Scuba_Bree:
I guess the reason I want to dive a RB is the same as everyone's - it's something different, to experience new things, to get closer to marine life without scaring them off with bubbles...
Obviously a SCR won't allow me to go deeper/stay longer/save on gas, but they're not important to me at this stage in my diving. I don't think I'm diving the Dolphin "for the wrong reasons", I'm certainly not forcing myself to dive it to "save face" or anything like that. And since I don't feel at ease on it, I haven't dived it since the course, so I'm not doing anything daft.
I don't know about y'all, but when I did my OW training I certainly wouldn't have felt at ease being at 180', but now it's a piece of cake. I'm thinking it's similar for RB's - it's new, and it'll take a bit of getting used to. I know the first time I had to flood my mask in my OW course I freaked, now having it kicked off my face or ripped off in training dives is a mere annoyance. That proves to me that it is possible to train myself to feel more comfortable with things which used to worry me.
For those who told me I am "an accident waiting to happen", that was pretty unconstructive... just because I may feel uncomfortable does not automatically mean I'm a candidate for a Darwin award.
I appreciate all the views expressed so far, and if anyone else has some ideas for how to get more comfortable I'd appreciate hearing them. I'm going to take things really slowly, and if in a month's time I'm still not "there", I'll re-evaluate how important it is to me to beat this thing.
ScubaBree,
I am both an IANTD Instructor Trainer and an Inspiration Instructor, and I mention this only to indicate what my focus is for the comments I would like to offer, if I may?
(1) In regard to your reasons for wanting to dive an RB, I note that you are a fairly experienced OC diver, judging only by your cert list. Your reasons, as given, for wanting to dive an RB are valid and good. "New experiences" are pretty much the central reasons that we ALL dive! Getting friendly with fish and turtles is another major reason! Yes folks, it is true. Fish ARE friendlier when you are diving an RB!!!!
(2) As to feeling at ease on any rebreather, the simple truth is that rebreather diving IS very different from open circuit diving. Even if you are very experienced at OC diving, it WILL feel very different. If this does not make you feel at least a little uneasy, then you are not paying attention. The true experts at RB diving, (and here I refer to such men as Richard Pyle, Tom Mount, Joe Radomski, etc.) tell us that if you start to treat RB diving as casually as some do OC diving, then TRULY you ARE an accident about to happen.
(3) As you have noted, good training, practice, and a steady growth in your experience level are all elements in obtaining a well-deserved feeling of comfort in what you are doing.
(4) The problems that can occur with rebreathers can be very subtle. If you do not train yourself to be vigilant, to watch for and know the signs and symptoms, it can be a very gentle way to die. I would like to think that those who made the comments you refer to were trying to keep you alive. It's just that their message was, perhaps, stated a bit too harshly.
(5) Most of the populace has not, fortunately for them, had much experience with death in its rawest form. Others, such as EMT's, police officers, ER Docs, military folks, and firemen, for instance, have all too much experience with it.
As someone who is also a DMT and police officer, and who has been in combat in the military, I can tell you that it will affect you, but you find ways to deal with it and go on. (If it does not affect you at all, then you are one scary psychopathic scumbag, and we do not need you on our team!) The after-event counselling referred to by others in this thread has turned out to be a good way for those involved in such situations to "vent" in an accepted manner, and then get their caca in one pile, and go on with the mission with a clear head and proper focus.
(6) If, due to your particular circumstances, you feel extremely uncomfortable diving an RB, give it a rest for a while, go back to straight OC diving and enjoy yourself. This is not a race! This is supposed to be a sport you do because you enjoy it. Give yourself some time to get some emotional distance, and then go back to your SCR unit when YOU feel ready. As Fin's Wake correctly pointed, these units are tools to do a job, not cultural icons.
As Mr. Natural used to say: "Get the right tool for the job, kids!" Enjoy yourself! Dive safely, and live to enjoy your diving for a long, long time!
BJD :anakinpod
