Help with descending slowly on first OW dive?

[The Kraken]

We all need to keep in mind that many people take their confined water training in pools. Many pools aren't sufficiently deep enough, IMO, for a diver in training to experience the actual feel of descending in an open water environment.

Many divers never understand or experience, fully, wetsuit compression until they're actively diving their first open water dive. The probable overweighted descent coupled with the sudden compression of the wetsuit can generate some immediate concern for most new students.

 

[Afraid_of_Fish]

Hi Everyone..I'm a newbie diver and just completed my OW pool dives and will be doing my first OW dive this Sat, Aug 21. I am really nervous about descending too rapidly and not being able to equalize my ears fast enough as I'm going down. We never practiced in the pool how to slow your descent in case this happens. Help..I don't want to get over anxious on Sat and not be able to do this!!

I sometimes have trouble equalizing. Just don't worry, stay calm. No one is going to be pulling you down. Take your time and if you can't clear go up a few feet and try again. The instructor/dive master will take a little extra time for you to equalize. One thing to remember is if you can't equalize at 15 ft, don't try harder because it won't work, just og back up to 13 ft and try again, or 10 ft. No one will think any less of you . Good luck and Safe diving!

Cheers,
Jess

 

[Lulunew2scub]

To elaboreate more...All my confined water dives were in a pool 12 ft deep and I felt like I was descending OK, and my instructor said I was doing fine and to relax( I had got myself pretty worked up and nervous about equalizing). But equalizing finally became easier and now I'm just thinking about the OW and don't want to go too fast. We will be going down a line, and off the coast of Charleston SC to about 40 ft on the first dive and then 60 ft on the second. I guess I am just a little nervous about actually doing this in OW too!!

 

[mstudley]

We will be going down a line, and off the coast of Charleston SC to about 40 ft on the first dive and then 60 ft on the second. I guess I am just a little nervous about actually doing this in OW too!!

If my first two OW dives were to 40 and 60fsw I would be a little apprehensive myself. You're going to practice your skills during the dive right? Anyone else think this is a little deep?

The line should make your descent much easier. Getting comfortable without a line will come with practice.

 

[MikeFerrara]

We all need to keep in mind that many people take their confined water training in pools. Many pools aren't sufficiently deep enough, IMO, for a diver in training to experience the actual feel of descending in an open water environment.

A ten foot pool is a good start. It's not much of a descent for a 6 ft tall erson who's vertical but it works fo a diver who's horizontal especially if they're asked to demonstrate that they can stop midwater.

Many divers never understand or experience, fully, wetsuit compression until they're actively diving their first open water dive. The probable overweighted descent coupled with the sudden compression of the wetsuit can generate some immediate concern for most new students.

A heavy wet suit certainly complicates it a little but if a student isn't comfortable with it in the pool there's little sense going to OW, IMO.

 

[Lulunew2scub]

Yes, our instructor said we would be going through all the skills on the dive. I would also like to know if descending in a pool will feel any differently than descending in salt water. I know we are more buoyant in salt water, but does the feeling in your body at 40 ft, feel any different than 12 ft???

 

[MikeFerrara]

If my first two OW dives were to 40 and 60fsw I would be a little apprehensive myself. You're going to practice your skills during the dive right? Anyone else think this is a little deep?

The line should make your descent much easier. Getting comfortable without a line will come with practice.

40 ft is within the standards of most agencies for the first couple dives I think. I'd rather start a little shallower.

 

[Afraid_of_Fish]

Anyone else think this is a little deep?

Yeah, definetly. 40 feet for your first dive? No wonder you're worried. My first dive was.. 20 i think, or 15.

~Jess

 

[TheRedHead]

Many divers never understand or experience, fully, wetsuit compression until they're actively diving their first open water dive. The probable overweighted descent coupled with the sudden compression of the wetsuit can generate some immediate concern for most new students.

This may be a dumb question, but how deep do you have to go to feel wetsuit compression? Our pool is 15 deep and I'm not sure when that happens. I do feel that after the first 5 feet I can sink faster.

I can equalize my ears by holding my nose and swallowing. At first I was so concerned about not holding my breath that I couldn't do it. Until I realized that I was sinking and the air in my lungs was compressing and holding my breath for 5 seconds on the way down was not going to cause my lungs to rupture. Duh.

This board is a great source of comfort and inspiration for us divers in training!

 

[Afraid_of_Fish]

Yes, our instructor said we would be going through all the skills on the dive. I would also like to know if descending in a pool will feel any differently than descending in salt water. I know we are more buoyant in salt water, but does the feeling in your body at 40 ft, feel any different than 12 ft???

It's hard to say. At first I was so worried because I couldn't see anything (there was really bad vis. that day) that I didn't notice anything else too much. it's not too different, but your first dive in a wetsuit is always difficult. It can be ahrd to get the right weight, etc. I'm sure you'll do fine, just remember to tell your instructor if there's any problems.