Hello,
I am currently on holiday in Port Douglas. I live in California. I got certified in Monterey, California, about 19 years ago. During my first year of diving I completed about 30, all dives in Monterey (cold water). I even turned to my rescue certification. I never had any significant problems or challenges, I didn’t have any anxieties or fears or any scoop or concerns. However, I left the sport after my first year. Fast forward 19 years I have a 13-year-old son who just got certified in Monterey. I also did the Refresher. We spent the last four days in Papua New Guinea. The first day I did two dives and I did fine, no problems. However, the second day when we were at Albatross, I kept struggling with my mask. I was not successful in clearing my mask despite repeated tense, I tilted my head back more to give an another try however I inhaled a large quantity of water. I was coughing up water into my regulator but I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath and I couldn’t breathe plus I couldn’t see because my mask was flooded. I panicked and knowing that I was only down 6 m, I shot to the surface so that I could coffered ocean water and see. The next dive we were diving in currents and the same thing happened again . Currently I am in Port Douglas and I am scheduled to go scuba diving to the great barrier reef on a boat for three dives on Poseidon with my son. By the way my son did outstanding at all his dives even the dive master we dove with even said my son is a natural.
I paid extra to have a private instructor go diving with just me and my son at the reef. Now that I have panicked on two dives this week, I feel uneasy about diving tomorrow. I am nervous and fearful about diving tomorrow. I don’t want my fear to stop me, but I also want to stay safe. I will tell my instructor what is going on. I am thinking of asking if first dive we keep shallow, even 10 feet or at most 20 feet. Maybe I should ask for some practice time on clearing my mask?
Does anybody have any thoughts or suggestions, it would be really appreciated.
Thank you!
I am currently on holiday in Port Douglas. I live in California. I got certified in Monterey, California, about 19 years ago. During my first year of diving I completed about 30, all dives in Monterey (cold water). I even turned to my rescue certification. I never had any significant problems or challenges, I didn’t have any anxieties or fears or any scoop or concerns. However, I left the sport after my first year. Fast forward 19 years I have a 13-year-old son who just got certified in Monterey. I also did the Refresher. We spent the last four days in Papua New Guinea. The first day I did two dives and I did fine, no problems. However, the second day when we were at Albatross, I kept struggling with my mask. I was not successful in clearing my mask despite repeated tense, I tilted my head back more to give an another try however I inhaled a large quantity of water. I was coughing up water into my regulator but I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath and I couldn’t breathe plus I couldn’t see because my mask was flooded. I panicked and knowing that I was only down 6 m, I shot to the surface so that I could coffered ocean water and see. The next dive we were diving in currents and the same thing happened again . Currently I am in Port Douglas and I am scheduled to go scuba diving to the great barrier reef on a boat for three dives on Poseidon with my son. By the way my son did outstanding at all his dives even the dive master we dove with even said my son is a natural.
I paid extra to have a private instructor go diving with just me and my son at the reef. Now that I have panicked on two dives this week, I feel uneasy about diving tomorrow. I am nervous and fearful about diving tomorrow. I don’t want my fear to stop me, but I also want to stay safe. I will tell my instructor what is going on. I am thinking of asking if first dive we keep shallow, even 10 feet or at most 20 feet. Maybe I should ask for some practice time on clearing my mask?
Does anybody have any thoughts or suggestions, it would be really appreciated.
Thank you!