Diving with Claustrophobia

[paige_va]

My husband and I just returned from St. Maarten, where we completed our OW cert. I enjoyed the experience and really want to get into diving, but I found that I had some problems with claustrophobia during my open water dives. The incidents usually began with water leaking into my mask. Even though I know how to clear the water, the sensation of my mask filling up sent me into a panic and made me want to surface as quickly as possible.

Has anyone else experienced this? How have you dealt with it? I found that I felt better in shallower water, around 30 feet. Should I stick with that until completely comfortable and then move to something deeper? Now that I'm certified, how do I get extra help from an instructor if I feel I need it?

 

[DandyDon]

Glad you made it thru the certification in spite of the problems.

Masks are going to leak and get knocked lose at times, and it's good to practice deal with that without panice - much less bolting to the surface, a somewhat dangerous action. But let's talk about the mask? Are you sure it fits well. If you press it against your face, before you get in the water, does it stay on with suction, or leak air. You need one that does not leak. I once had a cheap mask made from plastic rather than silicone skirts that leaked around the lens, or - maybe your's just doesn't fit your face. Let's get that fixed, whatever it takes.

I hear some say that they get claustaphobic, but since I've never felt it - I cannot respond directly. I was afraid of heights as a kid, so I overcame that with volunteering for high jobs, starting off at a level I could handle, then getting higher. Practice what you are comfortable with, then push your personal envelpe - as long as you do it safely.

If you are more comfortable in 30 foot water than deeper, practice there. And after you have a few dives logged, for your AOW card. If you need personal instruction, ask a local instructor about availability and cost.

Oh yes, get your Nitrox card while you're doing your AOW. The nearby NC wrecks are awesome, but diving air limits your bottom time too much for me.

 

[Quarrior]

My husband and I just returned from St. Maarten, where we completed our OW cert. I enjoyed the experience and really want to get into diving, but I found that I had some problems with claustrophobia during my open water dives. The incidents usually began with water leaking into my mask. Even though I know how to clear the water, the sensation of my mask filling up sent me into a panic and made me want to surface as quickly as possible.

Has anyone else experienced this? How have you dealt with it? I found that I felt better in shallower water, around 30 feet. Should I stick with that until completely comfortable and then move to something deeper? Now that I'm certified, how do I get extra help from an instructor if I feel I need it?

Hi and welcome. I don't have experience with claustrophobia, but I do have a lot of experience with leaking masks. I finally found out how to tell if a mask actually fits right. Initially I was told to hold the mask to my face and then inhale. This technique seemed to work until the mask I had purchased using this fitting method leaked like it had a hole in it.

A better method is to take a breath then lightly press the mask up to your face with no strap. What I mean by lightly is push it on just enough to get a small suction created. It should not move. In fact this is a good way to practice breathing through your mouth without any air coming out your nose.

Another cause of my mask leaking was just that I was letting air out of my nose, thus the practice mentioned above.

 

[cornfed]

The good news is that claustrophobia is a learned response which means it can be unlearned. The bad news is isn't not always easy to unlearn. Here is some generic claustrophobia information, http://www.pe2000.com/pho-claustro.htm

I had problems with claustrophobia in the past, they weren't diving related but the same ideas hold for your problem. I'm a volunteer firefighter and had a little issue during training. We had a maze used to practice searching for people which had a few tight spaces in it. I got stuck in it one day and let's say it wasn't a particularly pleasant experience. For a while after that I had trouble with tight spaces an particularly with ones I could see where the end was. I managed to work through it by continually exposing myself to similar situations in a controlled environment. I'm now to the point that tight space don't bother me. In fact, I 6'1", 210 lbs and I think a 24" diameter pipe is roomy.

My point is that this is something you can overcome. You first must realize that you CAN overcome it and second you need to commit yourself to working on it. If it's a problem with you mask flooding then start flooding your mask. Find a buddy you trust, go to the quarry/pool/etc. Flood your mask halfway then clear it. Do this over and over and over again until you're comfortable with it. Then take your mask off and replace it. Do this over and over and over again until you're comfortable with it. Personally, I would just do this until you're comfortable and not worry about much else. Don't feel like you're "wasting" your time by not going deeper, going on dive trips, taking classes, etc. Consider it an investment in the future because if you're not comfortable with the basics like this you're not going to enjoy the dive.

Should I stick with that until completely comfortable and then move to something deeper?

This doesn't have anything to do with being claustrophobic or not. You should never make any dive if you're not comfortable with it.

 

[NOVIZWHIZ]

The leaking mask issue is something that should be addressed, if you operate out of a decent dive shop they'll let you try a couple of different styles and brands, but the best fitting mask can still leak or get knocked off. Feeling totally comfortable handling a flooded mask can be difficult, especially after your partner just kicked you in the head.

On the claustrophobia, I dive in limited to no viz in most cases. (Take me in clear water and I freak!) Submerged trees, pilings, ledges etc. are something I've always had to deal with, guess I'm lucky that I've never really felt claustrophobic, well maybe a little, ...30 years of black water diving and I admit, I still sometimes get a little twinge when I try to ease up a few feet and bump into some kind of obstruction.

