Hi there. I'm a beginner learning to dive in the beautiful but frigid waters of Vancouver, Canada. I attempted to certify this weekend and couldn't, and I'm devestated. I'm about 5'7 and 110 pounds, and I'm wearing a neoprene drysuit, 36 pound weight belt, 20 pound tank, and about 10 pounds of other equipment. The problem is that by the time I get in the water, I'm so exhausted that I can't do any skills. I'm really frustrated and bitterly disappointed, and would love any advice anyone has to give, since I'm not ready to give up yet! Thank you!
Unable to do skills - help!
- Thread starter sprinz
- Start date
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Green_Manelishi
Contributor
sprinz:
How old are you? How were you able to progress to this point? Were all your pool
sessions (assuming there were any) done in warm water with only a bathing suit?
What type tank are you using? If it's an alumibomb you should switch to steel and
remove some weight from the weightbelt.
Regardless of anything else ... time to hit the gym and build yourself up or forget
about diving.
Sorry to hear about your problems, but, I'm very pleased you are not ready to give up. You shouldn't. I do not have all the information I think I need, but would it be fair of me to guess that you are rushing to get your gear on and get in the water? It sounds like it.
If that is the case, take your time getting kitted up. Sit down and rest between each step. Once you have your gear on, sit down and rest again. Then stand up and go to your entry point. Rest again until you are ready to enter the water.
If you are doing a shore entry you can walk into the water and sit down in the shallow part and put your fins on, usually the most difficult part of the exercise. Then inflate your BC and roll into the water until you float.
Now you get to rest again. Don't be in a hurry to do anything. This is recreation and the instructor will not rush you. Nobody will hold anything against you for taking your time.
My .02 worth.
If that is the case, take your time getting kitted up. Sit down and rest between each step. Once you have your gear on, sit down and rest again. Then stand up and go to your entry point. Rest again until you are ready to enter the water.
If you are doing a shore entry you can walk into the water and sit down in the shallow part and put your fins on, usually the most difficult part of the exercise. Then inflate your BC and roll into the water until you float.
Now you get to rest again. Don't be in a hurry to do anything. This is recreation and the instructor will not rush you. Nobody will hold anything against you for taking your time.
My .02 worth.
Xanthro
Guest
That seems like way too much weight, 36lbs is a huge amount.
You are carrying over half your body weight, that's a lot to handle.
Try and lose some of the weight off the weight belt.
Plus, remember, it's not a rush to get under water. That weight on land is much less in the water. Once you are on the surface, relax and get your breathing under control. Then descend to do your skills.
The same thing happens on boat dives. People rush to get into the water, and are out of breath and have a hard time. It happens to lots of people so you are not alone, just remember that relaxing is your friend.
Xanthro
You are carrying over half your body weight, that's a lot to handle.
Try and lose some of the weight off the weight belt.
Plus, remember, it's not a rush to get under water. That weight on land is much less in the water. Once you are on the surface, relax and get your breathing under control. Then descend to do your skills.
The same thing happens on boat dives. People rush to get into the water, and are out of breath and have a hard time. It happens to lots of people so you are not alone, just remember that relaxing is your friend.
Xanthro
Green_Manelishi
Contributor
Quarrior:
Simple math shows the gear weighs at least 50% of her body weight.
I think "rushing" might be less of a problem than simply lacking the strength and
stamina to carry the gear.
When I was a wee lad I had the same problem. I'm no taller than I was but I am now more than 50 pounds heavier and considerably stronger.
When my wife was first certified she also became very tired before she was even in the water. The next year I insisted she start exercising several weeks before her dive season began. She had no problem with the gear that year.
Hit the gym.
Some Questions first before I can give suggestions?
How did you do on the pool sessions?
In the pool were you in a drysuit as well or just in your bathing suit?
How much weight in the pool? Steel or Alumin tank?
What kind of entry into the water? shore, boat, dock? giant stride, backward roll, walk in? Rough seas, waves, surge, current, any stressfull or physicaly demanding factors related to getting in the water?
Are you out of breath or just too tired to do your skills? Did you get tired in the pool after a while in the water?
