Hi from Tennessee

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glbtrekker

glbtrekker

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Just wanted to say hi to everyone! My wife and I are considering taking up the sport of SCUBA, so I am sure that we will have a lot of questions before it is over. Currently, I am gathering information and considering improving my swimming skills. My wife grew up with a pool and is a good swimmer, I on the other hand tend to do go to make it from one end of the pool to the other :D. Therefore, I've got to overcome my negative buoyancy and improve my swimming skills before we take the plunge [no pun intended]. Anyway, I'll be lurking around and readying a lot I'm sure so that I can learn more. Thanks.
 
Hi to you and welcome from South Africa!! I hope you and your wife will take the plunge soon. Scuba diving is a great sport and gives a new dimension to any holiday.
 
Welcome to the board from Savannah Ga. I am swim coach among other things if you would like some help I my have a drill or two. But just get in and relax....that is the best advice. You have a hard time probably because you are tensed up. I never have a student not pass do to the inability to swim. I have had to spend time with them away from class, and I have had some non swimmers come through....just relax and practice. The current difficulty you see as H2O is in the head. "Really" Once you get past it you'll be good to go. So get started.
 
Thanks to all for the welcome. My family and I live in a little town called Spring City which is about half way between Knoxville and Chattanooga on Watts Bar Lake.

PePaw, I know where Clarksville is, I guess you are about 4 hours NW of my location. I was there a couple years ago for a meeting.

Capt. Walt, thanks for the encouragement and yes, I would love to have some advice. Even if we decide that scuba is not for us right now, I know that I need to improve my swimming skills. Probably most of my problem is that growing up I never became comfortable with water. Even as a teenager, when I would spend a few days on the lake during the summer, I never progressed to the point that I could swim more than say 100 feet or so. The problem is...I just give out, after swimming the length of a pool once (freestyle) I feel like I've just ran a marathon. Could be that I am "tensed up" as you suggest, in fact I suspect now that it might just be.

As a teenager and younger adult, I was 5'10" and 125 pounds. Needless to say, I floated about as well as a rock. Treading water is something that I have never learned to do and can only stay upright for maybe 30-60 without either going forward, backward, etc. Since then, I have gained about 40 pounds and can now float somewhat on my back (still can't tread water), although, I do have to slowly move my legs in order to keep them afloat.

Anyway, that's where I am. I hope to improve my swimming skills this summer (no indoor pool within 30 miles) and then perhaps I'll "take the plunge." I know that I do not need to be a competitive swimmer in order to learn scuba, but I do want to at least be able complete the swimming test for my own confidence and safety.

One final question, I have had pretty severe allergy problems all my life. As of now, they are not as bad, but do flair several times a year lasting from a few days to a couple of months. Would this prevent me from being able to dive?

Thanks.
 
Hey glbtrekker,
I'm a terrible swimmer. I first took a diving class in my mid 30's and it actually helped me get more comfortable in the water. I guess learning to rely on my gear, and learning the emergency procedures in case something goes wonky increased my confidence to the point that I don't worry so much about my poor swimming skills.

Don't get me wrong, swimming is important, and I am one that needs to improve my basic technique, but I do just fine with my fins, mask, tanks, etc.

On an unrelated note....I moved away from great diving (Puget Sound) a few years ago, so I've only been diving once in the past three years. Now, I'm looking at a job opportunity in your area (searching for Spring City is how I found your post!) and was wondering if that big old lake to the east of Spring City is a good place to dive? I've considered selling all my gear to someone that would get better use out of it....but I'm hoping there is good diving in Tennessee.

For what it is worth, I'm really glad I learned to dive. It may sound silly, but to me, when I'm underwater, I feel like I'm in space or something. Where else can you hover around weightless...hanging out with fish?

Also, the knowledge that you are well trained, and your gear is well maintained, and your dive is well planned....and your dive buddy trusts you with their life is a cool feeling as well. I find that kind of situation very invigorating for some reason. It truly is thrilling for me. That's why I'm hoping you report back that Tennessee has some great diving!!

Anyway, sorry for running on. Good luck with your scuba adventure!

Larry
 
welcome aboard
 
stratboy:
Hey glbtrekker,
I'm a terrible swimmer. I first took a diving class in my mid 30's and it actually helped me get more comfortable in the water. I guess learning to rely on my gear, and learning the emergency procedures in case something goes wonky increased my confidence to the point that I don't worry so much about my poor swimming skills.

Don't get me wrong, swimming is important, and I am one that needs to improve my basic technique, but I do just fine with my fins, mask, tanks, etc.

On an unrelated note....I moved away from great diving (Puget Sound) a few years ago, so I've only been diving once in the past three years. Now, I'm looking at a job opportunity in your area (searching for Spring City is how I found your post!) and was wondering if that big old lake to the east of Spring City is a good place to dive? I've considered selling all my gear to someone that would get better use out of it....but I'm hoping there is good diving in Tennessee.

For what it is worth, I'm really glad I learned to dive. It may sound silly, but to me, when I'm underwater, I feel like I'm in space or something. Where else can you hover around weightless...hanging out with fish?

Also, the knowledge that you are well trained, and your gear is well maintained, and your dive is well planned....and your dive buddy trusts you with their life is a cool feeling as well. I find that kind of situation very invigorating for some reason. It truly is thrilling for me. That's why I'm hoping you report back that Tennessee has some great diving!!

Anyway, sorry for running on. Good luck with your scuba adventure!

Larry
Click to expand...

Always glad to hear of others moving to our area. The lake is close by...it's less than a mile from the center of town and it is used for a variety of recreational opportunities, but mostly fishing. I haven't heard of anybody diving in it though, I suspect the visibility would not be very good. However, there are a number of other areas within a couple hour's drive in which people do dive including two quarries. Since, I don't dive yet, it's hard for me to give you specific information, but there's not a lot in the area for diving.

Anyway, if I can answer any other questions about the area, please let me know and good luck in the job search!
 
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