Is Scuba just not meant for me?

[Jim Lapenta]

You’re totally right. I honestly lost motivation and just thought I couldn’t do it. It’s going to take a lot more than 2-3 pool dives and a lot of patience but I’m really going to have to take baby steps in order to do this. Thank you so much

As I said in your other post, 2-3 pool sessions is BS for an OW class. Some people do get enough to survive with that little time. At a one to one ratio.
Many are hot messes in the OW portion after so little time. Find an old school instructor that still teaches 12-16 hours in the pool. That is probably what it's going to take if in fact you can actually do this.
It may not be for you. There's nothing wrong with that. Agencies and their proponents will try to tell you anyone can do this. That's a lie.
For some, it's not the case.
I had a reputation of being the instructor who could get people through with issues because I was patient, understanding, did not rush them, and would schedule extra time at no cost. I had access to a pool nearly 24/7 at a cost that most would kill for.
I also told several people after good attempts, that something else would be a better use of their money and refund them their tuition minus the book cost and $50 pool rental fee.
And all of my OW classes the last several years I taught were either private or only two students. Never more than that.

 

[JustCant]

I was browsing on this forum reading about a completely different topic, but had to register an account just to reply to you, because I am in EXACTLY the same position.

My wife and I did take a "Discover Scuba" course, which started with the same feeling of panic anytime I'd put my face in the water. However, the instructor actually helped me successfully breathe through the regulator and enjoy swimming around the pool. It took concentration to stay relaxed, but I did it.

Fast forward about a year or more, and we decide to get certified.

One of the first tasks in the pool was to use the regulator underwater without a mask, and without pinching the nose. I could not do it. No matter what I do, I always breathe a little bit though my nose, and this causes sheer terror as I feel like I will inhale water at any second.

I then learned that breathing without a mask and an open nose will be part of the certification process. I instantly knew I wouldn't be able to get past that, but I continued with the lessons.

At another point, while learning to be neutrally buoyant, I had a few drops of water get past my regulator and I panicked. I hit the inflator and popped to the surface immediately. Then it happened again, and I was just done. Over it.

I *can* scuba. But it takes so much concentration that I cannot relax. And I know that I will panic at the tasks that are required, like flooding or removing the mask, etc. That leads to intense dread about actually being 30 or 40 feet down and experiencing this level of anxiety. I have given up, and I'm totally ok with my decision. This is supposed to be an enjoyable activity, not something that causes fear of death. I have a claustrophobic reaction to it, and I'm not interested enough to work through it. I gave it my best.

For as long as I can remember, even snorkeling was difficult for me. The thought of inhaling water - any water at all - caused uncontrolled anxiety. I could only snorkel by holding my breath and breathing only when necessary. Smooth breathing was out of the question. I even have an issue with the typical method of "crawl" swimming, where you take a breath from under your arm. Too close to the water's surface. Been this way since I was a child, and I still don't swim that way to this day.

My biggest disappointment is that my wife really wanted us to try this. But being that it's something we will never share, she quit the class as well. I encouraged her to continue, but we both wanted this to be a "we" thing, which it was never going to be.

The dive shop I patronized was super-understanding about my issue, and refunded the entire price of our course, minus the cost of the one class we did take. This includes the cost of the Mexico trip that they organize for certification. I'm guessing it's not uncommon that people "tap out", and they have an incredibly fair refund policy, which was nice. But honestly, even if it was 100%n non-refundable, I'd still have quit.

Don't feel bad about giving up if that's what you have to do. No, it's not for everyone. It's not easy for everyone. For me, I deem it's impossible. I can't see any way I'd get over the fear of being 40 feet down and having a panic moment that can cause me true injury. It's not worth it to me.

If there's any positive to the experience, I HAVE learned to snorkel. Being near the surface, I've been able to get over the anxiety of inhaling water and I'm able to enjoy that activity. To me, that's a win.

 

[WeRtheOcean]

I even have an issue with the typical method of "crawl" swimming, where you take a breath from under your arm. Too close to the water's surface. Been this way since I was a child, and I still don't swim that way to this day.

Most swimming lessons focus on the competitive strokes -- the strokes that speed swimmers use. Those are not necessarily the best strokes for our purposes, just the fastest. I can't do the crawl the way a swim coach would teach it either, or the breast stroke. My preferred stroke is the side stroke, because I don't have to put my face in the water and can see where I am going. You will never see a competitive swimmer doing the side stroke, because it isn't fast, but we don't need to be fast for what we are doing.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I was browsing on this forum reading about a completely different topic, but had to register an account just to reply to you, because I am in EXACTLY the same position.