Only thing I would suggest is to get with a GOOD partner (or better yet an instructor) and try totally removing your mask, swimming around without it (I do some work as a PSD and we'll actually turn our masks around backwards during training.). Try to get comfortable with NO mask. If you're comfortable at a shallow depth, keep descending a few yards at a time. Key thing is to take it slow and do only what you feel relatively comfortable with. You'll gain confidence as you go. It may take some time but it will be time well invested and might one day save your life.

 

[downunderjenn]

Good article!

Also, we recommend that OW students do not exceed 60', so that they can practice skills and spend time learning and getting comfortable with the water and with gear.

If it is the mask that bothers you, perhaps try getting comfortable with it at home, in the bathtub, walking around, looking at yourself in the mirror with your mask on. It sounds silly, but is a good low stress way to get comfortable with the mask. I know a lot of people feel boxed in by the mask face and skirt. Do you wear glasses? Liken it to wearing glasses, even sunglasses. If the skirt is black, perhaps a clear skirt will be better for you. Try wearing the mask to the pool, snorkelling around the pool with your mask. Duck underwater with your mask.

If you have a local lake, feel free to practice in 10/15' of water, sitting at the bottom with a buddy, flooding, partially flooding, and clearing your mask. Do this many times. I go down with my buddies still, JUST to practice one particular skill. I break it down until I know the skill automatically. Sitting in the water with your mask on in the 10', look up, look around. Get comfortable just looking.

I actually feel freer in the water, even with no visiblity, than I do on land. You can go anywhere! Realize you are in control and breathing. If you are anxious and have trouble breathing, slow down, and tell yourself to breathe more slowly and calmly.

Also, practice sitting at the bottom with your eyes closed with a buddy in 10/15' of water. Flood with your eyes closed and clear with your eyes closed. It sounds silly and time consuming, but it will be reassuring later. Also, practice taking your mask off, breathing, and putting it back on. Do this until you are comfortable. Make a game in a pool.

My mom had problems with this until they had a game to find dimes and put them in their masks. Try this in the pool and make the winner awarded a prize. My mom won with this incentive, afterwards unafraid of flooding her mask.

I intentionally flood my mask partially and swish the water around if it gets foggy, and clear. I hope this helps and remember that you are in control and by panicking you lose control.

 

[GrierHPharmD]

Great advice. re: intentionally flooding mask, etc. I do the same thing, and practice removing and replacing my scuba unit pretty frequently. It's amazing how far a little practice goes. The first times I did it were disasters, but with time, it's become second nature to take off and re-adjust equipment underwater. For me, the secret is to practice one thing at a time, then increase the complexity of the exercise as I've mastered each component. Slow and easy, taking lots of time to think and breathe before acting, seems to be the key to everything in diving.

Good luck in overcoming this situation. Please keep us informed as to your progress.

-Grier


p.s. Here are a couple of articles that I found useful on panic and mask removal. This guy's site has lots of helpful, short articles on dive training. Hope you find it useful.
-G
http://www.mindspring.com/~divegeek/battle.htm
http://www.mindspring.com/~divegeek/nmask.htm

 

[android]

I'm now to the point that tight space don't bother me. In fact, I 6'1", 210 lbs and I think a 24" diameter pipe is roomy.

Well, a 24" pipe is a mansion! When I was a kid we only had 18" pipes and our family of 24 kids all lived in there together (That is, while we weren't walking uphill to school and back.)

Actually, I'm uncomfortable, but have never paniced in very crowded rooms (like a concert) I've always been able to work my way free, but I definitely didn't like it. The best thing is to breath, realize that there is no real danger and then get out the situation. After a few rounds, the realization that there isn't any real danger becomes more apparent to your brain and you become more comfortable with the situation.

Maybe they should come up with a medical term for the irrational fear of water in the mask like aquapersonaphobia.

 

[alphillyswim]

I went under water for OW cert and the first few dives to 25/30' were fine. Once we went down to 50' I started to feel claustrophobia or mild panic. I didn't want to ruin the dive for everyone in the class and myself so I tried to just calm myself down, breathing and a few times I needed to grab onto the structure. I think the air in my BCD was not sufficient. I added some more, but probably didn't add enough. I kept sinking further down and had to work harded to stay level. In the end, I was fine, but used way too much air for that particular dive.

I would suggest practicing your skills where you are comfortable and then slowly progressing to the deeper dives. I plan to go diving on my own (with my buddy of course) for the first time w/out instructor and will stay at my comfort level until I am ready to go further.

 

[paige_va]

Thanks for all the great advice. I read Grier's links to the divegeek site, and if that doesn't make one figure out quickly the ABSOLUTE necessity of getting these little phobias under control before taking them into deep water, I don't know what will !! :icon10:

So, I took to the bath tub; filled it all the way to the top with cold water, and went at it...just me and my snorkle. Sure enough, as soon as my nose went under, I got that "I gotta get out of here" kind of feeling. Worked at it for about 30 minutes, and, by the end of the session could breathe (with heavy concentration) for a couple of minutes without panic. :bang:

I'll keep this up over the next few weeks and see how things go.