Maybe I shouldn't do it?

[qwertyhoot]

I am signed up to take a SDI certification course in 2 weeks and I am starting to feel very nervous. Butterflies and all.

I'll start by saying I did a discover scuba session before we took a trip to the bahamas. I loved it and felt pretty comfortable in the water immediately. We went to the bahamas and I did a resort dive, which was really cool. Then my husband says he wants to do the shark dive, which is for certified divers. He has his certification, but no experience, really. Jut a couple local dives after his cert and then our trip. I did the shark dive with him, we had to hire a dive master/babysitter for me and he tailed me the entire time. I had been with the same instructor on out first dives and he saw that I was comfortable in the water. And I was!

After everything I have read here, maybe it wasn't the greatest idea to go to 60 feet without being certified, but I was naive and figured it was fine since they "let me" do it.

There is nothing I didn't love about the experience, although upon ascent, I inflated too quickly and missed my safety stop. Now I feel pretty lucky, as I read about dcs...

Anyway, my cert course is coming up in 2 weeks. I have no desire to go into caves or sunken ships. just looking is good for me. I have no desire to go really deep in the water, either. I just want to stay as safe as I can.

I am afraid that this nervousness is going to be bad for me in the water. We're starting in a pool, of course. I can't put my finger on why I am so scared, other than the fact that I stumbled upon this forum and read about far too many accidents. I guess i am just rambling. I don't understand why I am having this anxiety when I absolutely felt comfortable on our trip.

I am wondering if this feeling will go away once I get into the water... do you think? I have to pay for the course friday, and there are no refunds due to fear.

 

[alijtaylor]

Qwertyhoot
I think you think too much.. You have been comfortable in two scuba experiences - you have read about things that happened to others and now wonder whether that knowledge will affect you. The huge majority of divers never have a problem, especially those who don't go deep, stay out of caves and wrecks etc. I think once you get into the water you will be comfortable again -believe me the payoff is worth it!

Alison

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

Welcome Gwerty! The thing to remember about the accident forums, is that we are all human and we learn from mistakes. Any sport, even badmitten can have accidents. Don't focus on those kind of things. You will be properly taught in a controlled class all the necessities to make you a safe diver. You will also be taught how to fix your problems prior, during, and after your dives. Educating yourself on what not to do and adhearing to those rules will keep you out of trouble. What you will find, in most accidents, is that complacency, diving in conditions outside of your training, poorly serviced equipment, poor gas management, or not planning/following your diveplan cause the majority of accidents.

From your initial post, you already have figured out that you should have had some proper training before diving. Now you are getting it, so don't beat yourself up about it. You will be fine. Just practice what you are taught, and if you do not feel comfortable about a skill, then work with your instructor until you do. Being relaxed and confident in what you are taught will help your diving experience.

I wish you the very best and happy dives!

Carolyn:shark2:

 

[USCScubaboy]

Don't get psyched out by the incident and accident reports! Think of the number of accident/incident reports that you've read. Then think of all the successful dives that occur every single day. If you compare the two, there is an extremely small percentage of dives in which adverse events occur.

If and when you take your OW class, be sure to ask you instructor all the questions you have. Get all you questions answered. Or post them here on SB. I think that for a lot of people, there is some anxiety/nervousness when trying something new. But, if you pay attention during your class, get all your questions answered, and focus on the task at hand when you're diving, you should be fine.

 

[Meggie66]

Hi Qwertyhoot, I know exactly how you feel. I'm relatively new back into scuba after a long time away from it, and was so nervous before a recent giant stride entry that I used half a tank before I even hit the water. But after a few months back into diving, I now feel as comfortable doing a shore dive as I do walking down the street, and am working my way up to a similar level of comfort with boat dives (which I do less frequently as they're more expensive).

It's natural to be nervous, because we go into an environment we're not designed for, but you have a huge advantage having been comfortable in the water before, and you may be surprised by how quickly the fun takes over from the nerves once you get underwater. You've also got an advantage in that you've educated yourself on the risks and know how to mitigate them, but just bear in mind that they're risks rather than certainties. I think if you can get past the intitial nerves you'll be fine.

All the best with it, would love to hear how you go.

 

[oldflounder]

By all means do it. You already have shown yourself that you CAN do it. Many that take the class find that they can't for one reason or another - not good swimmer,uncomfortable with snorkel/reg in mouth, claustrophobic in wetsuit or hood, etc. The class does not make a diver out of you. It opens the door to the scuba world and gives you a card so that you can buy air and equipment. It shows you the skills you need to be a safe diver. It is up to you to learn to be a safe diver and to acquire those necessary skills. The fear you experience is healthy and is your body's self-defense/self-preservation mechanism. You just need to accept it and learn to deal with it when it rears its' ugly head. As you gain experience and confidence in yourself it will go away. Much of it is basic "fear of the unknown." As it becomes "known" the fear will go away. At the very least take the basic entry course so you get the card. Then it's up to you rather or not you want to continue on and how far you want to progress. Maybe you just want to spend the rest of your life diving in 6' of water in a lake and watching the fish and turtles. Fine. But you need the card!!!

 

[Diver0001]

I am signed up to take a SDI certification course in 2 weeks and I am starting to feel very nervous. Butterflies and all.

....

I am wondering if this feeling will go away once I get into the water... do you think? I have to pay for the course friday, and there are no refunds due to fear.

To me you sound like a perfect candidate for becoming a diver. You like it, you have future plans, you're comfortable doing it, your SO already dives so you have a built in buddy and you know what you're getting into.

You're also risk aware, which is a good thing. But try to put it in perspective. Diving is a very safe sport, especially for people who are aware of the risks and take measures to mitigate them. You sound like you'll be one of those. I would think the most dangerous part of your diving will be the driving back and forth.

Relax. Most of life's biggest problems are caused by too much thinking.

R..

 

[DiverDean59]

I think there is such a thing as healthy nervousness. It keeps us cautious in the water which is not a bad thing. I have just over 60 dives and still get nervous right before diving but once I'm in the water the nervous feeling goes away. I'm still cautious but not as nervous.

Happy diving and enjoy the experience.

 

[Rhone Man]

Welcome.

Remember scuba diving is not like sky diving - if you are learning skills in the pool and you are not comfortable, you can stand up and walk away at any time. I imagine you will be pretty comfortable with your in-water skills before you get into the ocean.

 

[pelagic_by_nature]

I have just over 60 dives and still get nervous right before diving but once I'm in the water the nervous feeling goes away. I'm still cautious but not as nervous.

Happy diving and enjoy the experience.

Me too. I get nervous arriving at the dive site and it stays with me while I get geared up and right up until the point that I am underwater, then it all melts away. I wish I wasn't nervous before a dive , but I know from previous experience that it will go away once I'm submerged. Like DiverDean59 says, a little nervousness is healthy. It helps prevent complacency.