My wife and I did take a "Discover Scuba" course, which started with the same feeling of panic anytime I'd put my face in the water. However, the instructor actually helped me successfully breathe through the regulator and enjoy swimming around the pool. It took concentration to stay relaxed, but I did it.

Fast forward about a year or more, and we decide to get certified.

One of the first tasks in the pool was to use the regulator underwater without a mask, and without pinching the nose. I could not do it. No matter what I do, I always breathe a little bit though my nose, and this causes sheer terror as I feel like I will inhale water at any second.

I then learned that breathing without a mask and an open nose will be part of the certification process. I instantly knew I wouldn't be able to get past that, but I continued with the lessons.

At another point, while learning to be neutrally buoyant, I had a few drops of water get past my regulator and I panicked. I hit the inflator and popped to the surface immediately. Then it happened again, and I was just done. Over it.

I *can* scuba. But it takes so much concentration that I cannot relax. And I know that I will panic at the tasks that are required, like flooding or removing the mask, etc. That leads to intense dread about actually being 30 or 40 feet down and experiencing this level of anxiety. I have given up, and I'm totally ok with my decision. This is supposed to be an enjoyable activity, not something that causes fear of death. I have a claustrophobic reaction to it, and I'm not interested enough to work through it. I gave it my best.

For as long as I can remember, even snorkeling was difficult for me. The thought of inhaling water - any water at all - caused uncontrolled anxiety. I could only snorkel by holding my breath and breathing only when necessary. Smooth breathing was out of the question. I even have an issue with the typical method of "crawl" swimming, where you take a breath from under your arm. Too close to the water's surface. Been this way since I was a child, and I still don't swim that way to this day.

My biggest disappointment is that my wife really wanted us to try this. But being that it's something we will never share, she quit the class as well. I encouraged her to continue, but we both wanted this to be a "we" thing, which it was never going to be.

The dive shop I patronized was super-understanding about my issue, and refunded the entire price of our course, minus the cost of the one class we did take. This includes the cost of the Mexico trip that they organize for certification. I'm guessing it's not uncommon that people "tap out", and they have an incredibly fair refund policy, which was nice. But honestly, even if it was 100%n non-refundable, I'd still have quit.

Don't feel bad about giving up if that's what you have to do. No, it's not for everyone. It's not easy for everyone. For me, I deem it's impossible. I can't see any way I'd get over the fear of being 40 feet down and having a panic moment that can cause me true injury. It's not worth it to me.

If there's any positive to the experience, I HAVE learned to snorkel. Being near the surface, I've been able to get over the anxiety of inhaling water and I'm able to enjoy that activity. To me, that's a win.

This is what I use in my open water classes as it is common for people to react to having their face in the water with their nostrils open:

Simple exercises for students not completely comfortable with having their faces in the water

One of the common challenges that instructors face is helping open water students overcome any discomfort they feel by having their faces in the water without a mask. I received this set of exercis…

divingwithkosta.wordpress.com

 

[RobPNW]

I have what I call next breath anxiety. Not just underwater but everywhere all the time. Some things trigger it, something touching or restricting my chest will set it off or any restriction in my breathing, especilly when exhaling. I have no idea what or why, it just is. But I grew up in the water so I do not associate water with the anxiety though a tight wet suit, an errant strap or a regulator can set it off big time. It is one of the reasons I so often have a camera, I focus on the camera and the photo opportunities and thereby not focusing on the next breath anxiety. And the snorkeling suggestion is an excellent bridge to scuba. Baby steps. There is no reason that an otherwise healthy person cannot scuba dive, just have to acquire a new skill, adapt to a new circumstance. Focus on the new skills and not your anxiety.

Anyways, good luck, I bet you can do it.

Maybe you have sleep apnea, and that anxiety is "programmed" into your subconscious.

 

[SlugLife]

I don’t know how to breathe continuously from the regulator underwater without getting water up my nose.

If your mask fits properly, there should normally not be water in your mask which could then go up your nose. Your mask may not be fitting properly. Although the panic itself is something you might need to get control over (though I can't really tell you how to do that).

I didn’t even bother practicing in the tub with my snorkel because it’s completely different once you step inside the water with all your gear and a regulator and mask.

I think he gave you good advice. You could perhaps practice at a pool or lake too if the bathtub is just not the same. Breathing while submerged is not very natural, which is perhaps a good thing, but it's also something that once you get used to it is not a big deal.

