OW test at Casino Point, freaked out, didn't pass

[lkws]

So my husband and I are getting OW certified through Sport Chalet. Our instructor took us to Casino Point in Catalina this past Saturday. It couldn't of been a prettier day. Nice weather, clear skies, water temp was about 58 degrees. Viz at about 10-15 ft. My husband passed his test and all his skills no problem. I freaked out. Almost immediately upon getting in the water I freaked out and couldn't do any of the skills. Maybe it was the temp of the water, maybe there were too many people, I don't know.

Anyone else have this problem? I only ended up descending about twice. Both times I had to hang onto the rope to descend, had a little trouble equalizing but primarily okay, then when I got to the bottom (maybe 15-20ft) I freaked out and had to surface. Afterward it was mostly me hyperventilating......

Anyone else experience this before? I'm usually not afraid of the ocean....it was disappointing at the very least. I'm supposed to do it again soon but I want to make sure I don't panic again.....any tips or shared experiences?

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[SeaCobra]

Without much info as to your background, your class, how much pool time, etc., it is nigh impossible to really give you any sage advice. I would say, though, that what you experienced is not unheard of. There are a lot of things going on during your first dive, as you mentioned, and they tend to snowball up on you.

 

[scububa]

First thing to do is relax. Not just in the water, but now. Don't make a bigger deal out of it than it wasn't your best diving day. Hopefully you can get an instructor to work with you to see if you can have a better outcome. Maybe start with some snorkeling to acclimate, etc. This may be a trip just to snorkel and it might be a way to start the day out.

My feeling is that if you put a lot of pressure on yourself or let anyone else pressure you, the chances of you getting comfortable is pretty small. If you have someone work with you a bit, you may very well be okay quickly. There is always the chance you might not like it or get thru all the training, but statically, you are likely to be fine if you don't compound the issue.

Remember, it's a very new thing and not at all a natural thing to do, so some survivor instinct kicking in isn't that strange, but lots of folks can control it.

 

[lkws]

Thank you @Scubaba for the reassurance. I agree, pressure could have been one of the triggers. Everyone, including my husband seemed to grasp all the skills so quickly, I think part of me was worried I'm falling behind. Which then cascaded into more worries. Yes, I think I need more practice and you are so right, it feels so strangely unnatural.

 

[Steve_C]

Go slow.

I assume since these are your first OW dives there is a descent line. Too often I see students rush to get down like it is a hot drop. Go down a few feet. Relax. Take a few slow deep breaths. Admire the Garibaldi. Go down a few more feet. Relax. Take a few breaths. If some thing does not seem right, stop and sort it out. When you get down, again relax and take a few breaths and look around. If the instructor seems to be rushing you, give them the wait a minute sign and again relax. Then signal OK.

Always best to relax and get in the groove before going deeper.

Rushing never makes anything better in the water. water. Every time I have screwed up, it was from rushing either on the boat or as I entered into the water.

Have fun.

 

[BUDMANOK]

I realize it's difficult to think this right now but it's supposed to be fun not torture. Slow down look around get comfortable then do the skill

 

[lkws]

Thank you @steve_c and budmanok. You are both right. I should never rush. I always feel like I'm falling behind but I shouldn't even worry about the pace of others. That's probably why I had a panic attack. I have yet to learn how to "relax and enjoy" this new skill of scuba diving. For me all of this is still checking rechecking going down the list of all things I have to do to get down.....


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[diversteve]

Tell your husband to pony up and take you to Maui to finish

Pay somebody like Shaka Doug (ShakaDivers) for a private OW referral class - just you and him. In 40' of water off a beach. Then come back and do SoCal diving in baby steps. I certified in La Jolla and have dove a lot of places since, it's not one of the easier locations to start with.

Warm clear water, 200' horizontal visibility - you can see forever - or what's out there (nothing dangerous) No confining hood, wetsuit, or tons of lead required. Did I mention the 84^o water temperature part?

Topside's not too bad either....

 

[gcarter]

So my husband and I are getting OW certified through Sport Chalet. Our instructor took us to Casino Point in Catalina this past Saturday. It couldn't of been a prettier day. Nice weather, clear skies, water temp was about 58 degrees. Viz at about 10-15 ft. My husband passed his test and all his skills no problem. I freaked out. Almost immediately upon getting in the water I freaked out and couldn't do any of the skills. Maybe it was the temp of the water, maybe there were too many people, I don't know.

Anyone else have this problem? I only ended up descending about twice. Both times I had to hang onto the rope to descend, had a little trouble equalizing but primarily okay, then when I got to the bottom (maybe 15-20ft) I freaked out and had to surface. Afterward it was mostly me hyperventilating......

Anyone else experience this before? I'm usually not afraid of the ocean....it was disappointing at the very least. I'm supposed to do it again soon but I want to make sure I don't panic again.....any tips or shared experiences?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Out of curiosity, were you wearing a hood? Are you sure your wetsuit is not too tight?

I certified in the Philippines. My first non-cert dived were in a 7mm john with a 5mm hood (the perils of local diving, eh?)

The exposure gear took a lot of getting used to for me. I am mildly claustrophobic and the hood really did not help until I got used to it. I could not wait to rip it off when I finished a dive. 120 dives later I don't even notice it...

Is it possible that the exposure gear is a source of your anxiety?

 

[pasley]

Ok, so you have some concerns. You are mildly claustrophobic. That does not help. Was the ocean the first time you wore full gear (wetsuit, hood, gloves etc?). If so it would be understandable that you might feel uncomfortable and potentially not properly weighted. You can do this. The question is this, are you doing this because YOU want to, or because your HUSBAND WANTS you to? IF it is not because YOU want to, my best advice is, don't. But if you want to consider the video below. Two of my former students. The video is of them in Cozumel. I certified the wife (the married during the time we were teaching them both to dive), the husband, due to a pressure sore, had to sit out the ocean dives. When he was well his wife had already dove Belize so he wanted warm water. I referred him to another instructor who did his ocean dives and took the video. Did I mention the husband is Army Veteran paralyzed from the neck down?
[video=youtube;lC6YvcEaJJ8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lC6YvcEaJJ8[/video]

My youngest daughter (the one that gave me the most sleepless nights as a teen) went all the way thru the course, jumped off the dive boat went under, came up got out and said "nope not for me.). It happens. That said, if you truly want to learn, then with a little more pool time in full gear, patience, and sticking with it you can try again. But above all, remember, the safest place is where you are in control, not out of control bolting for the surface.