Should I get certified?

[ChrisA]

Hi, I'm new to this board but have been reading messages for the past few days and just wanted to see if anyone had any opinions on my situation:

So I've been scuba diving exactly once, about 2 weeks ago when I went on one of those "Discover Scuba" things in Grenada. I'd never even been snorkeling before this, but had always wanted to try diving. I can pretty safely say that I was "the nervous one" in our group of 4. Freaked out and surfaced the first time we had to submerge all the way in the pool, freaked out and surfaced again when I couldn't equalize my ears in the deep end, then freaked out one last time going down the line off the dive boat when I realized that a bunch of water was coming in through my regulator. They told me it was normal, so I went ahead and did the dive (and swallowed about a quart of seawater along the way, but I guess that's "normal"?). The dive itself was amazing, but I was still, well, a little nervous for most of it, and by the end (we were down for 30 minutes), I was definitely ready to come back up.

So, here's my question: Should I get certified? I really felt like I was excessively nervous (my boyfriend did everything with no problem), but am still attracted by the idea of diving. Is this anxiety something that I could expect to get over once I get some more practice, or is it just something that could make diving more dangerous for me in the long run? I've been thinking about certification a lot since we went, but my boyfriend thinks I'm crazy considering what a wuss I was about the whole thing - so I just wanted to see if anyone else could offer up some opinions, experience, etc., to help me out? Thanks...

You will get over the nervousness with proper traing and experiance. But it does take both OW certification is just the first step.
So don't worry about that part given time scuba diving will seem "natural" and swimming about under water will become just one of those things you do all the time.

The question you have to answer is is you think you will 1) enjoy it and 2) have enough time to dive frequently

You could get into it slower. Buy some "prsonal gear". That's a mask, fins, snorkle, exposure suit and try snorkling. Figure you will have to do it a while 'till you become comfortable in the water. Then if you find yourself wishing you could go down deeper and stay down longer go for the scuba certification. But if you are finding that yu really don't like it why go to the next step? Really this goes back to question #1 in above paragraph.

BTW. No. It is NOT "normal" for water to leak into a regulator. It may be "normal" for that dive operators junk rental gear but should not happen in well maintained gear. Also it looks like the quality (as well as quantity) of training you got was a bit below standard You can find better nearer to home.

 

[Kayla]

Hi there! I was a pretty nervous diver to start wih too.... if your interested, PM me and I would be more then happy to share my experiences with you!

I defenetley think that you should get certified. Hardly anyone is comfortable at first, and expecially having to deal with a reg like yours.

Find a dive shop that is willing to work with you, tell them your concerns, let them know what you're thinking, and I bet that you will love it! (However, if you don't... don't force it! Diving isn't for everyone!). Keep us updated on what you decide to do!


Safe diving!
Kayla

 

[Kestrell]

Water in your regulator is not normal.

Only you can say for sure if you should get certified.

I will say this though, my wife was 10X worse than you were and now I can't get her to stop.

She used to surf when she was younger but wiped out (ala Greg Brady) and almost drowned. Ever since then she has been terrified of water.

Anyway, when we were in Mexico on vacation she was afraid to snorkle in the cenotes (water filled caverns), but overcame that eventually, and decided to do a discover scuba course a few days later. Well she didn't do too well in the pool, but did well enough to get through it. However once she hit the water inside the reef was when the real fun started. She was on the verge of sheer terror. She didn't think she could do it at all. I swear she almost became the first person to walk on water in over 2000 years. Once she settled down (relatively speaking) she did really enjoy herself even though she never went deeper than 6-7 feet. The experience stuck with her though, and a few months later she was signed up for her OW course. She initially had some trouble but got more and more confident each class. Now she loves diving and is really very proud of herself for the accomplishment of becoming certified and overcoming her fear.

Come on; do it!

 

[MSilvia]

To have done as well as you did while diving with a wet regulator for your first time is a real accomplishment. That you're still even considering getting certified at this point says to me that you absolutely ought to go for your certification. With good instruction and good equipment, I think you'll be pleased with how much less stressful you find it!

 

[jbd]

I agree with MSilvia's comments. Search out an instructor that suits you. Look into course content and training time. IMHO class size is also important. Smaller is better, again IMHO. A small class(4-6) or even a private or semi private class might be better for you. TRy to find something with at least 12 to 15 hours in the pool/confined water.

Water in the regulator is not normal, as the others have noted, even for a cheap, junky one. The regulator or mouthpiece was defective and in poor repair. IMHO, these people unnecessarily put you in a high risk situation.

 

[rainbowangel]

I'm new to diving as well (I'm going this weekend for my OW checkout dives *crosses fingers*). My first dive was a Discover Scuba thing in the USVI. It was amazing (and thankfully less problematic than your experience) and I was immediately hooked...

I'm with everyone else here, though... If you managed through your experience... and you still are interested in getting OW certified, more power to you! And definitely go for it!

 

[pennypue]

I just got certified in Cozumel at the end of May. I am amazed at the stories of bad experiences. Mine was fantastic. I was on vacation and got into the tank to try it. I loved it. So I went from the Mayan Riviera by bus to the ferry in Playa del Carmen to Cozumel. And no, no one was with me. Other people from my hotel, yes, but my girlfriend does not swim, at all. I was bored, what can I say? Those first two dives had me hooked. I went back to the resort and spent the rest of my week finishing my course. It's easy to read in the sun with a drink in your hand!!!! I was very carefully taught to dive THEN drink. My final dives were with some very experienced divers who were pretty well impressed with my neutral buoyancy. I think having a private instructor who was not only excellent (and is now my favorite dive buddy) but who was able to focus on me and my learning pace really made a difference for me. I would be bored with a slow progression and waiting on the co-student that couldn't get the skill.

I just returned from Cozumel on the 16th. I wised up on stayed on the island. I had carted my 13 year old, almost 14, daughter down to learn (jr OW). She's like me, a fish. And she is, unlike me, more reserved. I wanted her to have a personal experience. AND most importantly, I did not want her diving in a quarry for her first experience. I wanted to be sure she was instantly addicted. She was. We saw TWO seahorses on each of her first two shore dives. A red one, and a black pregnant one.

Now if I can just figure out how to get her into a wetsuit! She hates them. Wouldn't wear one in the ocean and backed out of a cenote because of it too. (Mom didn't!)

While some people might like a group experience, I like to go at my own pace.

 

[rrunyan]

If it's YOU that wants to dive, get certified. If it's someone else that wants you to dive, tell them to take a hike.

If you do decide to get certified here is the best advice I can give, the three most important things in learning to dive are: instructor, instructor, and instructor. Instructors come in all shapes and sizes. Shop around for the instructor that will work best with you. Talk with them about your experiences. If they aren't willing to give the extra effort you might require, blow them off and find someone who will. You will learn the skills needed with any instructor, but an excellent instructor will make learning a wonderful experience.

Just my two cents.

Ron R.

 

[manders440]

Thanks for all the replies and encouragement and advice - I'm definitely the one who wants to dive, and I always have, so it's really good to hear that I'll probably be able to get over my initial nervousness with more comprehensive training and a good instructor. Also good to know that it's *not* normal to have water seeping in through my regulator - I had a feeling, since it's hard to believe that anyone would enjoy diving much if drinking half the ocean every time were part of the package. In any case, I think I'll go for it! Thanks again for all the responses.

 

[Walter]

Make sure you take a class that inclyde confidence building skills and takes 3 or 4 weeks to complete. You want to take your time and learn it correctly.