I can't do this - Please Help!!!

[palmtreefreak]

Hi everyone,

I am new to scuba diving and just completed my OW confined dives and classwork. The only thing left is my OW cert dive, scheduled for this weekend. A little bit of background: I had trouble with clearing a flooded mask and taking my mask off. I worked at home, sitting in the tub with a snorkel and no mask, and was able to do that just fine, without panic or inhaling water through my nose. My instructor worked with me and I was able to take off my mask and put it back on and clear it twice during class.

Well, today I went to my friend's pool with my snorkel and mask to practice a little more before going for my cert dive tomorrow. It was a disaster. First of all, without my weights I was floating all around. I tried to wedge my knees under one of the ladders to keep my face submerged and I still kept drifting towards the surface. I wasn't able to even get to the stage where I flooded my mask. Attempts in shallower water yielded much the same result. I always managed to inhale water through my nose, couldn't seem to relax.

Ok, this has really bashed my confidence. I even called the dive shop to see if there was a way to get certified privately, and there's not. My instructor is supposed to call me back this evening to talk aobut this. Bottom line is - I don't feel comfortable and I don't think that I should waste my time on the cert dive tomorrow. But, if there's no way to get certified privately in the foreseeable future, I doubt very seriously that I will EVER get certified. I'm very discouraged, and feel like I wasted my time.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I really don't know what I'm going to do.

Diana

 

[epconti]

Hi, Diana.

I think the answer that will help you the most is much more easily said than done. And that is to just relax while you're doing everything. Maybe tonight, just try taking long, deep, slow breaths in and out through your mouth. Kind of like a sigh? What would be ideal is while doing that, you fall asleep and are all rested up for tomorrow. Good luck. And remember to have fun!

Eric

 

[gfisher4792]

Diana,

First off, relax (I know it's tough, but it is key), and know that when you're doing this for real, you'll be weighted down, probably kneeling in sand, and definitely won't be floating around, fighting your buoyancy while trying to take off your mask. Oh, and you'll have your instructor with you, helping you if needed.

If you have time tonight, I would go back start small again, working in your tub. Gain some confidence back. Tomorrow, if possible, go with your instructor into the shallows, bend or kneel down, and practice flooding your mask (this will also help you acclimate to the colder water that will hit your face).

You haven't wasted your time; your just experiencing what many others have experienced. Do a search here on mask flooding, and I'm sure you'll find dozens of threads on the subject. You're not alone.

 

[xSandman3]

I dreaded mask flooding and removal too, and thought I'd never be able to do it in open water. When it came time to do it, I just concentrated hard on reminding myself to breathe through the regulator, not my nose. Before you know it, it's over and done. I know it's easier said than done, but try and relax...don't panic! If you mess it up the first time, try it again.

Best of luck.

 

[Hank49]

Hi Diana,
Don't feel bad. A lot of people are very uncomfortable removing and replacing their mask. Have you tried laying face down in your tub, breathing through a snorkel with no mask on and your eyes open? Then when you get back in the pool or open water try clearing a partially flooded mask over and over again. Remember, you can breath so there is no danger when you take off your mask. Piece of cake. You'll get it wired. All the best, Hank

 

[Wristshot]

and Sandman.

Walter posted a real nice response to someone a few years back that had a similar problem. Others have used the "Walter Technique" and say that it works for them.

It is the third post in this thread:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171

Sorry that I don't know how to make this a better link in a post.

Hope it helps,

Wristshot

PS: If this does help you, be sure to thank Walter!

 

[getwet2]

I doubt very seriously that I will EVER get certified. I'm very discouraged, and feel like I wasted my time.

Everyone has already offered good advice so all I can add is.....

YOU CAN GET CERTIFIED

IT"S NOT A WASTE OF YOUR TIME!

It will only be a waste of time if you quit now, ask your instructor if maybe you can do your certification dive at a later date with another class while you practice. Don't give up now or you'll never get to see what you've been missing all your life!

P.S. Welcome to the board by the way and remember, if you think you can't you won't, if you think you can you will.

 

[ToiletBomb]

All good advice and I think I can honestly say that if there is a skill that frightens new divers most it is the mask removal. You are not alone in your inability to do it =). Most people cannot do it and are not expected to without some practice.

What I always like to remember when diving and encountering something that I am not always completely comfortable with ... "I have air, life is good"

and good luck =)

 

[Sideband]

First, Keep at it and you WILL be able to do it. If that is your only stumbeling block then you are doing good. Even if you aren't ready for this weekend it is no big deal. Practice some more and do it the next weekend, or the next. If you feel that you want to do this then stick with it. I'm one that was scared of mask clearing. I followed a modified version of Walter's process and got through it. You can too.

Secondly, who are all of you people that can fit into the bathtub such that skorkel use is possible? I don't even want to imagine the contortions that I would have to go through to manage that. I know as soon as I tried it some family member would magically appear with a video camera just chomping at the bit to send it into Funniest Home Videos.

Joe

 

[Hallmac]

Are you trying to clear the mask while looking up?

Instead try looking slightly down. Close your eyes and start chanting relax relax relax. Then flood the mask from the TOP. Don't pull the bottom out.

Seal the top from temple to temple and exhale steady. DON"T try to blast the water out. You will get rebound inhalation as you reach the bottom of your exhale. Instead just exhale and when you are almost at the end stop and pause slightly. Give your brain a half second to switch from nose breathing to mouth breathing. Take a breath, slight pause, and exhale. Half way through open your eyes your mask should be almost totally clear. When just a little water is left look up towards the surface and exhale the rest. Your mask will be clear and no water will enter your nose.

Biggest problem I encounter with students is they look up way to soon!

Hallmac