Scared newbee - need some encouragement

[Walter]

deignor,

You could move...........but you have the right idea. Practice is always good for you. I practice my skills often. They are second nature to me because I've practiced them so many times. They stay second nature because I don't take them for granted. It's good to see such a positive attitude in a beginner. One to two months is a long time to wait. Your plan should keep you ready for your dives. Good luck and keep us informed. After you're certified join me on a dive or two. I enjoy diving with folks from the board.

 

[cougar]

You can't relax until you have laxed first. My daughter had dreadful anxiety problems between her first and second dive. I let the instructor know she had been up all night having panic attacks so he slowed down with her and let her take her time.

She still had some anxiety during her second dive...but now she's as cool as a cucumber andcan't wait to dive again. Don't be hard on yourself...Everyone has their own learning style and soemtimes you have to give yourself permission. To aleviate the anxiety...I would spend more time with my book and a lot of time playing in the bathtub with a mask and snorkel.

BTW...I never got the hang of mask clearing in a pool. (a discover scuba class and trying to practice on my own at the local hot springs pool)....My OW instruction all took place in the ocean...tried my first mask clearing at about 20 feet and no problem. Just be kind to yourself

 

[Ber Rabbit]

AHHH YES, the Recovery triplets! Your method is VERY similar to what we do. I know it's been done that way for at least 23 years at the university. A couple years ago my instructor found that requiring people to get the mask/snorkel recovery and clearing done was stressful so she started saying it was for 10 points extra credit. The success rate jumped and most people manage to get it by their 3rd try even though the pool is 14 feet deep. It's still a required skill, failing to get the extra credit is not an option but we've only had to actually tell that little secret to one student.

Deignor
You're definitely on the right track. The more time you spend in the water the more comfortable you will be. The more time you spend practicing your skills, the more competent you become. Don't let OW be the only class you take, continue your diving education any chance you get, that c-card is a license to learn and there are so many cool things to learn about scuba diving. One day in the future you may have your Dive Master rating. I know it sounds far fetched but if someone had told me 9 years ago that I'd be a DM and Instructor Candidate I'd have told them they were nuts! Well, here I am and if your life situation allows you to continue your diving you'll probably be in a similar situation. Stick with it, get all the pool time you can and keep us posted!
Best of luck!
Ber

 

[deignor]

Couldn't get pool time last night- they were doing a discover scuba class. My last class and pool dive is tomorrow night (rescheduled so it is not Easter Sunday). Hope I have the energy after work!!!
I can get pool time at least once a week after class is over and I plan on doing that until the open water dives. I just have to promise to stay in the shallow end while the current class is going on since I am not certified.
Everyone thanks for the encouragement. I think I may be the poster child for a really scared newbee who is going to overcome these fears and practice, practice to be more confident and safe. Who knows where this may lead me in 5 to 10 years?

 

[DivingGal]

Originally posted by Ber Rabbit
... One day in the future you may have your Dive Master rating. I know it sounds far fetched but if someone had told me 9 years ago that I'd be a DM and Instructor Candidate I'd have told them they were nuts! Well, here I am and if your life situation allows you to continue your diving you'll probably be in a similar situation. Stick with it, get all the pool time you can and keep us posted! Best of luck!

Ah yes.... when I started diving, I said "no more than 60, I'll be happy with just the OW rating". Then I discovered the fun, and with the knowledge that there was more to see beyond 60, I said "I want the training to go deeper". Now with multiple specialities, Rescue and DM under my belt, I'm considering (and being encouraged by my "mentor") to go on to Instructor.... it's a blast, it's addictive, it's great!

As Ber said, stick with it --- as long as YOU are enjoying yourself. After you get certified (the best kind that is), drop by for a visit, and I'll go diving with you.

 

[Walter]

My instructor still uses me as an example - the worst student he ever had.

 

[deignor]

So, to all of you encouraging divers- I had my last class and pool dive. I must be relaxing a little because I actually laughed at myself because it was quite comical. I was fine with taking off my BCD at the bottom and putting it back on. Then came taking off the weight belt. Took it off fine, was going to do the roll into it maneuver. Have it laid on the bottom, ready to go and realize I am literally vertical in the water. My head and hands are on the bottom messing with the belt and my butt and legs are straight up in the water. Can you tell where my buoyancy comes from?
Who needs a BCD to be buoyant, I am like a cork.
So, managed to get the weight belt back on. No way could I do the other method, I was so buoyant.
I got the roll-in-method down. Doing this on the surface was even more humorous - I was far from coordinated.
But I am planning on trying to get some private lessons and parctice a lot so when I do my open water dives it isn't like a Three Stooges Movie.
Thanks all of you!!!

 

[DivingGal]

Originally posted by deignor
So, to all of you encouraging divers- I had my last class and pool dive. I must be relaxing a little because I actually laughed at myself because it was quite comical. ...

Who needs a BCD to be buoyant, I am like a cork...

But I am planning on trying to get some private lessons and practice a lot so when I do my open water dives it isn't like a Three Stooges Movie.
Thanks all of you!!!

Ah laughter -- yup done that at my own expense quite a number of times. As for the buoyancy - I'm the same I float like a cork.

Great idea, to get those extra lessons and practise sessions. Particularly if your OW dives won't be for awhile. Remember nothing is a timed event, so take your time, do the skill assessments at your pace. I'm glad everything is turning out for you!

 

[art.chick]

You're moving right along! Those ditch & recovery exercises teach us a lot about how our bodies & equipment work in the water. I have "floaty feet" too, & at first spent a few dives with my head lower than my feet. Then I bought some ankel weights...1.5lb each, which also meant taking 3lb off my wieght belt!

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Glad to hear you're starting to laugh at yourself, you're definitely starting to chill out! BTW laughing will flood your mask too! Keep us posted about your progress as you continue to practice!
Ber