Encouragement for a beginner

[Pipingwidow]

Hi all. I'm looking for some encouragement. I've just completed the pool portion of my PADI OW course and I'm not sure I want to keep going. I could really use some incentive.

The training went well until the last session. We were told we'd passed and then our instructor asked if we wanted to practise anything and my hubby asked to do a mask removal. After five sessions without one bolt for the surface suddenly I choked really badly and had to go up. Three more attempts and I kept inhaling through my nose. When I realised I'd gone from a pass to a fail I was gutted. After choking again I dumped my mask in frustration and it sank. I decided this was it so I put in my regulator, dove down, got it, put it on and cleared it. Thankfully my instructor gave me the handshake and I was through. But it has knocked my confidence.

i went to the pool a few days later and practised with my snorkel until I could float facedown with just goggles and my snorkel not breathing through my nose. I must have inhaled half the pool trying but I got there! My sinuses burned the rest of the day.

So now I'm wary of doing it in open water and I'm so cross as it wasn't an issue at all. I had even choked before and stayed under and recovered. I think I did the classic of getting too tired and as I was breathing harder than usual I was inhaling through my nose and mouth. Lesson learnt.

Also, we're learning in Ireland where the water is 14degres C at best and the air around 5! I am usually shivering after an hours lesson in the pool so the sea is going to be miserable.

please someone tell me all the burning sinuses and freezing temperatures are worth it and that diving gets much better. A friend said to stick it out as once I get away and dive somewhere warm I'll be in love but right now I'm not feeling it.

Sorry for the huge moan. Lol

 

[Skulmoski]

Stick with it and finish the open water component. No doubt you will feel satisfied when you pass especially when you have had some challenging moments. With this certification, the whole water world will open to you to explore.

Keep going!

GJS

 

[timz]

Hi all. I'm looking for some encouragement. I've just completed the pool portion of my PADI OW course and I'm not sure I want to keep going. I could really use some incentive.

The training went well until the last session. We were told we'd passed and then our instructor asked if we wanted to practise anything and my hubby asked to do a mask removal. After five sessions without one bolt for the surface suddenly I choked really badly and had to go up. Three more attempts and I kept inhaling through my nose. When I realised I'd gone from a pass to a fail I was gutted. After choking again I dumped my mask in frustration and it sank. I decided this was it so I put in my regulator, dove down, got it, put it on and cleared it. Thankfully my instructor gave me the handshake and I was through. But it has knocked my confidence.

i went to the pool a few days later and practised with my snorkel until I could float facedown with just goggles and my snorkel not breathing through my nose. I must have inhaled half the pool trying but I got there! My sinuses burned the rest of the day.

So now I'm wary of doing it in open water and I'm so cross as it wasn't an issue at all. I had even choked before and stayed under and recovered. I think I did the classic of getting too tired and as I was breathing harder than usual I was inhaling through my nose and mouth. Lesson learnt.

Also, we're learning in Ireland where the water is 14degres C at best and the air around 5! I am usually shivering after an hours lesson in the pool so the sea is going to be miserable.

please someone tell me all the burning sinuses and freezing temperatures are worth it and that diving gets much better. A friend said to stick it out as once I get away and dive somewhere warm I'll be in love but right now I'm not feeling it.

Sorry for the huge moan. Lol

When i first removed my mask underwater at 29°C water(our local temperature is 33°C), i can feel the sudden cool on my face and a temptation of inhaling air. But i could keep my conciouss inhaling through my mouth.

I think it's common because we've been breathing with nose all your life. But sufficient practice can make u get used to it.

But after that... you'll see the fascinating world under the ocean surface.

You can do it.... wish you all the best.

 

[bergersau]

I feel the cold too. Diving in 7mm+ wetsuits, gloves, and hood's, is challenging. If you're not already wearing gloves and a hood - you should be. They do help you stay warmer.

Do stick with it. Here's why, people who learn to dive in challenging temperate conditions usually find that tropical diving is a walk in the park by comparison. The reverse doesn't apply.

If you do want to continue diving locally, seriously consider investing in a drysuit. Or do a drysuit course next and hire one when it gets cold. With the right gear you can dive comfortably in 14 degree water. Second hand Drysuits in good condition can sometimes be had at bargain prices if you stay vigilant on eBay etc. Drysuits do take a bit more awareness of buoyancy control and practice, but are so much more comfortable it is worth taking the effort to learn how to dive them.

