Scared newbee - need some encouragement

[deignor]

Since you all have been so encouraging, I knew I had to give an update. After my last class, I decided to take a hiatus for a few weeks. I was so nervous about diving, having trouble sleeping, anxious, etc. But this past Sunday, I got into the pool to practice skills with my fiance (who is AOW certified with 300+ dives). He was super patient and since it was one-on-one, I actually had time in our 2 hours to swim around and enjoy scuba. I was initially nervous but became more confident as I practiced and practiced. The hated mask clearing- I still don't understand how we can have computers, travel in space, and still have mask clearing be the way it is!!!
Anyway, practice made me more confident. I plan on another 2 hours of practicing in the pool- this time with a hood and gloves. My open water water dives will be in a quarry with full Farmer John, hood, and gloves so I want to see how it will be with a hood and gloves when it comes to 'mask clearing' and 'taking off the mask and replacing' in the pool.
I want to have an idea so I can do some visualization of me confident and calm doing my skills in the "COLD" quarry. And passing and becoming OW certified.
Thanks so much for your encouragement! I was a little taken back when I was so nervous during scuba class. I love to swim, the ocean, and water so I didn't expect to be anxious with scuba. Thanks again. I will let you know how the open water dives go- I plan on going this weekend or next!

 

[Scubalnks]

This may have been mentioned already in a previous post (I did not read them all) but here it goes anyway. I had a friend that got in to Scuba after I did and had similar mask clearing problems. A suggestion was made by a friend of mine on how to practice the clearing without dawning all the gear and having to be with someone else to practice.

Take your mask and snorkel to the short end of a swimming pool. Take a breath, go under water, partially flood the mask and try to clear it with the breath you have in your lungs. If you get scared just stand up and pull the mask off. Rinse and repeat until you can clear the mask when it is completely full of water in one long breath. Then try doing it staying underwater and just keeping your snorkel sticking out of the water using the snorkel to draw your breaths. This will get you use to having the mouthpiece in your mouth while doing this so when the regulator is there later it won't feel awkward and you will breath from it more naturally.

The benefits of this is you can carry your mask and snorkel with you in the car and stop at a pool or beach any time you want to without carrying all the other gear and still get to practice this skill at your convenience.

Hope this helps.

 

[deignor]

I completed my OW dives yesterday and today! So, I am OW certified!!! Thanks so much for your encouragement!
I had a great instructor for the dives. I was quite calm and had a good time. Quite a change from the nervous nellie I was before. The skills practice really helped my confidence!
Thanks

 

[ckharlan66]

Glad to hear it went well. Welcome to the world of diving.

Chad

 

[art.chick]

Surprised yourself, huh? There's a lot that goes into diving & almost nobody gets it all perfect the first time thru. But if you work thru your weaknesses, eventually the desire to enjoy the underwater world overcomes the fear. And the learning never stops. It's a lesson worth applying to other areas of life. Good job!

 

[cougar]

I lucked out...and except for a little discover scuba course I was fortunate enough to get to learn at 35 feet. I know this is counter intuitive, but I swear that mask clearing is way easier at 30 feet than at 18. Don't give up yet...you'll figure it out....it's worth it to swim iwth the fishes!

 

[Bubblez]

Been there, done that Just keep practicing. You might want to just go into the water with your reg in your mouth and without your mask and it will cure you of your fears.

My sister had me go into the ocean and just take my mask off in a few feet of water. After the initial sting of your eyes its fine. I was just nervous that if my mask filled up and I couln't clear it that I would panick. Her response to me was "if you have any problems, they can just as easily be cured at the bottom of the ocean so deflate and sit down and signal for help".

So many people have the same difficulty with the mask, you'll get past it. It's much like learning to swim, its scarey to put your face in the water until you do it a lot

Hang in there, you'll be hanging with the fish soon