Got my AOW! Interesting observations...

[JodiBB]

Hi everyone! I got my AOW certification last weekend. We went to Casino Point on Catalina Island and knocked out all 5 dives in 2 days. We were exhausted by the 5th dive, but it was SO worth it!

I noticed that on all my dives a weird equalization experience and I was wondering if others have experienced this. As I was descending, I would be on the anchor line and each time I exhaled, my ears would automatically equalize on their own without my needing to hold my nose and was able to drop another 10' after each breath. I saw everyone else holding their noses and equalizing on the way down, but I never had to do that.....I'd breathe out....my ears would automatically equalize (I could feel them "pop" on their own)....is that strange?

I learned what a good and buddy is by watching my own buddies and the buddies of other groups within my class.....great learning experiences!

I learned that on a night dive, careful where you land as you might end up on a Scorpion Rockfish 9my knee almost hit one!)...

I learned that (as of yet) I don't experience narcosis...I was able to open that padlock at 105' down as easily as at the surface...

I learned how important (not that I didn't already know this, but it was definitely re-emphasized) it is to be constantly checking your gauges...especially at 85+ feet down! Those NDLs and air gauges are so crucial at that depth!

I learned how awesome it is to see all the life on wrecks....never thought I would get that privilege....

Well...that's my experience....getting my Wreck specialty this weekend!!!!

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Congrats! I have my AOW in June and I'm really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, my dives will be at one of the local quarries here in the Midwest. No need to worry about Scorpion Rockfish. Compared to that, Crayfish just don't seem too scary!

I've heard that some people are able to get to a point where their ears equalize on their own. Sounds like that's what happened to you. That would be soooo great. I can only dream!

Thanks for sharing Jodi.

 

[mmadiver]

That equilization is normal. Some people can do it, some cant. When I wear my FFM a simple flex of my jaw clears my ears.

 

[PerroneFord]

Not sure why, but I've never really had to equalize much. I can think of only 2 dives where I have had squeeze issues. Other than that, normal breathing just keeps my ears clear.

 

[fairybasslet]

I hate people who can equalize with no effort almost as much as I hate the moms of newborns who sleep through the night at 3 weeks old. I think you're all liars, BTW. I was told my a ENT who was recommended to me by DAN that I'll never be a Navy SEAL. I have crappy eustachian tubes.

Anyway, to get serious for a change, congrats on your AOW. I had the same experience you did regarding tasks at the surface and tasks at depth. My instructor concluded that I am permanently narc'd.

My next goal is to take a rescue course.

 

[JodiBB]

I hate people who can equalize with no effort almost as much as I hate the moms of newborns who sleep through the night at 3 weeks old. I think you're all liars, BTW. I was told my a ENT who was recommended to me by DAN that I'll never be a Navy SEAL. I have crappy eustachian tubes.

Anyway, to get serious for a change, congrats on your AOW. I had the same experience you did regarding tasks at the surface and tasks at depth. My instructor concluded that I am permanently narc'd.

My next goal is to take a rescue course.

Permanently narc'd? I like that!!

Am I a liar? Hmmm...never thought I was before...maybe I was too narc'd to notice!

 

[RJP]

Did my AOW in Maui over three days the first week in May.

Your timed task at depth was opening a padlock?

Mine was using the RDP to calculate pressure groups and NDLs for a series of three repetitve dives! Had as MUCH trouble at depth as I did on the surface!



I actually think I was slightly narc'd doing that at 98ft, but was at 100ft several more times during the next two weeks with no problems.

 

[jpcpat]

Congrats on the AOW, and, yup, observing other divers is a learning experience all by itself.

Glad to hear you can clear effortlessly. Sometimes it works that way for me, sometimes not About that and the lack of narcosis, don't count on it to last forever. Narcosis is sneaky.

 

[JodiBB]

RJP3 - Yep! we were all given padlocks at the surface and had to try to open them with our gloves on. Then we took them down to 105' and had to open them again. Some people found they had problems, which was the point of the exercise, but I got it open just as quickly...I think I practiced enough on the surface

jpcpat -- I figure that one day I'll get to experience some sort of narcosis, but I'm glad it wasn't on my first 100+ dive. There was already enough to think about on that dive without having to get narc'd as well.

 

[timle]

Yeah I felt the slight beginnings of narcosis for the first time at 120'. Everything just seemed louder, my breathing seemed to be pounding in my ears. I told myself thats just the depth and didn't really notice it after that though I did notice it go away when we went back to around 100'.

Not to be a nag - but did you really mean land? Or just almost hit one while decending? I'm curious why would one need to land?

Glad you had a good time at it, keep it up.