open water dive worries

[SueMermaid]

I was petrified, too. Petrified. For about 10 seconds, then when I looked up and saw what was in front of me, I never got scared again. I think if you are not at least a little scared, you are probably a little looney. ut:

Try not to psych yourself out before you even do the dives. You will probably find that 40' doesn't really feel any different than 5', except it's a lot easier to control your buoyancy.

Have fun, try to relax and enjoy your dives, and do let us know how it goes.

 

[radagalf]

So far, all the posts above are bang on. As an instructor, I do have one piece of advice though.

The night before you are going to do your dives, if you can get yoru gear together, you can practice the skills. As you will be diving Vancouver Island area, it will be cold and you will be wearing a lot more exposure protection than what you would wear in the pool.

Recommendation: practice it with your equipment on, on land first. Get to know your gear better.

Most students find it hard to manipulate things with the gloves on their hands, and the decreased ability to hear due to the hoods we wear. So try wearing your mask, hood, gloves, boots, and have your fins handy. Try donning your fins, and tightening them up with your gloves on. Also, try removal and replacement of your mask with your gloves on, and remember to brush away the hair, get your mask skirt under your hood etc.

Finally, last piece of advice. Most gloves have some velcro band on them to keep them tight. Don't lay this band so they are directly in line with each other, lay them diagonal to each other, or across. This way, when you get out of the water, you will have a corner of the velcro band to grab and be able to undo your gloves yourself, unlike many who don't do this.

All in all, a little practice beforehand may save you a lot of anxiety during your dive and allow you to enjoy them more and be able to look around you at what is out there.

Good luck!!! and more importantly, Have Fun!!!!

 

[FSUgly]

AS soon as you get under the water, all those fears will go away. The instructor will have your full attention, unless of course there is much to see where you're doing your check outs And as long as he knows you're nerves have you a little worried, he will keep you right by his side.

Good Luck and Have Fun!


Tom

 

[annie]

When I read your post, my first boat dive experience came right back to me. We did our confined water dives in the sea but in shallow water and i had no problems. In spite of this, I was so nervous before the first boat dive I thought I was going to get sick from sheer fright. All was ok as soon as I was in the water. If you have some specific worry definitely talk about it but you should feel more comfortable when you get in and submerge. good luck.

 

[Scottri]

It's been my experience that you are not alone. My advice is if the staff you are working with are good you will always have someone within arms reach and they will keep you safe. A little fear is normal and healthy. You will do fine. Remember that none of the skills are a timed deal. Take your time, breathe and try to relax. If you get really scared stop, close your eyes, take a deep breath and then continue. The instructor and DM's are used to it and will help. If you don't complete a skill the first time just try again. I've helped a lot of people that were scared and I really admire the ones that overcome those fears. For some it's really easy, others have to work for it. Just because it was hard doesn't mean you won't make a good diver.

Good luck and hang in there!

Scott

 

[jepuskar]

Perfectly normal thoughts...its great that you can express them. If you feel extremely nervous before the dives, talk to your instructor..let him know.....its ok to do this. Tell him your thoughts and listen to his response...this should really help.

We have all been there before.

Good luck and make sure to post here when you get back home.

 

[brizzolatti]

KNow what you're feeling. But I found that it was a lot easier in the ocean than in the pool. Compared with the pool, which felt confined and too shallow, the ocean was spacious and there was room to move! I felt much freer. You might find the same. Good luck.

 

[plsdiver4377]

I was fairly apprehensive on my first OW ocean dive, drained an 80 in record time. This wasn't the case in the lake only in the ocean. But if your training is there you shouldn't have any problems (other than being an airhog ). So from a relative newbie as well, relax and have fun, it anly gets better.:hi: