Very scared after second pool lesson of Padi open water course.

[Juna]

Hey there everyone,
I just recently started with a Padi open water course.
And experience some 'internal' issues/fear.

My partner has been diving for many years. So we thought it would be fun if I learn as well.
I waited for three years before I decided to start, and spend my time snorkeling a lot and freediving just a tiny bit during vacations.
I did one padi introduction dive (outdoors) three years ago.
It was scary, super cold and it was hard to clear my ears. Other than that, it went ok. But I decided that I did not feel ready yet.

When I did start the Padi course:
The e-course became available for me '1 day' before the first pool lesson, which gave my first feelings of unease because I had to take in the information so absurdly quick. I felt I could not integrate it, and this gave me anxiety.
The first pool lesson went really well though, I am a very practical person and doing the things I needed to do was not hard in a practical sense.
But internally.. psychologically I was slightly freaked out by everything. It was kind of quick-paced.
And I felt I needed much more time to be at ease underwater.
Still.. it was ok and I felt good about doing it well. I told my instructor that I found it quite scary, and that I had to get used to breathing underwater.
The second pool lesson, was the next day. And again I really struggled to finish the second chapter in time for the lesson. I only had a couple of hours, I barely finished it.
It was all going so quickly! It freaked me out a bit.
For the second lesson we went to a deeper pool, and I had to go down 5 meters. Clearing my ears was super hard and it took long before I was down. I felt very uncomfortable.
We sat at the bottom and the instructor showed me how to fasten another person's air tank when it is loose. I did well.
Then after that they closed my air tank to let me feel how it feels when you have no air. I did well again.
Then I had to remove my mask entirely, for 30 seconds. Again I did well.
I succeeded in doing everything (and more), in a practical sense. I did it all.
But internally... omg.. I was scared.

When I left the pool I was shivering and shaking, not sure if it was cold or stress. I think both.
And my brain was all foggy and hazed, I could not remember how to do all the steps when removing the vest from the tank etc. I could not think straight and felt dissociated from the situation. Like seeing it from a distance.
I told my instructor that I was happy that I had done well, but told her also that internally I was quite scared. She replied that I did well. Which was nice, but did not help me with the internal part.
I still felt dazed, and decided to sleep on it, and just give myself time to integrate the experiences.

When I went home I was ok. But the next day at home I sort of had a panic attack at home. I cried my eyes out and felt like I never wanted to dive again.
I had to study the next three chapters, but could not take it in. My brain simply refused or blocked.

I really was not prepared for how intensely quick-paced this PADI course would go.
Closing the air tank on the bottom of the pool at 5 meters dept,.. during the 'second' pool lesson. Really?
Why?
Why does it go so absurdly fast? Is that normal?
My partner did not do PADI, he studied somewhere else. So he does not know if this is normal for PADI.
He thinks that the problem is that I technically do things so well, that the instructor does not 'see' or notice my internal turmoil. He says I look very stable, quiet and ok on the outside.
I feel like I do 'say' that I feel scared etc. But it does not seem to register.

I feel scared to do more lessons.
And I wonder what the next lessons will have in store for me. Are they scarier than the first two? I am not sure if I can keep my panic 'internal' then. I think closing the air tank was more than enough for me. Its just two lessons.

 

[NorCalDM]

First I will say I don't think your class is rushed since you are getting multiple pool sessions, many now do all the pool work in one long day. Your instructor only sees what is on the outside and you are doing the skills well so no need to go over it again and they move on. I would first have a conversation before your next pool session but try doing it well before so they do not fell rushed to get the class going. If your are working with a seasoned instructor this is not the first time they have worked with a student such as yourself. Being nervous is natural and a good thing, those that say they don't get nervous are lying. Also it is not a PADI thing as all the agencies are teaching the same skills and it really comes down to the shop and instructor. You may want to look at a private class so you can move at your own pace. Scuba is more mental than physical to me and some can't get past the mental part and that is ok it's not for everyone. You have to want to do it for yourself not anyone else and if you do you'll figure a way. Don't sweat the small stuff and have fun!

