CindyMac
Contributor
At 54, "firsts" are few and far between, but yesterday was the first time my husband and I dove together since I certified in June. It was fun, funny and frustrating!
We both were diving for the first time with full face masks. Mine was terrific from the start. Hubby had a tougher time. He had overtightened the top strap (he apparently didn't read the part about not making a large adjustment on this strap) so he leaked a lot of air from the top of the mask. Our faces stayed nice and warm and dry. Field of vision was awesome and didn't have to worry about it getting knocked off. Loved breathing through my nose! On the second dive, hubby's face mask was better adjusted and he was thrilled! It was also my first time with a hood. Stayed warm, but didn't like the confined feel.
We were diving in our local quarry (Lake Norman PDRA) and conditions were ok. Did a weight check on me and it was decided I needed more weight. I was already carrying 10# (5# each side) in front (Zena by Zeagle BC) and 6# (3# each side) in back pocket (recommended from last dive). Another 8# (4# each back pocket) was added. Boy, did I sink!!! Looking back on the dive, I believe I was overweighted. On the first dive I had some decent buoyancy, but on the second I was either way heavy (on the bottom). With the addition of just one little bump more air (after a couple of small bumps), I was heading upward. Cannot believe I am posting my weight, but for the sake of help - 187lbs, 5'3". I felt like I was having to inflate/deflate more than I should.
We were tagging along with an open water class and the instructors did not think I was appropriately fitted to my Zena (I tend to agree after measuring myself this am). They said it looked like the shoulders were about 4" too low. I was sold a large by a LDS. Looks like I need at least a Medium in shoulder section. I might even need a smaller front piece, as I noticed my straps were snugged all the way.
First dive for both of us with our new air integrated TUSA Zen Air. Loved it! I use a Mac and download was flawless for me. Hubby was very frustrated with his Windows download. It showed his dive times as 3 minutes for first, 4 minutes for second. I downloaded his computer onto my Mac and it was flawless. Learning curve - and hubs is very impatient.
It was my first dive with Nitrox and I loved it! Felt ever so much better. Still tired, but not completely drained. The class, however, was another story. Horrid, horrid, horrid! Not the only who felt this way....the dive shop owner is very aware of this - his girlfriend was in the same class and she was irate, as was my already certified hubby. I managed to pass. After working with ventilators, nitrous and heliox for 5 years, the physiology was simple.
As always, I enjoyed the practice. Did not enjoy having more buoyancy problems, but I do understand that will come with diving as much as possible. Hubs has also been put on notice to never, ever touch my inflator/deflator hose (why does that sound so wrong???). He was trying to be helpful, but I really got aggravated. Must be the nurse in me.
We both were diving for the first time with full face masks. Mine was terrific from the start. Hubby had a tougher time. He had overtightened the top strap (he apparently didn't read the part about not making a large adjustment on this strap) so he leaked a lot of air from the top of the mask. Our faces stayed nice and warm and dry. Field of vision was awesome and didn't have to worry about it getting knocked off. Loved breathing through my nose! On the second dive, hubby's face mask was better adjusted and he was thrilled! It was also my first time with a hood. Stayed warm, but didn't like the confined feel.
We were diving in our local quarry (Lake Norman PDRA) and conditions were ok. Did a weight check on me and it was decided I needed more weight. I was already carrying 10# (5# each side) in front (Zena by Zeagle BC) and 6# (3# each side) in back pocket (recommended from last dive). Another 8# (4# each back pocket) was added. Boy, did I sink!!! Looking back on the dive, I believe I was overweighted. On the first dive I had some decent buoyancy, but on the second I was either way heavy (on the bottom). With the addition of just one little bump more air (after a couple of small bumps), I was heading upward. Cannot believe I am posting my weight, but for the sake of help - 187lbs, 5'3". I felt like I was having to inflate/deflate more than I should.
We were tagging along with an open water class and the instructors did not think I was appropriately fitted to my Zena (I tend to agree after measuring myself this am). They said it looked like the shoulders were about 4" too low. I was sold a large by a LDS. Looks like I need at least a Medium in shoulder section. I might even need a smaller front piece, as I noticed my straps were snugged all the way.
First dive for both of us with our new air integrated TUSA Zen Air. Loved it! I use a Mac and download was flawless for me. Hubby was very frustrated with his Windows download. It showed his dive times as 3 minutes for first, 4 minutes for second. I downloaded his computer onto my Mac and it was flawless. Learning curve - and hubs is very impatient.
It was my first dive with Nitrox and I loved it! Felt ever so much better. Still tired, but not completely drained. The class, however, was another story. Horrid, horrid, horrid! Not the only who felt this way....the dive shop owner is very aware of this - his girlfriend was in the same class and she was irate, as was my already certified hubby. I managed to pass. After working with ventilators, nitrous and heliox for 5 years, the physiology was simple.
As always, I enjoyed the practice. Did not enjoy having more buoyancy problems, but I do understand that will come with diving as much as possible. Hubs has also been put on notice to never, ever touch my inflator/deflator hose (why does that sound so wrong???). He was trying to be helpful, but I really got aggravated. Must be the nurse in me.
