Nervous

[miketsp]

First thing to do is to stop reading Scubaboard until you complete your course.
We spend a lot of time analysing, in great & gory detail, situations which very rarely happen.
The chance of a fatal accident during training and checkout dives with an instructor is practically zero. Certainly lower than the risks of driving around any reasonable sized town. Your instructor will only take you out to open water when he thinks you're ready.
Trust your instructor, talk to him and only come back here when you've got your card.

 

[spectrum]

Vince,

Sounds like a lot of good advice from experienced folks above. I'd lake to add a few things. First let me say that in 6 months me and my wife are going to be in your shoes though right now I don't share your anxiety. We did a lot of snorkeling this summer and it helped her a lot. Poor visibility or when the bottom was simply out of sight bothered her, she got a compass and focuses on navigation when she's not comfortable and is fine that way. We head out to islands that are 1/4 mile offshore in the ocean and twice that on lakes and we're used to not being able to get right out of the water, even if the wind picks up. These things may not fit your situation but they may give you some ideas about coping.

Another thing I learned a long tome ago and I tell it to my daughters is that don't worry about something being beyond you until you've had the training and it's your time to do it. I'm not sure how much pool time you have left in your classes but perhaps it will click to the comfort level before you set foot on the beach.

Meanwhile as mentioned keep your instructor informed and trust your gut.

Pete

 

[fmw625]

Froemost, It's your right to abort any dive you don't feel comfortable with wheather it be a certification dive or another dive later!

 

[Scuba_Vince]

Thanks for the good advice, I have told my instructor about my fears right from day 1 he said that the open water dives will be in a lake, I just want to be extra sure that im safe underwater im not the kind of person who looks for danger. But scuba diving is something wich I always wanted to do and i do want to get over my fears. At least I got some good advice from you guys.

Vince

 

[Snowbear]

I too was anxious (and excited!) about my OW cert dives.
Once I submerged in that 36F water, looked around in awe, realized I would soon get to explore this new world..... I was hooked :07:

If I had a choice in the matter, drowning would not be my preferred way to die (or make the news!) But as Pug said, I can think of a few worse ways to go. It might help these folks trying to help you if you could tell them if there's something specific you are afraid of - sharks? current? panic?

OW dive sites tend to pretty safe locales... you get to seek out the more challengine places later on after you're certified

 

[ArcticDiver]

Vince:

Your first post looks more like normal Performannce Anxiety than anything else. Sure there is the usual fear of the unknown thrown in. But basically what you wrote tells me that your primary emotion is what we call Performance Anxiety.

Performance Anxiety is a normal reaction to wanting to do your very best but not being sure you are up to the task. This is not only normal it is very, very good. Put another way what you feel is That You Care Enough To Do Your Best.

The rest is the usual Fear of The Unknown. All normal people have this emotion. But lots of people have learned to dive without injury. I expect you will too.

Is diving for you? No one can say until you have completed training. Some folks are hooked the first pool session. Others, like me, fall in love with the sport during their Open Water checkout. Others do the entire cerfification course and then say: "That was nice. I can do it. But it isn't for me." So I recommend you do your class: Trust your instructor: Hold off making a decision until you have the C-card in your hands. Then make a decision.

Good Luck

 

[goodknight411]

Not trying to be negitive here, but something to remeber.

If your not ready for the open water dives, its not the end of the world. Just spend some more time with your instuctor and in the pool. Take your time. When you feel comfortable then do you OWs. There is no good reason to rush it.

 

[Foo]

There is no good reason to rush it.

Very wise words. Your instructor should want you to feel totally comfortable before trying your open water exams. Take your time, relax, continue to practice, there is no rush. Don't put that kind of pressure on yourself. There is noone timing you as to how quickly you finish the course, and it matters not at all if you're a fast or slower finisher. What matters is that you finish! You can do it, just slow down and practice until you're completely comfortable. Best wishes!

Foo

 

[Scuba_Vince]

First of all thank you all for your advice, I will take it slowy and practice and practice in the pool untill I want to go outside. I have only 1 question left how come if diving is
a safe sport that there are still fatal accidents are those divers all dare devils or not safe enough

 

[The Kraken]

The same reason people get killed while driving, accidents . . .
Keep in mind, you are in a hostile environment.