Nervous In The Water

[Fishinghawk]

I took my open water tests and passed in Catalina last weekend!! I have a question though, I was really nervous the 1st dive but calmed down on the 2nd and 3rd. The following day I had one more dive to do and I was just as nervous as I was on the 1st dive, maybe even more so. I had to really work to keep myselft calm. Is this normal and does it eventually go away? I really loved being under water with all the fish swimming around..


Any input would be nice

Thanks
Jeff

 

[DandyDon]

Yeah, I think it's kinda' normal. An unfamiliar environment, different controls & skills to master, a potential for danger. I think I remember happening to me now and then, and to others more, but you get better with skill, practice, and comfort.

Now that you're Certified, you may want to fill out your Dive Info, which you can access from the Quick Links menu above.

Congratulations!

don

 

[underwater daphne]

it's normal. i was really nervous before my rescue course in lake zurich as i had only dived in a lake once before and it was a horrible experience. anyway the course was really fun and the things that happened on my first lake dive didn't repeat themselves. so after a while i wasn't nervous anymore and it was a good experience.

you're learning something new, that's a lot of work for your mind. like driving, it's prolly second nature now isn't it? but it wasn't always that way.

 

[Jim Ernst]

hey just a word on that, i also was very nervous on my first few dives and felt some sort of small panic attacks, it will pass and you will find more fun and comfort in all, good luck

 

[opiniongirl]

I took my open water tests and passed in Catalina last weekend!! I have a question though, I was really nervous the 1st dive but calmed down on the 2nd and 3rd. The following day I had one more dive to do and I was just as nervous as I was on the 1st dive, maybe even more so. I had to really work to keep myselft calm. Is this normal and does it eventually go away? I really loved being under water with all the fish swimming around..


Any input would be nice

Thanks
Jeff

Totally normal, and yes, you will start to relax. Some folks feel more apprehensive on dive #4 if that is the dive they do their mask removal and replacement, or another skill that they are thinking about.

Sounds a bit silly, but sometimes it helps to visualize yourself diving - your breathing pattern, buoyancy adjustments, buddy contact, etc. If you do this before you go, or during a surface interval, you might find it helps to keep you relaxed.

The other thing to keep in mind, is to swim at a relaxed pace - sometimes it can be hard to keep up with a group or class who are going too fast, diving with a smaller group allows you more control over your dive, rather than simply having to be mindful of following.

Congratulations on earning your certification card!

 

[CBulla]

I took my open water tests and passed in Catalina last weekend!! I have a question though, I was really nervous the 1st dive but calmed down on the 2nd and 3rd. The following day I had one more dive to do and I was just as nervous as I was on the 1st dive, maybe even more so. I had to really work to keep myselft calm. Is this normal and does it eventually go away? I really loved being under water with all the fish swimming around..


Any input would be nice

Thanks
Jeff

This is going to sound funny, but even after doing this most of my life (only have about 56 logged dives since I started keeping track after getting certified ) I still always seem to have that mildly edgy feeling in the first few minutes of the first dive. I don't think its a nervousness as much as it is the excitement of being under in a different environment. If its somewhere I dive regular its not as bad since I am in a routine.

A recent example I can site is diving in Pompano a few months ago, it was a nice easy drift dive.. I wasn't even spearing or anything.. just going to enjoy the scnery and float along. I did my math and knew that an hour dive was well within my limits, however 15 minutes into the dive I realized that I was a few hundred pounds ahead of schedule and would have eaten into my safety zone at the current rate. I did a quick check and realized I'd been just like a kid in a kid in a toy store - all bug eyed and happy and breathing like I had run a marathon! As soon as I relaxed, my breathing rate dropped to what it should have been and I finished my dive right on the numbers.

What do I do to prevent this usually? I do little check lists in my head - a routine if you will. The usual gear up checks, throw my buddies gear over board, etc... once I'm in the water waiting for them to gear up I go over all my gear again: Air on (reach back and check valve, guage, primary reg), straps adjusted right, mask leaking at the right rate, speedo adjusted right.... then after the descent and we're at the bottom I double check to make sure my buds mask is easy to take off, pull his dump valve to screw up his bouyancy, etc., then I make sure all mine is adjusted right again.. things change at depth you know. At that point my buddy and I confirm that we're on the square and level and we proceed with our dive plan.

OK.. I don't really mess with my buddy that much but you get the idea. The routine helps establish something familiar even when your not diving in some place that is.

 

[GDI]

When you get a chance to , go to the ocean in CA and pick a shallow spot and you and a friend should practise all your skills. Do this until they become not second but first nature in response. By the way the friend should be a DM or a instructor. After this you may feel more comfortable< try the skills in a neutral buoyant trimmed posture, that is flat out, not on the bottom

 

[Buoyant1]

I was nervous before I did my 2 resort dives back in July, but the best advice my friend gave me was "remember, you were out there with just a snorkel last year, this time you have TANKS!" and I was fine once I jumped in...

The funny conversation was:

Dive boat captain:

Ok, just jump in

Me:

Where down there?

DBC:

Yep, that's where all the cool Sh#@ is

Me:

Ok...here goes nothing....Geronimo!

Splash!

I had a BLAST!

 

[DarkWaterDiver]

You'll get less nervous the more you dive, just stick with it and practice your skills with your dive buddy. Brief your plans prior to diving and de-brief after you complete each dive. Talk with your dive buddy often before and after.

Your nervousness will subside with time and experience. Also if you take sudafed or any of the decongestants, some of the side effects are nervousness.

Congratulations on your OW certification and I'll see you around the board.

Tim

 

[waterkitty]

It's normal. Although, I haven't been diving much since my cert, I know how you feel. I should be going soon enough though.

But like you said, once you were down there, it got much better. Just relax, remember your safe diving techniques and you'll be fine. It seems that everyone's been there!

Have fun!