Newly certified and getting nervous

[lme17]

Hello,

I am a newly certified diver (November) and leave in a week for a cruise to Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, and Belize. This is my first post, but I have been reading threads like crazy trying to get advice on motion sickness, boat etiquitte, gear etc. All in all, I'm getting pretty nervous. I got certified in a very cold lake with low visibility. The dives were not that deep (maybe 25-35 ft max) or that long (20 mins each which is the minimum to be considered a dive). As a result, I'm pretty nervous about how my training will translate to warm ocean dives at 60+ft. I also don't know how much weight I will need etc. I did snuba twice last year in Belize and Cozumel, (I only mention to make the point that I have been down in the ocean) but obviously scuba will be quite different. I'm just looking for a little reassurance that I can do this whole dive thing for real and advice about how to make my first ocean dives successful. Many thanks!

 

[TSandM]

I don't know how your dive op will be where you are going, but I did my tenth dive of my life in Maui, after nine in Puget Sound. It was heaven! The instructor on the boat told me how much weight he thought I should carry, and it seemed fine to me. The excellent visibility, less confining exposure suit, and relaxing warm water made diving so easy in comparison to what I had been doing that I was absolutely amazed.

You'll have a great time.

 

[halocline]

Piece of cake, the visibility really makes life easier, and aside from the initial psychological adjustment, 60 ft is not much different from 35. As far as weights go, if you have access to a pool and can wear the same wetsuit you'll be wearing on your dive, you can get weighted in the pool before you go and then adjust for salt water; it's some percentage of your total weight with gear, but for me it's about 4 lbs added when I get in the ocean. This will only work if you're using the same kind of tank in pool and on your trip, probably an AL80. The pool session will also give you a shot of confidence before your trip. Have a great time!

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Relax. You'll do fine, and you'll have a lot of fun.

You'll get lots of other advice regarding your gear and your weighting.

My advice is take lots of sunblock. Nothing screws up a vacation like sunburn on the first couple days. Drink lots and lots of water. If you're diving, don't drink much alcohol at all...at least not on this trip. Anti-nausea compounds like Triptone or Bonine work great. If you're diving off a small boat and you've not done it before, take one pill the night before you go out and a second when you wake up the following day. Go ahead and eat a light breakfast. Fruit, toast and yogurt works well. Skip the caffeine. Fruit juice and water works great. Get where you need to be early and pre-pack. Nothing horks up a dive quite like pre-dive stress from being late to the boat, forgetting your whatever, etc. Listen to the dive brief.

You'll do great. Stop worrying.

Finally, take a camera...doesn't need to be real expensive. A good snap will last a lifetime.

Dive safe,

Doc

 

[Jafo123]

You will have the time of your life! One other thing I might mention is let your dive opp. know that you are new and need help in weighting and such. They are there to make your dive as easy as can be. Be sure to tip accordingly as to the help you think you received.

 

[spectrum]

What all the others have said! You trained under adverse conditions and what lies ahead is a treat.

To your concerns of etiquete and motions sickness, plenty to read here.

To longer dives, in the better enviornment wll make full length dives seem short, enjoy.

As for deeper dives, within appropriate limits going to 60 feet is hardly different from 20 feet, except you consume air faster, so keep a close eye on your gauges.

Your experience in asscents and descents is limited so keep the descents slow and watch your ears. Slow and gentle on the way up as well. Have no fear, in yoyr 20 foot dives you saw the greatest changes in pressure, after the first 20 feet it's a more gradual equalization.

On a cruise it sounds like you'll be doing guided excursions. Make your experience level known but don't relinquish your safety to any dive master or buddy. When in doubt get out and when your pressure gauge says it's time to surface it is time to surface. Just do as you have been trtained and you should be fine.

Have a great trip!

Pete

 

[MikeFerrara]

Some dive ops are better with new divers than others and some arrange dives that are more appropriate. I'd recommend doing a little research and make sure they know you're new.

The diving will seem much easier without all the heavy exposure protection added weight, cold and low vis. However, as you've already realized the dives may be deeper and clear water can be decieving. You'll also do through air faster at deeper depths. Do a search here on the board and do some reading up on gas management. It takes more gas to get up from 70 ft than it does from 20 expecially if you are sharing your air with some one else. Know how much you need in reserve to get you and your buddy to the surface.

 

[bikefox]

What everyone else has said. Relax, take your time, and enjoy. If you get all worked up you will not enjoy your experience. Trust me when I say I been on boats with people who have experience that rely on the DM to properly weight them and such. Make sure your gear is organized before hand so there are no last minute hang ups. Then just relax and breath easy. Most dive ops I been around are very used to new divers and will help make your trip a great one.

 

[Doc]

I am a newly certified diver... I have been reading threads like crazy trying to get advice on motion sickness, boat etiquitte, gear etc.

If you get sea sick, shift your oral scupper outboard of the leeward gunnel. (spew downwind and over the side- not into the wind or on the deck). Try Nilla wafers or ginger cookies (yuck) as a preventative.

Other than that, enjoy the pretty fish. Tell the DM whatever is troubling you BEFORE the dive begins and follow him like a dog, otherwise you will likely see nothing.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Make sure the dive leader knows you are nervous. He'll probably spot it but tell him you're brand new and he'll take care of you.

It's going to be easy, don't think about it so much. Have fun.