The first time I did a try-scuba was well over a decade before I actually did go for my scuba-cert. I remember a similar experience, where breathing from the regulator was a very odd experience, and I was worried about breathing in water through my nose. However, when I got my scuba-cert (over a decade later), it wasn't an issue at all.

It's possible to overcome, though I don't have any great advice other than you need to get more experience breathing underwater, which is what your instructor basically told you to do with the snorkel.

 

[BHWookie]

Take it easy, don’t rush, but I also think you’re over thinking it. Just try to take it easy and get comfortable. I would strongly recommend some snorkel trips. Get used to find and masks and something in your mouth to breathe and playing in the water.

Seriously, can you go somewhere where you just snorkel every day for a week? I feel like that would help you a lot. When you’re ready to try diving again, I feel like you just need to take it easy and get used to the gear in a pool nice and slowly. Breathing normally and getting comfortable taking it on an off and just splash around.

I hope you have a good instructor who is patient enough to work with you, but if not, maybe an experienced diver buddy who would be willing to rent gear and just let you play around in a pool. I’m not suggesting you do anything unsafe when not certified. But hours of just playing with the gear in a shallow pool where you can just stand up if you’re ever uncomfortable, would likely go a long way towards getting you comfortable.

If it’s any consolation - my wife has really bad anxiety, and she loves diving because she says it’s one of the most relaxing activities to her. Something about just focusing on breathing and not worrying about the rest of the world is like therapy to her.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Most swimming lessons focus on the competitive strokes -- the strokes that speed swimmers use. Those are not necessarily the best strokes for our purposes, just the fastest. I can't do the crawl the way a swim coach would teach it either, or the breast stroke. My preferred stroke is the side stroke, because I don't have to put my face in the water and can see where I am going. You will never see a competitive swimmer doing the side stroke, because it isn't fast, but we don't need to be fast for what we are doing.

I’ve heard that military divers and related swim training doesn’t include competitive crawl stroke either. They do a modified side stroke, what they call a combat swim. It is designed so they can keep their face out of the water and so they can see where they are going, plus swimming in full combat gear.

 

[jordaof]

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the ocean and everything in it. I’ve always wanted to swim with sharks and always wanted to explore the ocean. So a few months ago, I finally took the stand to do something about it and become an OW diver. I purchased the exam on PADI and completed it within the week, and passed. I immediately called a dive center and scheduled myself for classes. I was dying with excitement.

Fast forward to a week ago, my first confined water class. I was nervous but also excited to be one step closer to becoming certified. I passed the swimming test and it was time to gear up and go inside the water. As soon as we were all in, it was time to go underwater and use our regulators. Mind you, I’ve never used a regulator or breathed from a tank before. Immediately when we go under, I panic and quickly surface. I couldn’t get my breathing right, I know you’re supposed to breathe slow and continuously.. but it was something I’ve never done before and it felt very hard for me to breathe. So I adjusted the air flow on the regulator and still couldn’t do it. At that point, my instructor gave me his regulator to use (he said it was one of the best ones). It helped a little bit, but I still couldn’t get my breathing right. It was either too fast or very small shallow breaths and at that point I would feel like I’m “drowning” or “running out of air”. As time goes by I somehow adjust to it to keep up with the class.

It was time for the “flooding the mask” skill. That was the one skill I was concerned about and not confident in. I somehow managed to partially flood my mask and quickly clear it all in one breath before I even had time to panic about water up my nose. But later on it was time to fully flood the mask and clear it. I couldn’t do it. I tried a few times but I would either get water through the regulator or up my nose, which would cause me to panic and immediately surface. I don’t know how to breathe continuously from the regulator underwater without getting water up my nose. I would have to hold my breath so that way the water doesn’t get inhaled. But obviously you’re not supposed to hold your breath when you have a regulator in your mouth. It could be that I’m not comfortable having my nose in the water. All the times I’ve swam in the ocean or pool, I just exhale when I go under and occasionally I’d swallow or choke on some water. I never had to learn to get used to the feeling of water sitting in my nose and it’s not pleasant. By the end of the day, the first dive was done and I was disappointed in myself but still somewhat hopeful. I passed all the skills except for the fully flooding the mask. My instructor told me we would leave that skill for the next day. Once I got home I watched YouTube videos on the mask clearing skills and some tips/tricks.

