During your first year of diving, what were your biggest challenges?

[cjaj_70]

I am a nose breather and had problems with mask removal and replacement in pool. Some friends talked me into working on it and cant think them enough. Only problem now is wanting to take a dive trip..lol

 

[MaconBubbles]

My biggest challenge was getting back in the water after a bad experience (around dive 25). Thank heavens for a good buddy in the form of my brother in law who helped me do it. Thanks, bro!

Do you mind telling us about your "bad experience"?

 

[Bratface]

Buoyancy control and being overweighted. They go hand-in-hand. It was a wonderful day when I finally got it right.

 

[TLS]

It took me awhile to figure out that patience is the key to bug hunting. It was so frustrating being "outsmarted" by a lobster. My technique got much better when I really slowed way down.
Besides that, I guess learning to breathe slow and manage my air better ... which is tough to do when you find a coral head full of bugs.

 

[jeckyll]

My biggest problem was finding people that wanted to approach diving the same way I do.

That sounds pretty lame, but I refuse to dive with people that can't manage to follow a simple agreed to plan (or chose not to once they hit the water).

I still don't like fighting current, it give me the creeps especially in low vis situations. Not a huge fan of waves at th surface either, though I enjoy the surge at 10 feet. I'm just warped I guess

 

[fisherdvm]

Buoyancy control, definitely. I think the ear squeeze problem people noted are actually directly linked to buoyancy control. Can't have one without the other.

 

[Luis H]

I was 14 years old and didn't have a drivers license. Having to rely on older friends to drive to dive sites was a real challenge. I remember that was a pain (it was in 1971).

 

[speleodiver6]

Keeping my parents from finding out, I was 13-14 y/o and learned to dive with friends, I did not get a formal cert course until 10 years later, in Italy.....
Hehehehhehe, looking back it was silly. But boy we had fun!!!

Dive safe,

Celia

 

[BlubbBlubb]

me too...........I was sucking gas like you would not believe while either sinking or rising..

Oooh YES - that's me! (still in my first year....struggling with breathing. Yoga anyone?)

 

[PerroneFord]

Two things stand out:

1. Learnnig to stay still. It still presents a challenge at times.

2. Learning to ascend properly. Creating a good ascent shape isn't easy to learn.