First OW dive today - Not-so-Cousteau!

[flocomotion]

Hey - you guys may remember my Not So Cousteau post from a month ago... pasted below. Well, went to Catalina with the group and had an amazing experience at Casino Point dive park. Got certified, and when we got down to the Cousteau memorial I was thrilled, and moved beyond words.

Thanks to everyone for writing me back with encouraging words last month, and to my patient instructors!

The beach entry at Redondo was just way too intense for my first OW dives, though I may try it again when I feel more confident. But not sure why would when the visibility at Catalina was up to 40ft, and there were so many things to see!!!! It was a dream come true.

Gear lost: 0
Lunch lost: 0
Lives lost: 0
Friends made: priceless!

;0)
f

Hi all - have been reading your posts and learning so much from your input, thank you! Am in SoCal, working on NAUI certification through the local college. It's a great program, but I've been having a rocky time throughout the training.

During the first pool dive, I was completely freaked out by the gear, and the instructor helped me under by deflating my BC for me without warning. That freaked me out even more, and my impulse to survive is fierce! I resurfaced several times during the first pool dive, but over the past few weeks became more and more comfortable, and could practice all of the skills comfortably.

The open water dives are conducted via beach entry through the surf at Redondo Beach. I was very wary of doing it, and now know that surf entry dives are NOT my cup of tea... We went out yesterday and the visability was horrible - I was ok with the skindiving and snorkling out past the surf zone, but during exit the mask and snorkel were washed off of my face by a big wave. Once in full gear, I got smashed by several waves and did not make it out. My weightbelt fell off in the surf. I watched as the rest of the class went out and did their first dive... it was disappointing, but I came home exhausted (and spent a lot of time reading posts here) and determined to try again today.

Today when we geared up and went down, the surf was much smaller, and the instructor helped me out past the surf zone. When we went down, there was MAYBE four feet visability, but I felt comfortable enough to do the mask clear, the reg skills, and the weight belt remove & replace. We went to 50' and the visibility was much better -- maybe 10' - saw a couple of starfish and a sweet little flounder, otherwise, just sand and the edge of the submarine canyon. I got really dizzy and disoriented at 53' and signaled to my instructor - the sensation was too freaky for this already freaked out scuba student - we ascended and I was too fast. I got a friendly tow back to shore. Exit through the surf was fairly easy, and I walked out without much difficulty.

Ahh, but the second dive - I swam out without the instructor's help this time and it was horrifying to rely on the snorkel through the waves without any visibility - just green, murky water and the sound of my own breathing, which was more like panting, and I swim a mile+ at least two days a week! But swimming must not be enough exercise for me - though I am about 20 pounds overweight, I pride myself on my strength -- so this was discouraging. Just before we were supposed to go down, I was feeling nausous and panicky and could not regulate my breathing. The regulator made a weird noise when I breathed in and though the instructor explained it all to me, my mind just couldn't accept it and panic was too strong. I bailed and the instructor had to swim back with me to the shore - this time I did not exit on my feet with diginity... it was a total turtle crawl, and then the feeling of defeat as I watched him swim back out to the other students.

Winding down my rant! It's several hours later and I'm still feeling the waves. The instructor said I should go to Catalina for an easier entry to finish up my certification in a few weeks. It would be awesome to finish and be proud of the accomplishment, but on the other hand, I could let it go and say it's not for me. I had no idea that my response would be so stressy... The whole point was to get to see the underworld...

If and when I go again, I plan to take some motion sickness meds, refuse to go much lower than 40', demand that the entry be an easy one into nothing less than 10' visibility, and that there be something to see down there! I don't mean to dis that little starfish... but you know what I mean.

$165 total gear lost to the sea goddess. My instructors are rock stars, by the way. They did everything above and beyond to help me feel safe and comfortable...

Anybody else have similar experiences and recover to enjoy diving again?

Thanks!
Flo Not-so-Cousteau ;0)

 

[zen_man]

flocomotion,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! The title made me laugh.

Shore diving can be very challenging. Please don't give up. Remember, diving is a skill, and as with any skill, takes practice. It does get easier the more you dive. Some things will come natural and some things will be more trying. Before you know it, it will be you out there gearing up for a dive and helping someone else new and overwhelmed by the experience.

Everytime I dive, I learn something new or notice something I need to work on during the dive. Even when I get to 1000+ dives(and I will!), I hope I continue to be a student. Learning something new, working on a skill, and continue to get better and better with my skills in diving.

Happy Bubbles!

Buck

EDIT: oops! I missed your last post! I'm so glad you had a much better experience on your Catalina trip! It's not always about fighting waves, losing gear and almost drowning!

 

[flocomotion]

Hey thanks Zen Man! Couldn't figure out how to bump my own post. See? More and more to learn, every day.

 

[rawls]

EXXXXXXCELLLENT!!!! Your story and your success warms my heart to no end! CONGRATULATIONS...You are to be commended:balloon:banana::dancingsnoopy::sblogo:

 

[drewdude]

Just keep plugging away at it!!! When I did my AOW class this summer we did our deep dive about 5 miles offshore by a rock outcropping in 46 degree water. It was my first dive with a full 7mm wetsuit and initially I had problems getting negative. I was just about to signal to the boat to come by when I was finally able to get below. As I descended I felt that surge of panic as I looked and could not see my DI who was with another student. Luckily the DI's bubbles led me right to him. He was waiting for me right underneath me by about 20' with the other student Vis was about 10'. He could see me outlined on the surface but I could not see him. I was also freaked out by the Stellar sea lions we saw nearby right before we entered. I know they are supposed to be the black labs of the sea, but they are huge!!! It took me awhile to slow my breathing down. After about five minutes I settled and started enjoying the dive.

Remember to have fun!!

 

[caseybird]

Way cool! Congratulations for sticking to it.

 

[flocomotion]

Stellar sea lions... they have teeth, ya know! Thanks for the encouragement. Are you in Northern California?

;0)
f

 

[Coll]

I was also freaked out by the Stellar sea lions we saw nearby right before we entered. I know they are supposed to be the black labs of the sea, but they are huge!!!

I work as a California sea lion trainer and so I am well aware of how dangerous they can be and your post caught my attention. Where did you hear this about Stellars and do you know why they are supposedly so placid? Can anyone else offer an opinion on this who has dove with stellars?

 

[RS]

If you go to Catalina you'll have a blast. I was diving there earlier this year and Dr Bill was on the same boat (King Neptune). He's a really nice guy, is enthusiastic and really knows the wildlife. Great diver too.

I'm still a newbie myself so know how you feel.

Dive safe and have fun!

 

[drewdude]

I work as a California sea lion trainer and so I am well aware of how dangerous they can be and your post caught my attention. Where did you hear this about Stellars and do you know why they are supposedly so placid? Can anyone else offer an opinion on this who has dove with stellars?

I've heard of three divers (all first hand accounts) w/close encounters up here (all in Del Norte County). All were within Pt. St. George Reef area. Southeast Seal Rock is within the reef area and is one of the few stellar rookeries in Nor-Cal. One had a stellar swim up to his mask and check him out. Another stated that as they descended on a dive the sun suddenly went away so they looked up and a "cloud" of stellars above them. The third I know about is a diver was taking some macro photos on a rock when a stellar came up and took his arm in his mouth and they sat there for a bit until the stellar let go. No puncture, no wounds, the diver had no idea what it was about, but he told me he was not going to jerk his arm away. I had a fellow diver tell me they were like dogs to help ease my anxiety prior to that dive. I apologize for the posting about them being black labs and should have left that part to the professionals.