 

[tursiops]

You clearly were not ready for the class as presented, and need a private class paced for you and you alone. There is no reason to have gotten the eLearning material just one day in advance, I'd talk to the shop, explain it is not working for you, ask for a different instructor on a different schedule, so you can go through the eLearning in advance. I'd talk to the new instructor and explain your fears. If the shop or the instructor tries to brush you off, find a new shop and/or instructor. Nothing special about PADI; it is all about the shop and its attitudes and the instructor and his/her attitudes and experience. You probably did not help by keeping it all inside....

 

[Dominick Gheesling]

This is supposed to be fun.

Again, and in all seriousness and with the best of intentions:

This is supposed to be fun.

What you are experiencing does not sound like fun.

At some point, the Panic must be addressed, as it is incredibly dangerous.

 

[Cheizz]

I think it is a 'big agency' thing (PADI, SSI) to rush people through the course. And an instructor that only focuses on the execution of the required skills instead of listening to you explaining that it all just feels way too fast and leaves you in panic attacks - that is never a good thing. For certification purposes, you going through the skills is one thing - the thing that will get you that certification card. But you being comfortable doing all this (and all the diving after you're certified) is what's it all about, isn't it? At this rate, you will be certified, but terrified of scuba diving. I don't think that's worth it.

I think your instructor doesn't understand what you mean when you tell her how uncomfortable you are. And it might very well be the case that you would benefit from a much slower pace of learning, getting used to things. There will be certain skills that could be perceived to be more stressful (I think of CESA). And then the open water dives are in play too. This time of year, it's quite cold too, big gloves to work in, etc. Making things a bit more stressful than they are in the relatively warm pool.

So maybe a slow approach with many more pool dives would be the way to go. To get you comfortable. Both mentally and in terms of theoretical education. 'NOB enkel ster' courses would be more suited for you. I know the NOB course is at a much slower pace, generally. Mostly dive clubs offer those, though. But worth investigating. Where in NL are you located?

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

@Juna

Your concerns and experience are not unique. It is perfectly valid to want to read the material well in advance.
I honestly would advise to putting further training on hold. The first issue that needs to be addressed is your comfort level as stress is a major inhibitor to learning as well as fun. I'll send you a PM with some more information.

I think it is a 'big agency' thing (PADI, SSI) to rush people through the course. And an instructor that only focuses on the execution of the required skills instead of listening to you explaining that it all just feels way too fast and leaves you in panic attacks - that is never a good thing.

That's the dive shop/instructor, not the agency.

 

[Cheizz]

That's the dive shop/instructor, not the agency.

Could be. In that case, there is a remarkable correlation between these dive shops and the agencies they're connected to (based on course descriptions and schedules). So then, even if it isn't the agency that is to blame, I would steer away from them and seek out private courses or something a little bit more tailored to the client's specific needs.

 

[tursiops]

That's the dive shop/instructor, not the agency.

Exactly.

 

[Boarderguy]

You have the materials now. Go through them from the 1st section and do it at a pace you can really understand everything. Talk to the instructor and the shop to be moved into the next class so you have adequate time to study and learn the materials. You've already completed the hard part and that is breathing underwater and removing your mask. You've experienced it and can maybe better relate to the materials you're studying. You may audio be able to study your partner's gear while going over the materials for some hands on application before returning to the pool. I don't think you need a new instructor since your didn't explain to them how much anxiety you were feeling. Private lessons, maybe. New class dates, yes.

 

[Cheizz]

Exactly.

The problem is: individual instructors are hard to find/contact for a beginner who is not in 'the scene' (yet). There are no public reviews of individual instructors either. So how to spot the proper ones?

That's why I suggested the NOB (= Dutch national underwater association) approach, which is taught through clubs. These courses are at a much slower pace, with no commercial goals in them. And you can ask about or meet the instructor before signing up for the course...