Update, post-first OW dive (2 questions)

[rjpv]

Hi guys,

Just back from my very first OW dive. The surf entry wasn't a lot of fun but after that things got much better.

One thing I noticed is that when we descended down to the bottom (20ft ish) there was quite a bit of surge and I couldnt stay kneeling on the sand like I was supposed to - a few in my class actually got a little sea sick. If I couldnt stay down easily with my BCD as empty as I could get it, do I need more weight, or am I just inexperienced?

The surf and surge was getting steadily worse so the second dive was called off. But once I got past the 30 seconds of breathing way too fast when I first descended, things were quite nice I took the time to point out a crab to my (seasick) buddy, which didnt go over as well as I had hoped... but oh well!

Second question, one of my ears feels all plugged up with water/wax. Suggestions?

 

[TSandM]

You don't say where you are, so I don't have any idea what kind of tank you are diving, or what your exposure protection is. But if you think about it, even at the beginning of a dive, you are negative by the weight of the air you are going to use up in your tank (in other words, planning to be neutral with 500 psi). Even if you are using neoprene exposure protection, your degree of compression isn't going to be tremendous at 20 feet, so you'll only gain a little more "negativity" by that point. So, when you are sitting on the bottom with all the air out of everything, you weigh maybe . . . ten pounds? It doesn't take a lot of force to move a ten pound object, and you're a big sail to catch the force of moving water. (This is one of the reasons classes frequently overweight students!)

Ear symptoms can arise from retained water in the external ear (most people figure this one out and clear it pretty quickly) or from mild barotrauma due to not equalizing quickly or often enough -- I suspect the latter. If you never had any ear pain, and the symptoms resolve fairly quickly (eg. 24 hours) then I wouldn't worry about it. If you had significant ear pain (or have) or the symptoms don't resolve promptly, you might need to have your ear evaluated by an ENT doc.

 

[ScubaJW]

When you breathe in water, it does affect the buoyant. Since you are new, it is good idea to watch how you breathe in water. Try to breathe equally (both inhale and exhale). If you became positively buoy, then exhale a little more then breathe in. It should help. After you become used to how you breathe in the water, then you will no longer need to watch it and you will be in control of how you dive.

Or like TSANDT said about your weights, it is important also. It is all depends on how much weights you put on, exposure protection, tank, and etc...

 

[rjpv]

In off Southern California coast, water is 60ish I think so I am wearing what I think is 7mm neoprene with a hood.

During the pool session I had a little trouble as well, which I think means maybe I just need to work on buoyancy control, though I do know that the ocean makes me more buoyant.

As for my ear... I don't think I had any problems equalizing (no discomfort) and when I was showering I kinda jiggled it around with water and it cleared for a second before getting plugged again. No pain at any time so I'm assuming it will resolve itself on its own.

 

[immersed]

If you can stay planted in heavy surf, you're actually overweighted - as TSandM pointed out, it doesn't take much to move you - and shouldn't. Training is about the last time you'll want to be that negative as a rec diver.

There's several OTC products on the market to help you dry out your ear. Iso alcohol will do it if it's not a lot of water. As a matter of pure curiosity, is it the ear that you don't use for the telephone?

 

[rjpv]

Hmmm, ok.

As far as telephoning goes, I'm not really a 1-ear kind of guy

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Hey rjpv... Welcome. You might want to ask your instructor about weighting, I am assuming the instructor weighted you. Not sure if they took the time to check weight with emptyish tank.

 

[UnixSage]

One thing I noticed is that when we descended down to the bottom (20ft ish) there was quite a bit of surge and I couldnt stay kneeling on the sand like I was supposed to - a few in my class actually got a little sea sick.

Note: I have not done surf in SCUBA so consider the source, but while free diving in the surf I have noticed that there is much less (if any) surge at 30-40fsw. I am suprised that you did not go a little deeper for skills and such unless the distance from shore is not realistic. When I did my checkouts (PADI) the platform was at 30ish feet (in a quarry) so I dont think that it is a "rule" that it must be 20 or less feet. Just thinking out loud I may be wrong.

I also agree do not do any weight changes yet, after training you will not need to stick to the bottom any longer. If you are down there and not struggling with staying down then you might be just about right. You drop a few more feet and that 7mm suit is going to compress and you will start sinking fast, have the inflater handy to slow your desent because it is kinda neet the first time the bottom drops out on you when that thick wetsuit compresses.

 

[Matsya]

I had the identical problem during training. I just couldn't stay at the bottom kneeling and used to sway this way and that !! Since completing training I realise now that it was a combination of several factors - incorrect weighting and incorrect weight distribution, not completely emptying the BCD and incorrect breathing techniques. I have logged 20 dives now and have practiced sitting at the bottom and am now quite comfortable. And as has been pointed out in the other replies if you can stay planted in the bottom with surge, you are overweighted.
If you intend taking up the advanced certification levels you can probably do a peak buoyancy course.

 

[m3830431]

If you have water in your ear and you don't get it out in a day. See a doctor, water and ears are bad. Infections occur rapidly.