hi guys, just got back
ok first of all some answers to a few questions.
I am training with PADI, i took my open water class in easter but prior to that i was training with BSAC for the ocean diver qualification since september. I quit the BSAC route because it was taking forever to make any progress, especially since the club i was a member of is more interested in drinking, women and club politics than actually diving.
I'm training on the south coast of the UK.
I may agree that PADI is not the best route to take but i do not wish to go back into a club environment like my former BSAC club where it takes a year in the swimming pool to make ocean diver.
OK about today
Right somethings went well but i did have forces working against me
we did 3 dives each to 7 meters. the first was the advanced boyancy which was a little ropey but this was due to being over weighted. boyancy control improoved alot during the next dive and i think i have it about spot on now
Second dive was underwater navigation in which i did learn an important lesson. we were going to swim in a square and arrive back at where we started, unfortunatly i made the fatal mistake of trusting my compass a bit too much and missed the bouy by about 3 meters or so. the second try I made sure to use as many reference points as i could (by this time vis was down to 2 meters or so
such as depth, rocks and lines and arrived at the bouy with no problems. my assent was a little to fast i feel during that dive though
Third dive was just a nice swim out to a few wrecks littered about the lake, sods law would have it that the pin fell out of my shadow mask meaning i had to borrow one from the dive shop, that was a horrible mask, it was leaking in water a fair old bit and i had to keep clearing my mask every couple of minuites. we swam around the wrecks had a good look then deployed our SMB's to assend. well i experienced a brand new feeling. the SMB deployed with no problems (and no i didnt shoot up with it
) and i started my assent but i had a problem with my ears and the pressure-reverse block, went down as soon as i noticed i was feeling uncomfortable and it took several tryes to make it to the surface. I *think* i'm ok although there is a slight discomfort in my right ear
The water was so warm (for the UK)
Now its just the big one tomorrow:s Yes i am nervous but that, i think is perfectly natural. i shouldnt be able to breath underwater let alone do it at 35 meters, my body was not designed for it and i will be in an alien environment. I was nervous before my OW dives and nervous before i took my first breath underwater but i feel totally confortable with it now. I'm sure once i've done the dive i'll feel more confident about deeper dives. The only worry i do have is getting narced, i am currently on 150mg of effexor XL and have been given clearence by a diving doc to dive but he did say i may narc easier than other people will and i do not know what that feels like.
snyhoo write back tomorrow
