I hope these will be my biggest problems in life

[SeaHorseWoman]

OK folks, now that I've introduced myself and have LOTS of new friends, I can start getting down to problem solving.
I really did ALMOST get my OW, but 2, maybe 3 things held me back. One is that I can be a total space cadet when I learn something new. Hand signals. The ones in the book I have down pat, but you can't say everything with just those. Though we went over them on land, there were times in the water that I just couldn't figure out what he was trying to say. Am I alone in this? Guess I just need reassurance and practice???

Next, basic, but I haven't been able to clear my snorkle. Advice?

Also , I had trouble removing and putting back on my BCD on the surface (did OK under water). Open to all suggestions.

BarbaraSHW

 

[Kev's First Mate]

As far as hand signals go, those are helpful; but have you tried using your diving slate when you don't understand what the person is trying to tell you. I carry mine with me all the time, and it comes in handy. Also, I recently picked up a sign language book. I'd like my husband and I to learn it so we can use it under water.

Have you tried using a dry snorkel? I don't have a big lung capacity and have found that these are easier to clear.

BCD? Practice, practice, practice. If your local dive shop has a pool that you can practice in, I would suggest that you ask them if you can practice this in their pool.

Good luck! You'll get there.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Hand signals are a funny thing... There are some standard signals, but beyond that, it's whatever you and your dive buddy can agree on and use to communicate.

Clearing your snorkel: There are two ways to do it: One is to look towards the surface as you're coming up, and exhale through it as you're rising through the water. The other way is, once you get to the surface, give a forceful exhale and blow the water out of it the way dolphins do.

The easiest way I've found for donning my BC at the surface, is to inflate it enough so that it's buoyant, but not fully inflated. If you push down on it, you will be able to push it under the surface with no effort. Make sure your shoulder straps are as loose as you can get them. Push it down so that you can lie/float on your back and slip into it like a jacket. Then, while still lying back in the water, fasten your belly strap, chest strap, and cinch your shoulder straps down. Voila! For me, it's actually easier to don it at the surface than it is, underwater, so you're doing great.

Good luck!

 

[SeaHorseWoman]

The easiest way I've found for donning my BC at the surface, is to inflate it enough so that it's buoyant, but not fully inflated.Good luck![/QUOTE]

Thanks. I suspect I inflated the BC too much. I had trouble pushing it down enough to maneuver. I'll try this next chance I get.

I met the Horse Whisperer in Wyoming, happy to meet the Fish Whisperer, too

 

[spectrum]

Hi Barbara,

Welcome to the board and to this great sport!

Hand signals, especially last minute stuff can be tough. As you aclimate to diving you will be less loaded down with the diving and have more attention to work with. Right now you are in overload mode. My first dives were a blur. Just relax, concentrate and do your best. Keep breathing deeply. Most skills need not be done quick, just correctly.

Clearing your snorkel? Ever have a pea shooter as a kid? If you face upward as you clear the snorkel will be more horizontal and you won't have to launch the water vertically, that helps. Be sure to have a good deep breath to work with and always make the first breath tentative. If it's still a little wet catch your breath and blow again. You can breathe through a fair amount of bubbling if you are gentle.

Surface dons, as mentioned, just enough air to keep your rig floating on the surface. Make sure your straps, cummerbund, alternate and gauges are laid out wide so they don't get tangled. I needed to do a repeat for that sort of a mess. Remember that you are on your regulator and plan to be swopping underwater as you flip it on. Then kick back and buckle up.

These are pretty minor issues that I bet you can master with very little pool time. With a little thought you can probably do fine next chance out just with everyones tips.

It's an adaptation, be patient with yourself. Be grateful that you have an instructor with standards.

Pete

OK folks, now that I've introduced myself and have LOTS of new friends, I can start getting down toHproblem solving.
I really did ALMOST get my OW, but 2, maybe 3 things held me back. One is that I can be a total space cadet when I learn something new. Hand signals. The ones in the book I have down pat, but you can't say everything with just those. Though we went over them on land, there were times in the water that I just couldn't figure out what he was trying to say. Am I alone in this? Guess I just need reassurance and practice???

Next, basic, but I haven't been able to clear my snorkle. Advice?

Also , I had trouble removing and putting back on my BCD on the surface (did OK under water). Open to all suggestions.

BarbaraSHW

 

[Diver0001]

Everyone has ways to learn handsignals. What I found worked well was to just go through life normally and visualize how I would sign everything I was doing.

A couple of weeks of that and you'll improve a lot.

R..

 

[DivesWithTurtles]

... You'll get there.

... For me, it's actually easier to don it at the surface than it is, underwater, so you're doing great.

... Just relax, concentrate and do your best. Keep breathing deeply. Most skills need not be done quick, just correctly.
.
.
.

These are pretty minor issues that I bet you can master with very little pool time. With a little thought you can probably do fine next chance out just with everyones tips.

It's an adaptation, be patient with yourself. Be grateful that you have an instructor with standards.

... A couple of weeks of that and you'll improve a lot.

Just thought I'd repeat some key stuff here.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Thanks. I suspect I inflated the BC too much. I had trouble pushing it down enough to maneuver. I'll try this next chance I get.

They tried to teach us this trick of swimming into the BC from the top and then flipping it over our backs, in my OW class. Egad... I think most of us nearly drowned ourselves! LOL

I came up with my method of surface donning after a lot of trial and error on my own, at the pool. The trick is to lie back so that it seems like you're using the tank as a float, underneath you. The more vertical you are in the water, the more difficult it is, so try to lie back. It's like lying down on your back and shrugging into a coat. You'll get it.

I met the Horse Whisperer in Wyoming, happy to meet the Fish Whisperer, too

I suppose the main difference is, the horses listen to the Horse Whisperer. I whisper to the fishes, but they just don't care... Sad, really... :11doh:

 

[hvulin]

Also , I had trouble removing and putting back on my BCD on the surface (did OK under water). Open to all suggestions.

BarbaraSHW

(In the water...) Put enough air in it so it floats, than put it behind you and sit on it! Find your straps, put your hands in and just slip off the BC - it will be on you!

 

[DiverBuoy]

... Hand signals. The ones in the book I have down pat, but you can't say everything with just those. Though we went over them on land, there were times in the water that I just couldn't figure out what he was trying to say. Am I alone in this?

You are not alone. I am not affiliated in any way with --> this organization SeaSigns <--- but I highly recommend them, they have a course for all modern agencies, great videos and flash cards, much easier to learn than you can imagine. More and more instructors are becoming familiar with their materials, and dive buddies are learning them too. There is always underwater slates and wetnotes too.