I posted a few weeks ago about some of my issues as I began trying to get certified. Diving is no small deal for me, but I really would like to overcome these issues and be able to take dive trips with my husband. (not just for him, but for myself as well)
Well, I realize that I have at least a couple of 'no-no's' going in. One, at about the same time that our instruction was to start we found a great opportunity to book a trip to the Keys so that we could dive as soon as we were certified. Sounds like a great idea, but for someone like me it has been this incredible pressure of "I only have X amount of time to do this". On top of that, things haven't come together that easily. We're receiving private instruction from a friend and working around all of our work schedules which is great. But one thing or another has made my getting to any class time difficult,i.e. I had a lingering sinus infection, had to work, bad weather, etc.
The other thing is that I have to really get myself 'psyched' with pep talks to myself that it's really no big deal, I can DO this, etc. I was doing great in the beginning, receiving lots of my encouragement from these boards and other places on the net as I researched scuba and read other's experiences. I felt that I was doing great- mask removal, taking out my regulator underwater, etc. didn't bother me.
So, here's my problem. There was almost 2 weeks where we couldn't work it out for me to get to the quarry, so our friend said we'd go back to the pool one night just to at least finish a couple of the exercises that I needed so that all I would have to do is the actual open water diving once we get to the quarry. Great. Except that the 'psych' wasn't there. All I had to do was go into the deep end of the pool and do things that 3 weeks ago seemed like no big deal. But I _couldn't_ do it. I tried 3 times to go down and sit on the bottom and that old claustrophobia (sp?) was overwhelming. I just seem to have a hard time believing that I CAN breathe underwater. I was so tired of trying to work myself up, it just wasn't there. So I told my friend 'thanks for trying' and took off my equipment. I quit.
Do I feel better? Heck no. I'm disappointed in myself for not being able to overcome it. And with only 2 weekends between now and the time of our trip it seems like no use. My husband, of course, has already been able to finish his ow and is half way through advanced. ( he can go on days that I have had to work, plus he's a fish)
So, now I'm wondering, if I can get the 'psych' back, is it worth my trying? If I can get all of the basic exercises and written test finished here, what about getting someone to do my open water with me in the Keys? (what should that cost if I did? Do you have anyone who you could recommend?) Or, am I an accident waiting to happen? I don't panic underwater, I understand all of the safety issues, etc. But I know that the 'psych' would be a part of my diving for a long time. Or do I just go on the trip, enjoy it for what it is and maybe next time...?
Sorry for such a lengthy post. TIA for any input.
javamama
Well, I realize that I have at least a couple of 'no-no's' going in. One, at about the same time that our instruction was to start we found a great opportunity to book a trip to the Keys so that we could dive as soon as we were certified. Sounds like a great idea, but for someone like me it has been this incredible pressure of "I only have X amount of time to do this". On top of that, things haven't come together that easily. We're receiving private instruction from a friend and working around all of our work schedules which is great. But one thing or another has made my getting to any class time difficult,i.e. I had a lingering sinus infection, had to work, bad weather, etc.
The other thing is that I have to really get myself 'psyched' with pep talks to myself that it's really no big deal, I can DO this, etc. I was doing great in the beginning, receiving lots of my encouragement from these boards and other places on the net as I researched scuba and read other's experiences. I felt that I was doing great- mask removal, taking out my regulator underwater, etc. didn't bother me.
So, here's my problem. There was almost 2 weeks where we couldn't work it out for me to get to the quarry, so our friend said we'd go back to the pool one night just to at least finish a couple of the exercises that I needed so that all I would have to do is the actual open water diving once we get to the quarry. Great. Except that the 'psych' wasn't there. All I had to do was go into the deep end of the pool and do things that 3 weeks ago seemed like no big deal. But I _couldn't_ do it. I tried 3 times to go down and sit on the bottom and that old claustrophobia (sp?) was overwhelming. I just seem to have a hard time believing that I CAN breathe underwater. I was so tired of trying to work myself up, it just wasn't there. So I told my friend 'thanks for trying' and took off my equipment. I quit.
Do I feel better? Heck no. I'm disappointed in myself for not being able to overcome it. And with only 2 weekends between now and the time of our trip it seems like no use. My husband, of course, has already been able to finish his ow and is half way through advanced. ( he can go on days that I have had to work, plus he's a fish)
So, now I'm wondering, if I can get the 'psych' back, is it worth my trying? If I can get all of the basic exercises and written test finished here, what about getting someone to do my open water with me in the Keys? (what should that cost if I did? Do you have anyone who you could recommend?) Or, am I an accident waiting to happen? I don't panic underwater, I understand all of the safety issues, etc. But I know that the 'psych' would be a part of my diving for a long time. Or do I just go on the trip, enjoy it for what it is and maybe next time...?
Sorry for such a lengthy post. TIA for any input.
javamama
