FuzzyMelton
Registered
I just finished my OW dives!! Thanks so much to everyone out there that has posted, I have referenced the boards several times and found answers to my questions.
We dove in a quarry, pretty cool, and it is a PADI resort. They have released paddlefish in the quarry in a program with the Tennessee Aquarium. I didn't see any, but saw lots of big cats and trout and bass.
The water was 57 degrees and it was warmer in the water than out. Deepest was 59' and longest bottom time was 26 min. It was very "freaky" on the first descent. I had to really get control of myself. I guess it was the whole experience, no bottom, no safety of the pool, 20' plus of water above my head. It really took some slow deep breathing not to rush back to the surface. By the third dive, everything was cool. The mask clearing and removal were the hardest skills to perform, I had no problem with them in the warm pool of the LDS, but in that cold water, It was the shock factor. I wasn't expecting that. Buoyancy control is, well it is what it is, if you know what I mean. I got better, but I swim like a novice diver! Hope that will go away very soon.
Spent last night pouring over the boards about anxiety and it really helped to read that others had the same thoughts that I did and the cold water mask thing wasn't so much me as it was the reaction to the cold water on my face.
The most exciting thing was fulfilling a life long dream and actually being comfortable under the water. Can't wait for St. Thomas and Bonaire in February!!!
We dove in a quarry, pretty cool, and it is a PADI resort. They have released paddlefish in the quarry in a program with the Tennessee Aquarium. I didn't see any, but saw lots of big cats and trout and bass.
The water was 57 degrees and it was warmer in the water than out. Deepest was 59' and longest bottom time was 26 min. It was very "freaky" on the first descent. I had to really get control of myself. I guess it was the whole experience, no bottom, no safety of the pool, 20' plus of water above my head. It really took some slow deep breathing not to rush back to the surface. By the third dive, everything was cool. The mask clearing and removal were the hardest skills to perform, I had no problem with them in the warm pool of the LDS, but in that cold water, It was the shock factor. I wasn't expecting that. Buoyancy control is, well it is what it is, if you know what I mean. I got better, but I swim like a novice diver! Hope that will go away very soon.
Spent last night pouring over the boards about anxiety and it really helped to read that others had the same thoughts that I did and the cold water mask thing wasn't so much me as it was the reaction to the cold water on my face.
The most exciting thing was fulfilling a life long dream and actually being comfortable under the water. Can't wait for St. Thomas and Bonaire in February!!!
