I am taking my underwater class May 18-19 and a little scared. My boyfriend wants me to learn so I can dive with him. I am just scared to death, I want to learn for myself also, but want to make him happy also. He thinks diving is great, and I am afraid if I don't learn he will leave me on the beach. LOL He has plans to dive with another woman next weekend and I will be left alone on the beach, this makes me so nerves? Please give me some advise thanks all.
nerves about learning
- Thread starter jan_rose
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The most important factor is getting comfortable.
Comfortable in water, swimming, snorkeling etc.
Comfortable in equipment, including both fit and ability to use the equipment.
It is normal to be a bit scared. Breathing underwater is not natural for us humans. Some fear is a good thing. It keeps you alert and thinking of many different possible things that can happen.
Some of the things you are worrying about are simply not a problem. Some of the things you are not worring about are potential problems. Your diving instructor will teach you what you need to know and do to dive safely. If you are not comfortable about something in class, or even later in a dive, ask the instructor about it. The instructor's job is to get you safe and comfortable enough to continue learning this fun sport.
Remember, nobody is particularly attractive in full dive gear.
Comfortable in water, swimming, snorkeling etc.
Comfortable in equipment, including both fit and ability to use the equipment.
It is normal to be a bit scared. Breathing underwater is not natural for us humans. Some fear is a good thing. It keeps you alert and thinking of many different possible things that can happen.
Some of the things you are worrying about are simply not a problem. Some of the things you are not worring about are potential problems. Your diving instructor will teach you what you need to know and do to dive safely. If you are not comfortable about something in class, or even later in a dive, ask the instructor about it. The instructor's job is to get you safe and comfortable enough to continue learning this fun sport.
Remember, nobody is particularly attractive in full dive gear.
So true. Also, remember nothing about getting your Open Water certification is a timed event. Just because someone else in your class may do a skill faster, take your time. Once certified you'll also want to take your time --- so "stop and smell the roses sort of speak".
You had me chuckling over that one.... 'sides it's the only sport I know you can quite proudly admit you go out in public wearing rubber hehehehe
Jan_Rose - I'm glad you're saying you want to learn for yourself. Learning for someone else is not necessarily a good thing - do it for you.
I first trained in the '70's when dive gear was black and the jacket BC was a new-fangled tech item that had not caught on yet.
I used to say there were three types of divers.
1. People who wanted to go grab something to eat.
2. People who wanted to go look at the cool critters.
3. People who wanted a good excuse to wear that nifty rubber suit.
I used to say there were three types of divers.
1. People who wanted to go grab something to eat.
2. People who wanted to go look at the cool critters.
3. People who wanted a good excuse to wear that nifty rubber suit.
The best advice I can offer is to go slow. As DivingGal pointed out diving is not a timed event. Its not competitive. When you a scared its best to slow down. Especially in water activities its best to learn at your own pace. Whatever scares you underwater has scared all of us to some degree or another and people the world over have overcome their fears and you can also if you go at your pace.
Very best wishes for sucessful completion of your class.
Very best wishes for sucessful completion of your class.
Viv
Contributor
Congratulations on making it to this point in your diving career. Try not to be so hard on yourself about feeling scared. I felt exactly the same way when I started - it gets better as you gain more experience.
Also, don't worry about getting "left on the beach." My boyfriend and I both dive but we often don't dive together because (to quote pipedope) he's a "grab something to eat" spearfisherman and I'm a "cool critters" photographer. Even so, diving is still an interest that we share and we have a great time even when only one of us is diving and the other is providing "surface support."
You might want to consider joining a local dive club so that you can meet some other potential dive buddies.
Good Luck
Also, don't worry about getting "left on the beach." My boyfriend and I both dive but we often don't dive together because (to quote pipedope) he's a "grab something to eat" spearfisherman and I'm a "cool critters" photographer. Even so, diving is still an interest that we share and we have a great time even when only one of us is diving and the other is providing "surface support."
You might want to consider joining a local dive club so that you can meet some other potential dive buddies.
Good Luck
chrisnycdive
Guest
Equal to the sentaments of everyone else......we can all relate to your nervousness. It's common, expected, and VERY normal.