Almost nobody feels completely at ease st first when learning to dive. Take your time, when you need more practice or help - speak up. You'll get there in the end.

Then one day you'll get that first "magic dive" and you'll be hooked.

 

[victorzamora]

That is THE most common issue I saw amongst new divers in my time helping out with classes. I've seen it in warm water, cold water, with people that could barely swim, and with water polo players (comfort level in-water was unparalleled). There's something about it you have to really teach yourself to overcome. It sounds like you've made some serious progress towards overcoming it. My main takeaway: You know it's your weakness. Work on it. Master it. Find another weakness and do the same. If you overcame that reflex on your own, you're well on your path to being a safe and confident diver.

 

[Neilwood]

I would say take your time and try to relax and above all enjoy it. The course is just that though - you need to do that stuff to get to the good bits later!

Scuba is not natural, it is a combination of skills that have to be learned. Most people are nose breathers and having to consciously override that is a skill that takes a bit of learning.

You will notice the cold water hitting your face (the sea is cold) and you will probably make a sharp intake of breath - I certainly did. Second time I did it though, I knew what it was going to feel like and could work through it. You will probably have to make that conscious decision to only breathe through your mouth though - your body will try to override it (I know mine did). Once you know it is coming and get used to the "cold hit", you will not try to nose breathe, you will not swallow a gallon of water (like I did) and you will do the drill fine (as I did on my second attempt). Once you get that down, you don't get the burning sinuses (sea water is not nearly as bad for burning eyes/sinuses as pool water!)

Diving gets a hell of a lot better when you hit open water though once you get used to the temperature (you should be in the correct wetsuit/drysuit for the temperature so you won't feel too cold. If it is a wetsuit, you will get a cold feeling when you first step in as the water gets inside the suit but that will only last a minute or two. Little tip - make sure your wetsuit zip is done up. I made the mistake of being too eager to get in, forgot to do my back zip up, swam out and as soon as my face went in the water, the zip opening widened and it felt like someone tipped a bucket of ice down my back! It was fine until my face went in as the jacket BCD had kept the gap tight while surface swimming but as soon as I leaned forward it opened.

You can't see lobster, scallops, crabs, untold numbers and types of fish, kelp forests and reef formations in a pool. My first OW dive the instructor flashed the " look at me" sign, dove down under some kelp and picked up a lobster for me to see.

The feeling of doing my next few dives after completing OW was second to none with the feeling of relaxation (don't have to do any drills if I don't want to) and freedom to investigate things underwater (my dive buddy must have been really patient with me swimming round looking at random things - "oh there's a fish", "oh there's a lobster" etc)

 

[SillyQuestions]

You'll be ok. It's work it. Irish divings really good, as is the UKs.

As someone said above, learn here and most places will be easy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Phil_C]

I would echo what most other people have said - stick with it. When you are first learning to dive there is a lot to remember, and when you first learn a skill you do so in isolation - you are only concentrating on doing one thing. Then you will start to task load, and it is normal to be caught out every now and again when something unexpected happens. It is different when you first get cold water on your face during a mask removal - it can feel like a bit of a shock, but it will soon feel nothing out of the ordinary.

Try to acclimatise yourself a little, fill you mask with water and put it on your face, or stick your face in the water without you mask on before you dive, that can help to get you past the "bl**dy heck it is cold!" moment.

Sea diving is great, and you have some fantastic diving in the lochs and around the coast of Ireland. And of course once you are qualified you can go on diving holidays, live-aboards, or do warm water dives in exotic locations! so the world really is your oyster.

It does get better, and pretty soon you will wonder what all the fuss was about. You have done it successfully already, just practise, don't be scared of it, and pretty soon you won't think about it at all.

Have fun and dive safe - Phil.

 

[wspalding]

All I would add to what others have said is, since you know removing your mask is a weak skill for you in cold water, continue to practice the skill. You'll find that eventually you can do this without the current problems you've encountered. You could start by slowly letting your mask fill to that it isn't that sudden cold against your face, and that work towards being able to remove your mask entirely. My personal philosophy about any challenging task is to practice it until it is no longer a weakness. Good luck! And I know you'll eventually be glad you stuck with it. The ocean is an awesome place.

 

[Pipingwidow]

Thank you all so much. I feel a lot better after reading your comments and I'm determined to practise every time I go to the pool until I get my first open water dive. Thanks for the warning about cold water on my face too. I'll probably come back and re-read your comments just to boost myself and keep going. :glad: