Scared after a bad dive

[Flipmode85]

Thanks for all the replies. Much appreciated! It gives me a good positive feeling that with practise i can overcome my fears.

And like inselAffe said its a experience i now have.

I also switched to a GUE set up and gonna follow a GUE fundamentals course in 2017.

 

[ScubaJill]

@Marie13

I also do know that if i train enough out of air situations and mask take offs i will be more relaxing.

I just hope that the panicky feeling and rapid breathing i sometims get for no reason will go away after some time.

I did not have that problem in the beginning,but after the incident.

My suggestion if you get that panicky feeling and rapid breathing without anything that precipitates it: focus on one thing, whether it be a small part of a wreck or reef or fish, for a minute or so. Add more time if needed. This should stop your panicky thoughts from cascading out of control and give you time to get your breath under control. Over time, you should be able to start recognizing the beginnings of any panicky feelings and deal with them at the start, by turning your mind to something else, rather than have to deal with those thoughts once they are - or seem to be - controlling you. I would watch your task loading, too.

 

[chillyinCanada]

For reducing panic not related to an actual incident, it's best to focus on your breathing. Concentrate, slowly out, slowly in, slow ly out, slow ly in. Repeat repeat

 

[diver0008]

What is your certification level?

How old are you?

 

[Flipmode85]

Open water. 32 years old.
Almost 100 dives in total.

 

[diver0008]

Consider taking the AOW, or maybe a refresher. Get your confidence back.

 

[Stoo]

I think it's important to understand that you did NOT have any equipment failure as some of these posts suggest. What you experienced was diver error... and that can be fixed with practice and more practice. And then more practice... And don't beat yourself up over it. I was diving with a new friend two weeks ago. She rolled off my RHIB sideways (which works well) but she managed to knock her mask off and get a snoot-full of water. She's an experienced cave diver, trimix diver and has done quite a few dives. And she pretty much went into full on panic mode, and failed to do fundamental things, like inflate her wing more... It was all fine, but it was a bit surprising to watch.

So as others have suggested, get an "expert" buddy and practice the heck out of basic skills and get back to diving with confidence...

 

[CT-Rich]

It never hurts to game through in your head "what would I do" moments on a dive. I'll review how to do a regulator recovery in my head or mask clearing. Instead of thinking about the possibility of the problem, think about the steps to the solution. Anxiety is in your head, so replace it with the steps needed to get the solution. Practice is great, but finding a a focal point ( like slowing and controlling your breathing, doing drills in your head) will get you away from the bad head space. As long as you have air to breath you have time to stop and think.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Yes! To echo CT-Rich, that's a mantra! And I share it with my newbie friends/buddies. As long as you have air to breathe, you've time to figure things out. Yes, in your instance, you'd misplaced your reg but you weren't starving for air yet at that point. Do practice sweeping your arm for recovery etc.

I recently jumped in for a negative entry swimming hard to catch up to my group. I was at 15' when I realized I'd jumped without my reg in my mouth. LOL one simple sweep and that was remedied. From now on I'll be remembering not to be talking as I jump. Doh!

 

[Buliwyf]

Stay shallow and get more experience. There ain't nothing deep worth seeing if you aren't ready to see it. Most of the good stuff is well within range of a shallow CESA.

What if you get tangled in a line or rope, and knock your mask off, and lose your reg in the struggle? Can't CESA or panic to the surface then. Panic stinks. Nothing else that you have posted is a problem. It's OK to be nervy after failing a panic.

Try to practice everything on those easy shallow dives. I get bored during safety stops. So I'm doing valve drills, mask clearance, get the knife out and get it back with no mask on, all kinds of stupid looking stuff. Even though I let my instabuddy know this before hand, they still freak a little sometimes.

I guess I look like a newb doing that. Weird that more experienced divers don't practice.