a little freaked out

[new storm]

Ok, I am thinking about getting my scuba certification sometime in the near future. I have been snorkeling fresh water for about 1 year, and want to go scuba. The problem is that I have a tendency to bug out when I stumble upon weed beds, sunken trees, stumps, etc. The lake I snorkel in is clear water with rock ledges, some stumps and boulders. Little by little I have gotten used to this lake. What are some things I can do to train myself not to startle so easily? Let me clear this up, I am not afraid of weeds, stumps, trees etc. It is when I stumble on them when its not expected that freaks me out. Animals in the water dont bother me at all, Ive yanked snapping turtles out off the bottom before, and caught several snakes, carefully, but I never freaked out. Its murky water and sudden structure that bothers me. Please go easy, I know I sound like a baby!

 

[spectrum]

Well first let me say that I firmly believe that your skin-diving is laying a spendid foundation for your OW certification persuit. If you can get to the ocean so much the better.

You may be so relaxed that things are sneaking up on you, I have had that happen and I don't see it as a problem. People can come to me at my desk and startle me as well if I'm deep in thought. Your antics harrasing turtles and snakes suggest a good comfort level in the water and around the critters as well.

As long at the startle is not resulting in a full blown thrashing panic attack I go back in the water and have some more fun.

Are you using a clear or black skirted mask? A clear skirt may reveal approching shadows before they're in your face.

My biggest startle was while ocean skin-diving. I was relaxed and going along when something big bumped my shoulder..... was it a boat? and dead floating seal? a shark? .... nahhhhh just a floating log.

Pete

 

[HowardE]

Ok, I am thinking about getting my scuba certification sometime in the near future. I have been snorkeling fresh water for about 1 year, and want to go scuba. The problem is that I have a tendency to bug out when I stumble upon weed beds, sunken trees, stumps, etc. The lake I snorkel in is clear water with rock ledges, some stumps and boulders. Little by little I have gotten used to this lake. What are some things I can do to train myself not to startle so easily? Let me clear this up, I am not afraid of weeds, stumps, trees etc. It is when I stumble on them when its not expected that freaks me out. Animals in the water dont bother me at all, Ive yanked snapping turtles out off the bottom before, and caught several snakes, carefully, but I never freaked out. Its murky water and sudden structure that bothers me. Please go easy, I know I sound like a baby!

Getting a SCUBA cert is a GREAT thing, as anyone here will tell you. As for grass and other weeds... If you dive in Florida, or any other nice dive sites... there really isn't an issue with that (weeds and such). Mostly beautiful reefs that will blow your mind, shipwrecks, or other cool places to dive... Most of the sites I have been to have 50+ foot visibility.

Get certified and have fun!

 

[new storm]

Awesome advice. Yes, the clearer the water the less suprises there are. I will be snorkeling a lake 5 mins from my house Saturday. It is said to be the clearest lake in CT, so Im looking foward to high visibility, which will make me more comfortable. I do use a clear skirted mask too. That is an exellent theory of being too relaxed. I have gone into a thrashing panic once, the first time I snorkeled (other than my pool), I swam up on a massive underwater forest of dead trees. I totally freaked out, then I calmed myself and swam to shore, with my head up of course! Thats the only time i panicked like that. That is also the only time I swam into that creepy of a situation. I am determined to dive and want to beat this issue very badly. I am hoping clearer water will ease my nerves. Thanks guys. Also I live about 75 mins from nice clear rhode island spear fishing waters. I plan to do that also. I hear the vis there is 20'+, I cant wait.

 

[spectrum]

Awesome advice. Yes, the clearer the water the less suprises there are. I will be snorkeling a lake 5 mins from my house Saturday. It is said to be the clearest lake in CT, so Im looking foward to high visibility, which will make me more comfortable. I do use a clear skirted mask too. That is an exellent theory of being too relaxed. I have gone into a thrashing panic once, the first time I snorkeled (other than my pool), I swam up on a massive underwater forest of dead trees. I totally freaked out, then I calmed myself and swam to shore, with my head up of course! Thats the only time i panicked like that. That is also the only time I swam into that creepy of a situation. I am determined to dive and want to beat this issue very badly. I am hoping clearer water will ease my nerves. Thanks guys. Also I live about 75 mins from nice clear rhode island spear fishing waters. I plan to do that also. I hear the vis there is 20'+, I cant wait.

You don't say what you have for gear but for the next few weeks you can probably manage a short (30/45 min) sesison in the ocean down there just in swimwear, especially on a sunny day. Generally a lot more to see and get addicted to.

Pete

 

[Gidds]

I have the same problem in regards to weeds and "the hands of death" aka branches. I tend to avoid those sorts of things in freshwater if I can help it. In the ocean I have this thing about eel grass but I've discovered that all kinds of cool little animals hide in it so I've been sitting on the edges of the beds a low tide watching the animals and ignoring the large inky black scary shape made by the bed itself. Also wearing a full wetsuit and gloves gives me a little edge with my paranoia about things touching me. I tell myself over and over that there isn't anything there that will hurt me. I generally don't dive in less than 10' vis. because I am a wimp and do not appreciate the adrenelin rush that comes from large objects materializing in my face from the murk.

 

[PerroneFord]

If you dive in Florida, or any other nice dive sites... there really isn't an issue with that (weeds and such). Mostly beautiful reefs that will blow your mind, shipwrecks, or other cool places to dive...

You don't get to the springs in Florida do you? Florida springs have weeds like NYC has taxis...

 

[new storm]

Thanks again, its cool to know someone has the same problem I do. The whole "materializing in front of me" puts it perfectly! As far as gear, all I got is a Genesis mask w/ purge, a sweet snorkel w/ purge and spashguarded top (not sure of the name), and aqualung fins that have treated me very well. A wetsuit is next.

 

[billmach]

Reminds me of my final cert dive
We were diving in a murky cove in a lake
and I was on my knees waiting for my turn to clear my mask
and had the hand of death happen to me (when the water started to clear a branch
appeared on my left ear) My reaction was to scream and i shot my reg. out of my mouth (poof) but to my surprise at the time i just calmly grabbed my reg and put it back in my mouth. i was soooooo imbarased. my instructor saw it and i thought he was going to wet his shorty he was laughing so hard. but he complimented me after the dive for being calm and doing it right.....
Go get certified! It,s an addiction

 

[TSandM]

Puget Sound is all about murk diving.

My first half dozen dives were something out of a horror movie -- floating in murk, and suddenly resolving the dark thing in front of me into something I recognized (or not). The most frightening thing that appeared out of the dark was all in black, carrying a tank marked "Nitrox". It literally took me several seconds to recognize that it was a diver.

The good news is that, as one keeps doing this, one's anxiety level drops and one's ability to resolve images improves. I can actually now recognize some familiar landmarks in places where I have been diving repeatedly. This may sound like a "duh" statement, but it wasn't trivial for me. The underwater environment is disorienting and unfamiliar, and I think it's not uncommon to have to push through some discomfort while learning to operate there.

It's worth it. It's really, really, really worth it.