Help with descending slowly on first OW dive?

[Afraid_of_Fish]

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!

Like I said, sometimes i have trouble equalizing, and I found it's easier if you try to blow out through your nose while pinching it.

You sink faster when you're deeper because the air in your BC get's compressed (not that there's much of a difference at 5 feet). Just try not to think about it too much. Once you start concentrating on the exercises and stop thinking about how scary it is being that deep, you feel fine.

 

[mstudley]

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[mstudley]

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

Within the standards but maybe not such a good idea? It's probably OK on many levels but if anything it may intimidate new divers on their first OW dive and help to cause other problems.

 

[Lulunew2scub]

Yes, I agree with you Redhatmamma...I really appreciate all the help I've received from the experienced divers on here. It has helped to ease my nervousness for this first dive. I have my own wetsuit, thank goodness (3 mil Henderson Hyperstretch) and it is wonderful. I have never felt the feeling of wetsuit compression yet?? Thanks again to everyone for all the tips!

 

[Xanthro]

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.

That's exactly how my first two open waters dives went. 37' and 57'.

Finished all the open water skills on the second dive, except for BCD replacement at surface, and by the third dive a current had kicked up, so that will be done on the fourth dive.

We did the emergency ascent from 35'.

I guess it's unusual, I thought it was normal.

Xanthro

 

[Sideband]

You also don't have to let all your air out of the BC at once. Relaxe, breathe and slowly let the air out of your BC. It takes a few tries to get it right (it also depends on how deep your descent will be) but I can usually let just enough air out to descend and not have to add any/much to get neutral at depth.

How do you manage to be negative at the surface and then neutral at depth without adding air to the BC? Your suit is compressing and so is the air in your BC. Both decrease buoyancy. If you were negative to start then you are even more so at depth. (assuming you are talking more than a 10' or so dive and you aren't breathing totally off the top of your lungs to compensate.)

Joe

 

[Xanthro]

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???

If you have a line, it should actually be easier to descend. You can pull yourself down the line, and use the line to hold while you equalize.

I find the first 15 feet the hardest to equalize, after that it's much easier for me.

Just go slow, relax, and try to enjoy.

On my first OW dive, we didn't do any skills, just swim around for 24 minutes, it was very relaxing and very fun. Plus, you got to concentrate on enjoyment, without having to worry about the skill practice.

If you can sink to 12 feet in the pool and equalize, you'll be fine in the open water.

You'll have a blast, and you'll be back on this board telling everyone how much fun you had.

Xanthro

 

[Xanthro]

Question, when I did my confined water, eventhough it was over 100 degrees outside, I had to wear a 7mm wetsuit, because that's what we would be using in the open water.

Did people get to do their pool work without a wetsuit?

If so, I can see how that would add a level of concern in your open water dive. Any additional new element causes nervousness.

Xanthro

 

[Damselfish]

We did most of our pool work without a wetsuit, except for using a hood and gloves for part of it to get used to those.

 

[mstudley]

How do you manage to be negative at the surface and then neutral at depth without adding air to the BC? Your suit is compressing and so is the air in your BC. Both decrease buoyancy. If you were negative to start then you are even more so at depth. (assuming you are talking more than a 10' or so dive and you aren't breathing totally off the top of your lungs to compensate.)

Joe

Good point, but like I said it depends on depth. Sometimes the depth to which I initially descend isn't necessarily the max depth of the dive and frequently isn't.

Don't get me wrong, I still have to add air when I get to the bottom/depth but not much. My main point was you don't have to let -all- the air out to descend.