I can't say enough about the patience of our instructors. There were only 3 ladies there for cert. Once in my class and another lady who was in a previous clas. On our first dive, we really STUNK!! The lady from the previous class had problems and did'nt make it to the platform with us. The other lady and I made it to the platform line no problem. The problem began when we were trying to descend the line. We were both so scared we weren't able to descend. My legs were tucked up behind me and I'm laid out horrizontal. Just couldn't figure out how to get vertical and go down. It was wierd. I didn't feel scared and wanted to go down but my body had other ideas! After a short rest break we both finally made it to the platform. Did a couple of skills with no problems then we got to swim around a while which really helped us relax.
Second dive we did a swimming ascent which was much easier than going straight down. I sure am glad the instructors knew where they were going. Because by this time vis was 10ft or less. We did the oral inflation of BC but this time I couldn't stay on the bottom. Instructor had a spare weight pouch and put it in for me. This helped some. Made it through full flood and clear no problem.
Now for the torture test. Take mask off. I have waist length thick hair that I pull on top of my head and I keep the mask rather tight I think. Ok so I struggle to get the strap loose. Took a breath from reg. Flood mask and remove from face. Ok I am thinking I can breath like this. Wrong! Somehow I end up with water in my mouth. It's not up my nose. I try blowing out reg and take a breath. I get a little but more water too. Also I am starting to float a bit again and snce my eyes are not open and I can't see it doesn't help one bit. I have my hand on my nose and am trying to regain faith in the reg. Why I never thought to push it in farther or push the purge button I don't know. I felt someone grab my bc to hold me down and this helped me relax a bit because I really wanted to stay down and recover. Finally the brilliant idea hits me to at least quit holding my mask and get it back on my face. Still should have pushed the reg back in a bit so it would quit leaking but I am still getting air just not enough to really help me relax. Rip mask back over head and start clearing it. Next thing I know I feel a tap on my mask and instinctively open my eyes. Guess what! I can see! After a couple of breaths an caughing still I give the up signal. I really want to go up and catch my breath. Instructor says ok and we ascend slowly to the top. Ok I have managed to push reg back in and am starting to relax and then we are at the surface. I still don't realize that I got the mask back on and cleared. Instructor is great and tells me that I did it and kept my cool when having problems. (It sure didn't feel like cool to me!) I think the only thing I did right was not bolt for the surface.
Instructor really must be psychic though because just at the instant the though occured to me that this is it, I'm not comming back and doing this anymore he very calmly said lets go back down to get my buddy. We did with no problems and back on the platform we did our CESA. Wen't back down to get the other lady and then swam back to shore. I am totally exhausted but the thought of not doing this anymore is gone now. I am still fighting the fear bug of what would happen if I were on a real dive and my buddy wasn't there to have helped hold me down so I could recover. Hopefully once I get more practice in a removing the mask and get better buyancy control it won't be so much of an issue.
The biggest problem I had with the mask removal skill I think was the fact that I got water in my mouth and lost faith in the reg. Got to remember to push reg back in a bit if I get water in my mouth. I also have a new mask strap. This is the one with the releases right behind your head. I didn't put it on for open water because I didn't want to change anything from the CW. I can't say enough about the paitience of the instructors and the encouraging words from them for us. I am sure we will go down as the worst class ever. But hey we have to look on the bright side. My class mate and I stuck it out, conquered our fear, made it through some skills and will head back this morning to do it all over again!
Second dive we did a swimming ascent which was much easier than going straight down. I sure am glad the instructors knew where they were going. Because by this time vis was 10ft or less. We did the oral inflation of BC but this time I couldn't stay on the bottom. Instructor had a spare weight pouch and put it in for me. This helped some. Made it through full flood and clear no problem.
Now for the torture test. Take mask off. I have waist length thick hair that I pull on top of my head and I keep the mask rather tight I think. Ok so I struggle to get the strap loose. Took a breath from reg. Flood mask and remove from face. Ok I am thinking I can breath like this. Wrong! Somehow I end up with water in my mouth. It's not up my nose. I try blowing out reg and take a breath. I get a little but more water too. Also I am starting to float a bit again and snce my eyes are not open and I can't see it doesn't help one bit. I have my hand on my nose and am trying to regain faith in the reg. Why I never thought to push it in farther or push the purge button I don't know. I felt someone grab my bc to hold me down and this helped me relax a bit because I really wanted to stay down and recover. Finally the brilliant idea hits me to at least quit holding my mask and get it back on my face. Still should have pushed the reg back in a bit so it would quit leaking but I am still getting air just not enough to really help me relax. Rip mask back over head and start clearing it. Next thing I know I feel a tap on my mask and instinctively open my eyes. Guess what! I can see! After a couple of breaths an caughing still I give the up signal. I really want to go up and catch my breath. Instructor says ok and we ascend slowly to the top. Ok I have managed to push reg back in and am starting to relax and then we are at the surface. I still don't realize that I got the mask back on and cleared. Instructor is great and tells me that I did it and kept my cool when having problems. (It sure didn't feel like cool to me!) I think the only thing I did right was not bolt for the surface.
Instructor really must be psychic though because just at the instant the though occured to me that this is it, I'm not comming back and doing this anymore he very calmly said lets go back down to get my buddy. We did with no problems and back on the platform we did our CESA. Wen't back down to get the other lady and then swam back to shore. I am totally exhausted but the thought of not doing this anymore is gone now. I am still fighting the fear bug of what would happen if I were on a real dive and my buddy wasn't there to have helped hold me down so I could recover. Hopefully once I get more practice in a removing the mask and get better buyancy control it won't be so much of an issue.
The biggest problem I had with the mask removal skill I think was the fact that I got water in my mouth and lost faith in the reg. Got to remember to push reg back in a bit if I get water in my mouth. I also have a new mask strap. This is the one with the releases right behind your head. I didn't put it on for open water because I didn't want to change anything from the CW. I can't say enough about the paitience of the instructors and the encouraging words from them for us. I am sure we will go down as the worst class ever. But hey we have to look on the bright side. My class mate and I stuck it out, conquered our fear, made it through some skills and will head back this morning to do it all over again!
) When you go diving work some skills practice into your planning i.e talk to your buddy about stopping along the way and doing one or two of the skills. Maybe mid dive do a mask full flood maybe at the end of the dive do an air sharing excercise while stationary. Build on these skills in small steps as you gain proficiency. Take some time to really focus on hovering motionless in a horizontal position for several minutes. When you nail this you will find that you are very relaxed and comfortable.
