chepar
Contributor
Now that I've introduced myself on the "meet and greet", get ready, 'cause here's my first newbie question (and forgive me that it's SO long for such a lame one) . . .
Does getting used to the weight of the dive gear on your back ever get any easier? My rather (humiliating) case in point:
Our 4 OW certification dives this past weekend (2 on Saturday, 2 on Sunday) were shore dives at a location that I have heard is one of the easiest ones on Oahu for beginning divers. Well, while it never occurred to me, it should have - dive gear is HEAVY. I had almost 50 lbs on my back, which I am not used to.
It's a little bit of a way from the set up area (a pavilion) down to the beach, across the beach and into the water. Actually, the distance in total is no more than 50 yards (maybe less), but with 50 lbs on my back, it seemed like forever. Going to the water is downhill (a gradual slope), and returning from the dive to the pavilion is uphill (with deep sand on the beach). Anyway, I was ok the first 3 dives. On the last dive, it probably was a cumulative tiredness, but when I came up to shore, as with the previous 3 dives, I had to step up a 1 foot high ledge of sand to get on the beach area. I was trying to step up this ledge when a wave came from behind and knocked me over. At this point I started to resemble a beached whale. The weight on my back started tipping me over to my right, and I could not get up. As I was flailing around, my instructor came over to help me up, but even getting my leg up under me, I couldn't stand. Eventually I think he ended up grabbing my tank and hauled me to a standing position. Needless to say, that was the low point of my day.
I don't think I am a total couch potato (but close!) - I swim 3/4 to 1 mile 5 times a week, but it appears to me that I am a 130 lb weakling. It was especially discouraging when I saw other women with their dive gear on their back, bopping around with apparently no difficulty, while I was bent over and felt like Atlas with the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Once I'm in the water, I'm fine. The surface swim to the descent area, the dive, the swim back is all ok. It's just on land I feel like a supremo clodhopper.
Does this get easier with time? Do I need to start lifting weights? Should I only do boat dives? (This is not too feasible, as the expense is pretty high, and as a single parent, I have a kiddie to support). Other shore dive locations here that I have heard about sound even more daunting - longer walks, areas to climb. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Does getting used to the weight of the dive gear on your back ever get any easier? My rather (humiliating) case in point:
Our 4 OW certification dives this past weekend (2 on Saturday, 2 on Sunday) were shore dives at a location that I have heard is one of the easiest ones on Oahu for beginning divers. Well, while it never occurred to me, it should have - dive gear is HEAVY. I had almost 50 lbs on my back, which I am not used to.
It's a little bit of a way from the set up area (a pavilion) down to the beach, across the beach and into the water. Actually, the distance in total is no more than 50 yards (maybe less), but with 50 lbs on my back, it seemed like forever. Going to the water is downhill (a gradual slope), and returning from the dive to the pavilion is uphill (with deep sand on the beach). Anyway, I was ok the first 3 dives. On the last dive, it probably was a cumulative tiredness, but when I came up to shore, as with the previous 3 dives, I had to step up a 1 foot high ledge of sand to get on the beach area. I was trying to step up this ledge when a wave came from behind and knocked me over. At this point I started to resemble a beached whale. The weight on my back started tipping me over to my right, and I could not get up. As I was flailing around, my instructor came over to help me up, but even getting my leg up under me, I couldn't stand. Eventually I think he ended up grabbing my tank and hauled me to a standing position. Needless to say, that was the low point of my day.
I don't think I am a total couch potato (but close!) - I swim 3/4 to 1 mile 5 times a week, but it appears to me that I am a 130 lb weakling. It was especially discouraging when I saw other women with their dive gear on their back, bopping around with apparently no difficulty, while I was bent over and felt like Atlas with the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Once I'm in the water, I'm fine. The surface swim to the descent area, the dive, the swim back is all ok. It's just on land I feel like a supremo clodhopper.
Does this get easier with time? Do I need to start lifting weights? Should I only do boat dives? (This is not too feasible, as the expense is pretty high, and as a single parent, I have a kiddie to support). Other shore dive locations here that I have heard about sound even more daunting - longer walks, areas to climb. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
