Newbie needs a little reassurance

[littlecodfish]

I've been reading this board for the last hour and have found in quite useful. My hubby and I have our 4th attept at completing our PADI OW dives this weekend. Each other time, we've aborted during/after dive 1 or 2 because of one or more of:
- tiredness/out-of-shapeness (we've both lost a bit of weight since last attempt in November, so that's good)
- equipment misfunction (fins came off)
- freaking out (on my part - a combo of frustration over manouevering with the dry suit mitts and claustrophobia over too-tight hood)

We're both decent with the skills. Hubby is more comfy underwater than I am, but in the pool we both do well with regulator removal/replacement, mask clearing/removal, swimming maskless, breathing, etc.

I'm just worried that we're holding the world record for most tries without achieving our cert. Has it taken anyone here or those you know so many tries? Our LDS has been super patient and supportive and the instructor with us this weekend will be great. I'm just a little nervous, in part because I find the drysuit cumbersome and had a hard time physically removing my mask with it on (I have short arms), and in part because of our previous attempts have me believing something else will go wrong. Wet suit is not an option - think cold NORTH Atlantic (Atlantic Canada).

Thanks for letting me ramble!

 

[sandshaker]

I think you need to just be patient. Just relax and go with the flow. Don’t over think it. Just go in relax and have fun. If it doesn’t happen for you the next time, so what. Try…Try…again. The more you think about it the more stressed you will become and success might not happen. Good Luck

 

[rmannix]

You're working in difficult conditions so don't feel so bad. If you were in the Tropics you probably would have finished the first time around.
Remember,
SCUBA diving is DANGEROUS and should NEVER be attempted by ANYONE, ANYWHERE.

 

[Sasquatch]

Practice, practice and then practice some more. The more familiar you get with the procedures the more comfortable you'll get and the easier they will become.

Log some more pool sessions and specifically work on skills. Nobody will let you put yourself in harms way while under the supervision of an instructor. The rewards are worth the extra effort.

Good job on losing the weight, too. That helps. Stay fit. Pool time and increase cardio, (walk, hike, stairs, etc.) and you'll notice the payoff in your diving comfort.

Sea ya!

Smith

 

[Sasquatch]

Oh!

Welcome to Scuba Board!

 

[Green_Manelishi]

My input in bold

I've been reading this board for the last hour and have found in quite useful. My hubby and I have our 4th attept at completing our PADI OW dives this weekend. Each other time, we've aborted during/after dive 1 or 2 because of one or more of:
- tiredness/out-of-shapeness (we've both lost a bit of weight since last attempt in November, so that's good)

you can be wickedly out of shape and not overweight. get in shape first off and lose the weight. then resume the SCUBA

- equipment misfunction (fins came off)

how did that happen? is the equipment not properly sized? If that's the case it needs to be properly sized

- freaking out (on my part - a combo of frustration over manouevering with the dry suit mitts and claustrophobia over too-tight hood)

a too tight hood goes back to "misfunction". What the h***? poorly fitted equipment can make someone lose composure. become accustomed to the exposure protection; you don't have to like it but if it's not fitted properly it will cause or aggravate problems. however once you are in shape and the equipment fits, you might still freak out. And if that's the case, then perhaps diving is not the sport for you.

We're both decent with the skills. Hubby is more comfy underwater than I am, but in the pool we both do well with regulator removal/replacement, mask clearing/removal, swimming maskless, breathing, etc.

I'm just worried that we're holding the world record for most tries without achieving our cert. Has it taken anyone here or those you know so many tries? Our LDS has been super patient and supportive and the instructor with us this weekend will be great. I'm just a little nervous, in part because I find the drysuit cumbersome and had a hard time physically removing my mask with it on (I have short arms), so do i but fortunately my arms are long enough to reach my head. are yours? you'd better become accustomed to the suit and in part because of our previous attempts have me believing something else will go wrong. Wet suit is not an option - think cold NORTH Atlantic (Atlantic Canada).

Thanks for letting me ramble!

 

[Meng_Tze]

My advise is to focus on the task at hand...... you will get tasks to follow, and follow those in sequence. This way you are able to turn efforts into sucess.

check equipment, hit the water and float, decend slowly, adjust bouyancy and drysuit, settle in, wait for tasks to come.

For instance: mask removal. Think it through before you do it. It helps to take a few breaths before doing it.

Breathe, grab mask, slowly open seal and wait for water to flow in, breathe in and out untill you feel comfortable. Then remove mask slowly. Replace mask, breathe a few times, exhale through nose to clear. Give okay signal.

This way you break up tasks to manage them.

This approach has worked for me.

Another thing to keep in the back of your mind is.... as log as you have a reg in your mouth, you can breathe, the rest is just environmental and you are okay.

Good luck, and let us know.....