My interest in diving began w/ my b-friend as well. He is an avid diver, and w/ a general curiosity, I began reading his books, maganizes, etc. that littered his apartment. While I knew he'd be thrilled if I wanted to dive, never once did he pressure me, nor did I feel the need to do so for him. Like any other committment, it's important to do it for yourself, just as you said, and when you're ready. It was about 6 months after the initial idea, that I decided that diving was something I wanted to do. I was ready, and knew it was doing it for me.
The best part is....I love diving as much as he does (if not more...haha). And just like Viv said, I have my own dive buddies as well.
Best to you.....it'll be the time of your life!
My interest in diving began w/ my b-friend as well. He is an avid diver, and w/ a general curiosity, I began reading his books, maganizes, etc. that littered his apartment. While I knew he'd be thrilled if I wanted to dive, never once did he pressure me, nor did I feel the need to do so for him. Like any other committment, it's important to do it for yourself, just as you said, and when you're ready. It was about 6 months after the initial idea, that I decided that diving was something I wanted to do. I was ready, and knew it was doing it for me.
The best part is....I love diving as much as he does (if not more...haha). And just like Viv said, I have my own dive buddies as well.
Best to you.....it'll be the time of your life!
otter-cat
Guest
Diving can be scary, especially at the beginning, but it really is worth it! Your instructor will help you learn everything you need to know, and the best thing for you to do while you're learning is to ask LOTS of questions. Ask her/him about every little concern you have, even if it seems silly. Most likely he/she will have heard it before anyway, and can prepare you for how to deal with it, or assure you that it won't be a problem and why.
An important thing to remember when you start diving with your boyfriend is to make sure that you don't depend on him to take care of you underwater. It's OK for him to lead, but use your compass, too. Check all your gear yourself. Check his gear, too. And if you feel like you are getting into something you're not ready for during a dive, call the dive at that point. Trusting your buddy is a good thing, but always be independently responsible for yourself at the same time. Your boyfriend shouldn't pressure you into anything diving that you don't feel up to yet.
As has been stated multiple times, MANY people are scared at first, but if you ask questions and learn the skills in your class, you'll probably be able to overcome your fear, and safely enjoy one of the most amazing activities humans can engage in!
Hope this helps!
otter-cat
An important thing to remember when you start diving with your boyfriend is to make sure that you don't depend on him to take care of you underwater. It's OK for him to lead, but use your compass, too. Check all your gear yourself. Check his gear, too. And if you feel like you are getting into something you're not ready for during a dive, call the dive at that point. Trusting your buddy is a good thing, but always be independently responsible for yourself at the same time. Your boyfriend shouldn't pressure you into anything diving that you don't feel up to yet.
As has been stated multiple times, MANY people are scared at first, but if you ask questions and learn the skills in your class, you'll probably be able to overcome your fear, and safely enjoy one of the most amazing activities humans can engage in!
Hope this helps!
otter-cat
Originally posted by otter-cat
.....An important thing to remember when you start diving with your boyfriend is to make sure that you don't depend on him to take care of you underwater. It's OK for him to lead, but use your compass, too. Check all your gear yourself. Check his gear, too. And if you feel like you are getting into something you're not ready for during a dive, call the dive at that point. Trusting your buddy is a good thing, but always be independently responsible for yourself at the same time. Your boyfriend shouldn't pressure you into anything diving that you don't feel up to yet.
otter-cat
Of all the excellent responses, this is probably the most important. To be a safe diver, you and your buddy must depend on your skills, as well as his.
I just spent the last two days Divemastering in the pool. We had a boyfriend/girlfriend who were a total disaster. As long as she was buddied with the b/f, she was totally dependant on him. He was a nervous wreck, thinking he'd have the full responsibility of her in the water and as a result, was too involved with her to learn anything himself. I split them up today and both did reasonable well, but I have my doubts about their scuba experiences after class. He was as much at fault as she was, thinking his being the man meant he was the boss and she was unable to function without him!
Learn to dive because YOU want to. It's a serious sport and requires serious training, both during and after Open Water classes.
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