Then come the next day, I felt my hope and faith slowly slipping away. I still wasn’t confident I’d be able to do and everything I watched on YouTube was simply forgotten. I geared up and got in the water with the instructor before everyone else went in, to try to do the mask skills again. This time I had to take off my mask for 60 seconds in the deep end, and then put it on and clear it. I didn’t want to go to the deep end but he insisted. I was allowed to hold my nose with the mask off for those 60 seconds, so I tried that. It didn’t work. I felt like I was running out of breath and it just didn’t feel natural. I started to panic and quickly surfaced. We try again, I manage to somehow get through the 60 seconds holding my nose. I put the mask on my head, hold my nose closed again through the mask so I can catch my breath, and then I try to clear it. I didn’t clear it correctly and still had the mask half-flooded, which caused me to inhale the water and immediately surface and panic. None of my tactics were helping and at this point it was stressing me out. I was overwhelmed and even started to tear up from the frustration. My instructor reassured me and told me to let it out, that it’s okay and that we’ll try again. Still couldn’t get it. So we moved on with the class. All the other skills I was able to do but the whole entire time I was too focused on my breathing in the deep end, I was uncomfortable. I was overthinking everything and was deciding in my head at that point, “I’m not enjoying this, this isn’t for me”.

It was time for the last mask skill, the “no mask swim”. One by one everyone goes, they all pass it. Once it was my turn I told my instructor I wasn’t able to do it. I hadn’t even completed the prior mask skills so there was no way I was going to swim without my mask. He understood and said that we would have to schedule some private pool sessions during the week before the open water dive class. I was told to get in a bathtub or pool and practice putting my face in the water with only a snorkel.

As soon as I get home, I’m exhausted and beat and overwhelmed. Mainly upset about not being able to get the mask skill. Even if I somehow was able to get the mask skill done during the private pool sessions.. I wouldn’t be confident enough to go on the open water dive and remove my mask at a further depth. If I started to panic, I would have to surface from 20-25 feet vs 10 feet.. I already knew in my bones that I would feel anxiety and not be able to do that.

I ended up coming to terms, I told my instructor and let him know that I don’t think I’m ready to get certified. I was diagnosed with anxiety a few years back, my anxiety played a huge role in the whole process. I told him I won't be able to get those mask skills in 2-3 pool sessions, and even if I somehow did, I wouldn't be comfortable doing the open water dive because of the other sensory overload issues I get. I'm not confident enough with it and I feel like I'm mentally not prepared enough.

I didn’t even bother practicing in the tub with my snorkel because it’s completely different once you step inside the water with all your gear and a regulator and mask.

Does anyone have any tips or thoughts? I feel like my anxiety and mental state is stopping me from doing it but I can’t help with the way I feel underwater and when I try to do the mask skill. Obviously with practice you can overcome that obstacle but I honestly lost hope. I’ve been super upset the past few days because it’s all I was looking forward to. Maybe this is something I can revisit in the future.

I also didn’t know there was a “discover scuba” course. I should have done that before the OW class to see if scuba is for me. But now I’m trying to figure out whether scuba isn’t for me or if it’s my anxiety and loss of motivation/hope stopping me from finishing and accomplishing it.

If you took the time to read this, thank you.

When I was reading what you wrote, I was seeing myself you know.. I had the same anxiety as do you, the mask exercise was a pain, but my instructor "a really patient and encouraging instructor said to me, practice makes perfect, dive more, try more times" I still have a scarce number of dives, 15 only, since last May, but every weekend at least I'm able to dive once, and on every dive I do, with the supervision of a Diveguide /Divemaster/Instructor a set of exercises are the norm, and each time is even better and costs me less and less more, don't give up, try again!

 

[CarstenS]

When I was reading what you wrote, I was seeing myself you know.. I had the same anxiety as do you, the mask exercise was a pain, but my instructor "a really patient and encouraging instructor said to me, practice makes perfect, dive more, try more times" I still have a scarce number of dives, 15 only, since last May, but every weekend at least I'm able to dive once, and on every dive I do, with the supervision of a Diveguide /Divemaster/Instructor a set of exercises are the norm, and each time is even better and costs me less and less more, don't give up, try again!

Way to go! You will be fine. I’m kind of late to the party, but just to second something Angelo said, think about doing a freediving course. Obviously, breathing in while diving is very different from a one-breath regimen, but the focus on breathing (and compensating!) techniques, plus a good understanding of the physiology involved is something I found extremely helpful. It also seriously reduced my air consumption while on SCUBA.
Just my two cents.