 

[Dean810]

I haven't met too many OW cert candidates that start right out in a drysuit, so I tip my hat to you for that. Those that start out wet have less equiptment to deal with and so less to worry about. The suit sounds like the biggest issue here, which doesn't suprise me. This means that you plan on diving locally, which is great! Quite a few divers can't think past the Carribean!

You are willing to keep at it, so that's most of the battle. Make sure your stuff fits and work on taking it easy. Some newbies try and go too fast, and get messed up by that. Nobody will be holding a stop watch to you.

It looks like you are well on your way!

 

[Doc Intrepid]

I'm just worried that we're holding the world record for most tries without achieving our cert. Has it taken anyone here or those you know so many tries? Our LDS has been super patient and supportive and the instructor with us this weekend will be great. I'm just a little nervous, in part because I find the drysuit cumbersome and had a hard time physically removing my mask with it on (I have short arms), and in part because of our previous attempts have me believing something else will go wrong...

First, its time to let go of the worry. You and your husband are doing this quite likely for many reasons, which may include to spend time with one another, to find an activity you both enjoy together, to explore something wondrous, to get in shape, or any combination of these plus a hundred other reasons. It really doesn't matter how you compare to anyone else. It's your life and you're living it the way you're living it, and thats fine. Don't worry about how quickly anyone else completes or fails to complete a certification course. It's irrelevant. Let go of it.

Second, it IS a holistic experience. In other words, getting in shape physically, dropping weight, eating the right foods, increasing cardio endurance, taking long walks together, all this contributes to being better divers. Diving adds to your life in countless ways, but this is certainly one of them if you choose to pursue these benefits.

Third, give yourself some credit - it is far more difficult to relax and focus on skills when you are encased in a drysuit, clumsy mitts, heavier weight requirements, and immersed in freezing cold low vis 40 degree water than it is when you're wearing only a swimsuit or a skin, in bathtub warm, clear tropical water, very little weight, and feel nearly completely unencumbered. I hope that one day you'll have an opportunity to experience the tropical environment so you realize how completely foreign it is compared to the extreme cold water environment. Still...its preferable (IMHO) to get certified where you live and where you'll do the bulk of your diving - that way the warm ocean stuff is such a treat!

Forth, it really is all about mental relaxation. Getting in shape physically will help tremendously, but you need to get your mind in shape also. 'Freaking out' underwater is not prudent, and moreover...it can be construed as a choice. To choose to NOT freak out is to mentally prepare yourself to perform what needs to be performed. One technique you can try is visualization - sit in a chair and get comfortable, close your eyes, then imagine yourself performing each of the tasks you will need to perform, and doing them perfectly. Ask your instructor whether extra pool time is possible. Yoga or Pilates may help. Some divers use meditation. Anything you can do to relax your mind and body, reduce anxiety, and 'rehearse' your moves mentally until you're comfortable with them will help you in performing underwater well enough to complete your certification.

Take it easy. If you're willing to work at it, it will come when it's time. And you will be a far better diver for having taken the time to prepare yourself mentally and physically to perform well underwater. Welcome to ScubaBoard.

Best,

Doc

 

[redacted]

I've been reading this board for the last hour and have found in quite useful. My hubby and I have our 4th attept at completing our PADI OW dives this weekend. Each other time, we've aborted during/after dive 1 or 2 because of one or more of:
- tiredness/out-of-shapeness (we've both lost a bit of weight since last attempt in November, so that's good)
- equipment misfunction (fins came off)
- freaking out (on my part - a combo of frustration over manouevering with the dry suit mitts and claustrophobia over too-tight hood)

We're both decent with the skills. Hubby is more comfy underwater than I am, but in the pool we both do well with regulator removal/replacement, mask clearing/removal, swimming maskless, breathing, etc.

I'm just worried that we're holding the world record for most tries without achieving our cert. Has it taken anyone here or those you know so many tries? Our LDS has been super patient and supportive and the instructor with us this weekend will be great. I'm just a little nervous, in part because I find the drysuit cumbersome and had a hard time physically removing my mask with it on (I have short arms), and in part because of our previous attempts have me believing something else will go wrong. Wet suit is not an option - think cold NORTH Atlantic (Atlantic Canada).

Thanks for letting me ramble!

My wife & I certified together 10+ years ago. My wife had never even snorkled and was uncomfortable with the training. In a pool swim while sharing air exercise she got a reg with a bad mouthpiece but got thru the air water mix only to fall apart at the end of the pool when it was time to switch rolls. The wife of one of the instructors took her aside and did a wonderful job of calming her down. My wife opted to continue and finished the course. The instructors wife had been working on getting certified for a couple year but was not yet ready for her OW dives. Some folks take a little longer than others. More important than just getting thru it is getting thru it comfortably to become a confident diver. Take all the time you need.