About to become Certified (I hope)

[RockyTop]

Just discovered the board a few days ago and have enjoyed the reading so far.

I am scheduled to take my open water course the 25th of this month. I am excited and very much looking forward to it. I have always wanted to do it but just never got around to it. Now is finally the time.

I love being underwater and always have. I have fished underwater with a mask and speargun since I was about 8 years old. I am now 31. I do this in creeks in average depth of about 5-8 ft.

I have always prided myself on being a great undewater swimmer with the ability to hold my breath longer than most people. That is not going to help me in scuba though.

I can already see that my biggest obstacle is going to be the mask floooding. I can clear the mask with no trouble.

I dont panic but when I remove my mask water goes into my nose and I am unable to breath in or blow out my nose. I try and try and nothing happens so I eventually have to resurface.

I am not afraid to try it and know i will be able to get it with practice, its just not going to be easy.

 

[waf44]

ur right about the mask removal, it is a bit daunting, it was one of the tasks that i personally didnt like.just keep calm and focused and im sure you'll get throgh with no probs.best of luck

 

[desksgt]

Welcome to the Scuba Board! Good luck with your upcoming OW Cert. course. The mask just takes a little getting used to.

 

[true1969]

Well I had the same problem when I went to do my OW certification. I almost didn't go through with it. But I did it. I found a great dive center that allowed me to go in the pool and practice taking off my mask and flooding my mask until I was comfortable. Practice makes perfect. Good Luck. I have enjoyed diving for two years now.

 

[ShakaZulu]

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171 checkout Walter's post, some very good practise ideas.

 

[H2Andy]

dont worry, it's not "natural" for us to get water up our nose, so we react funny...

but you get used to it, and after a while, you won't even notice

 

[scubajoe]

Welcome to the board!

Joe

 

[NINman]

Welcome to SB, I tried to clear my mask upside down once .. it wasn't pretty!!!

Clean the mask seems to be most people problem, the thread that ShakaZulu posted does have some good pointers.

 

[GrierHPharmD]

My only advice is to keep at it, practicing in the pool every chance you get.

BTW, to you have facial hair? Sometimes it interferes with getting a good fit. (I don't know if Walter mentions that in his section above. BTW, Walter's a great guy and has really good pearls for new divers.)

Two quick tips:

1. You can put a little silicone grease around the skirt of your mask to make a better fit.

2. Try not to breathe out with your nose too much, as it breaks the seal around your face and lets water in.

Good luck with both the mask clearing and the certification.

Many safe ascents,
Grier

 

[DI_Guy]

I agree with Grier about the facial hair.... I had to shave off my mustache which I had for 30 years... When I did the MASK REMOVAL checkout, the water temp was only 7 degrees C.... I have never cleared a flood as fast as that again.

You'll do just fine Rocky.... Welcome to the board

Bubblemaker_ontario