The reason I ask is because I too have similar problems (although mine have to do with a physical disability) some of the above questions can be easily fixed others are more serious and do not have an easy fix or a fix at all.
Let us know and we can try to help you further.
How did you do on the pool sessions?
In the pool were you in a drysuit as well or just in your bathing suit?
How much weight in the pool? Steel or Alumin tank?
What kind of entry into the water? shore, boat, dock? giant stride, backward roll, walk in? Rough seas, waves, surge, current, any stressfull or physicaly demanding factors related to getting in the water?
Are you out of breath or just too tired to do your skills? Did you get tired in the pool after a while in the water?
The reason I ask is because I too have similar problems (although mine have to do with a physical disability) some of the above questions can be easily fixed others are more serious and do not have an easy fix or a fix at all.
Let us know and we can try to help you further.
sprinz:
Hey Sprinz, I understand your frustration! This also happened to me when I did my check out dives. I live in San Diego where the water is also cold. I am not a petite woman (5'10") and my wetsuit was so tight around my chest I couldn't take a full breath. Like you, I also was carrying a heavy weight belt (34lbs). If I had dropped that belt in the water I'm sure I would have triggered the earthquake that would finally cause California to fall into the ocean!
On the second day of our checkout dives, after the first skill (doff and don), I just couldn't catch my breath . We were to do our CESA next and there was just no way. I ended up back on the boat watching the bubbles of the other students. I too was frustrated and very disappointed. Oh, here's some good advise: Never cry! Not only will it plug up your sinuses, but it freaks out the crew on the boat.
All kidding aside, Sprinz, Don't Give Up!!! I ended up getting a referral and doing my final checkout dive in Oahu. The warmer water meant a much thinner suit and not much weight. I breezed through my skills and spent three wonderful days diving!
Good Luck Sprinz!! I Know you can do it!
I often have this problem with students who are not as "big" as some other students.
The key here is to slow down and do not be afraid to ask for some assistance. If you are going to do your training dives in a dry suit, you will be carrying more lead in order to get down, depending on what the dry suit is made of and how thick your underwear is. I would guess that because you are in BC, you would most likely be wearing a neoprene dry suit. Try asking for a steel tank for starters, this will drop about 4 to 6 pounds of lead. Secondly, ask to use a weight integrated BCD if you are currently using a weight belt. The weight integrated BCD will not lessen how much lead you are carrying, but it makes it far easier to carry, and as such less tiresome. When you get into the water take a few minutes to breath slow and deep to calm down. Once you are in the water, your buoyancy will make most of the weight disappear. Finally, at then end of your first dive, ask to have your weight rechecked. Every pound you can shed will make the experience that much more enjoyable.
Good luck, think positive, and have fun.
The key here is to slow down and do not be afraid to ask for some assistance. If you are going to do your training dives in a dry suit, you will be carrying more lead in order to get down, depending on what the dry suit is made of and how thick your underwear is. I would guess that because you are in BC, you would most likely be wearing a neoprene dry suit. Try asking for a steel tank for starters, this will drop about 4 to 6 pounds of lead. Secondly, ask to use a weight integrated BCD if you are currently using a weight belt. The weight integrated BCD will not lessen how much lead you are carrying, but it makes it far easier to carry, and as such less tiresome. When you get into the water take a few minutes to breath slow and deep to calm down. Once you are in the water, your buoyancy will make most of the weight disappear. Finally, at then end of your first dive, ask to have your weight rechecked. Every pound you can shed will make the experience that much more enjoyable.
Good luck, think positive, and have fun.
DiveExtreme22
Contributor
sprinz:
isnt your weight belt only supposed to be 15% of your weight? i weigh like 180-185 and im 6'1" and i only use 22 pounds, while wearing two 7mm
(edit): nevermind that, didnt see the part about the drysuit
You're right, exercise is the final answer, but, it is not an immediate fix like she is looking for.Green_Manelishi:
There is another post where it says to get help. Bullseye, I forgot about asking for help from others. I do it regularly, sometimes to late (embarassingly enough), but I do ask eventually. lol
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