oh so new and confused

[gigimartin]

heading off to the sun for a few months of learning a brand new exciting skill with a super excited boyfriend who has dived before and is making christmas lists of equipment for the next five years. i used to springboard dive (don't laugh)and have always loved swimming, am fairly fit for 26 but smoke and am so very worried I will destroy his dreams if i can't do this.he thinks i can do the training when we get there and bob's your uncle.completely new to the thought of scuba.have never even snorkled. I have eight weeks before we go and at the moment am drowning in pamphlets from local shops and beggining to scare myself. Can someone recommend some prep for me: physical, reading material from the plethora of stuff out there...what to do if i suddenly discover i am a complete claustrophobic ( Im fairly confident Im not although have suffered panic attacks in my past due to work pressure) I really want to do this because the idea of being under that gorgeous powerful ocean is so damn thrilling and i am so curious.Would i be better doing a course away from my partner.Maybe this is ridiculous to post but would really like to hear from someone who did this with a more experienced partner/ friend and was sucessful or who could have avoided failure through some advice.i think i just need to bite the bullet and take it as it comes

 

[wreckchick]

Easy there, take a deep breath. Scuba classes are meant to teach people that don't know how to dive, to dive. It isn't rocket science.

I took my OW classes as a smoker and there were no problems. Being comfortable in the water is a big plus.

I would recommend doing your training by yourself. I did mine with my SO, also a newbie, but we were split up for the pool sessions with other buddies and I think that was a good thing.

In the meantime, just call the shops, ask lots of questions about your concerns and see what they say. It appears from your post that you plan to do your training at the destination in question, you might want to look at doing training locally and then either doing your certification dives there, or do it all locally and show up as a certified diver.

Don't worry about it!! Diving is fun!!

Rachel

 

[drbill]

Relax a bit and realize that you already have an edge... you are already comfortable in the water. That's a big plus, and one of the first questions I asked at the dive shop before someone signed up for intro's. Spend some time swimming, in the ocean if you can.

The class will take you through the steps you need to learn. Just pay attention (like you did in high school and college, right?).

Not partnering with your SO in the class is also good advice.

Although I dove for about 10 years as a smoker, quitting would be one of the best (and toughest) things you could do for yourself... not only for diving but for your future health. There, I've said it and will get off my soapbox (and head down to dive!).

Enjoy your experience... it could lead to beautiful times together.

Dr. Bill

 

[CameronMartz]

It's nice that you want to share in something your boyfriend obviously enjoys. However, you need to be sure that this is *your* idea, too. Otherwise, you might never have fun or feel comfortable while diving.

Though basic open water instruction assumes no prior training, you can certainly do a few things to boost your confidence before taking a class. I wrote an article for a diving journal titled "Pool Exercises for Developing Water Comfort," and you can find it at http://www.divefitness.com/html/articles.html.

It might be more than what you're looking for, but I would at least take some snorkeling gear and play around at the pool. Dive to the bottom of the deep end and swim around underwater for a while. See how relaxed you can get while doing that.

Get your boyfriend to teach you how to clear your mask- you don't need SCUBA for that. Take the snorkel off your mask to make it easier, kneel in 3 feet of water, and practice clearing your mask from the air in your lungs. With a low-volume mask, you should be able to flood and clear 3-4 times on a single breath, once you get the hang of it. If you get that skill down alone, you'll be way ahead of most people comfort-wise in an intro class.

If nothing else, you'll get to see how well you and your boyfriend "dive" together before spending your money. <g>

Kudos to Dr. Bill for having the determination to kick a 10-year habit!

 

[Walter]

"Get your boyfriend to teach you how to clear your mask"

There's an idea likely to produce disaster.

If you do decide to go that route, use proven techniques and just have him there for moral support.

A few suggestions for self study:

Leave your SCUBA gear in your bag. You only need 3 things at the pool at this point. 1. Mask 2. Snorkel 3. Weight belt with weight.

At no point will you leave the shallow end of the pool.

Take your snorkel off your mask and put on your weight belt. With your mask on the pool deck, your snorkel in your hand and your weight belt on, get into the shallow end of the pool. You should be where when you stand you are no deeper than chest deep, waist deep is even better. Put your snorkel in your mouth and breathe from it. Now, bend over and breathe through your snorkel while you dip your face into the water. If you are comfortable, stay awhile until you feel natural. If you have difficulty, think about drinking through a straw while you practice the exercise. Remember, you can always stand up straight to end the exercise at any time. If you need to, you can slowly build up your time until you feel comfortable.

Next, practice dropping underwater, allowing the snorkel to flood and coming up to blast it clear, leaving your face in the water. Continue until you are comfortable.

At this point, you have accomplished three important things.

1. You lowered your anxiety level by working in a no risk (shallow) environment.
2. You became an expert in no mask breathing.
3. You know you can breathe with a flooded mask.

Now, put your snorkel down and pick up your mask. Put it on and drop down to your knees. Break the seal just enough to allow a small amount of water in. Clear the mask. Do not pull out on the bottom; merely push in on the top while looking up. The biggest mistake most people make is not looking up. The second most common mistake people make is not exhaling through their nose. Keep your mouth closed. Repeat this until you are comfortable. Don't forget to stand up and catch your breath between clearings. Now, increase the amount of water you allow into the mask to about ¼ flooded. When you are comfortable with that level, move to ½, then to a fully flooded mask. When you've reached the point you can clear it easily every time, see how many times you can clear it on one breath. After you are at this point, clearing your mask will be easy. You will have reached it in a step-by-step manner that was easy to accomplish.

Remember, you can always stand up if you feel uncomfortable.

 

[diverbrian]

That is precisely the way that the instructors that I have assisted start new divers and (better yet) the best step by step explanation that I have read for someone to learn it without the instructor there.

 

[Walter]

Thanks Brian,

Unfortunately, it's not a common approach.

 

[CameronMartz]

Yes, nice approach.

In re-reading that quote, it does sound like I made too big of an assumption.

Cameron

 

[DeputyDan]

not your boy friend.

 

[DameDykker]

I agree with the above mentioned issues. However, you could also do the pool and theory at home and then get a referal and do the open water dives during the holliday. That way you'll get a chance to see if it's really something for you or not - and you'll spend more time enjoying your holliday dives than "wasting" time on the first part of the course. With eight weeks to go it should be possible to get it organized.

You might even chose to take the whole course at home and then only do pleasure dives on the holliday, which will leave you with much more fun and experience after that time.

What ever you do - have fun.