flocomotion
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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)
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)