come to you. It is winter here and the water is too cold in the pool. I have a friend that is certified and told me he would help me in his pool. Part of my frustration is the pool we practice in is only 5 feet deep. Yesterday at the pool my husband threw his back out helping me put my gear on. I had to take his gear off of him and carry the takes back to the side of the room. He is very hurt. It will take at least 3 weeks to heal. Our open water diving test is March 4. I know he will not be ready physically. I am not prepared for doing all of the tasks. An example is taking off my gear in the water and getting back on. Buddy breathing, controlled ascent I have not mastered yet. I can clear my mask most of the time. I have had a few instances where I had to cough into reg. to get rid of water. With lack of buoyancy I am a mess on everything else. I know the amount of weight I need, it just takes time for me to swim around so I can get the feel of being neutral. In class there is no time for this. Our pool is small and is five feet at the deep end. It has a slope in the middle. We have to move the class along fast. There are 7 of us in that small pool. I am so frustrated and I feel like a complete loser. I feel bad for my husband who is hurt. He is in great shape btw. He just moved wrong.. As for me I am 5 feet 8, I have 29 percent body fat: which means I can float! I use about 12 pounds of weight to drop.
I guess I don't have any questions per say...just venting frustrations. I knew by class 4 I was not going to be ready. I kept going to class though. I probably will still take the written test, but not go to anymore official classes. Which is only 1 more. Which is a wet suit fitting etc. They also will be doing all of the skills with a wet-suit on. I will continue to go to the pool on Fridays when hubby is better and can be my buddy. I will continue to practice all of the steps. Going to the last Saturday class will only serve to frustrate me even more. I need to practice certain things that I struggle with...before I even think about putting on a wet-suit. Again I am so frustrated. I cried the whole way home from practice. Then and there I decided I will not put myself or others at risk by doing the open water dive without more confidence in my skills. As an aside : I am very comfortable in the water, no panic, no problem with the regulator. I am strong. I can carry the tanks and help my buddy put theirs on. I use less oxygen than most of my classmates. I breathe deeply and regularly . Guess I have good lungs. I have lost 10 pounds in the last 2 months..I am on a wellness journey. Thanks for letting me vent.
... Any comments, advice, opinions
I guess I don't have any questions per say...just venting frustrations. I knew by class 4 I was not going to be ready. I kept going to class though. I probably will still take the written test, but not go to anymore official classes. Which is only 1 more. Which is a wet suit fitting etc. They also will be doing all of the skills with a wet-suit on. I will continue to go to the pool on Fridays when hubby is better and can be my buddy. I will continue to practice all of the steps. Going to the last Saturday class will only serve to frustrate me even more. I need to practice certain things that I struggle with...before I even think about putting on a wet-suit. Again I am so frustrated. I cried the whole way home from practice. Then and there I decided I will not put myself or others at risk by doing the open water dive without more confidence in my skills. As an aside : I am very comfortable in the water, no panic, no problem with the regulator. I am strong. I can carry the tanks and help my buddy put theirs on. I use less oxygen than most of my classmates. I breathe deeply and regularly . Guess I have good lungs. I have lost 10 pounds in the last 2 months..I am on a wellness journey. Thanks for letting me vent.
... Any comments, advice, opinions