My first open water scuba dive

[naiad]

A few days ago I did most of my PADI Open Water diver course in Horsea Island. It was quite an experience, my first dive and with 0 viz! I could see a lot less that I can diving without a mask in clear water. The temperature was not bad though, 21C.

Lots of jellyfish, prawns, shrimp, mussels, gobies and other small fish.

Jumping in has got to be one of the most scary things I have ever done. I still want to go diving again though...

[Amphibious]

congrats on your first dive! just remember, a scuba certification is a licence to learn, nothing more. you've only taken the first step, but it gets much better!

[naiad]

Yesterday I got certified as a PADI Scuba Diver. I didn't quite make it to Open Water Diver because of one little thing - the mask removal and replacement. I can take my mask off underwater, replace it and clear it, but only while holding my breath, or breathing out slightly. I am totally unable to breathe through my mouth with the mask off - the apnea reflex is just far too strong.

At least I am now qualified - the only difference is that I can only dive with an Instructor or Divemaster present, but I would only do that anyway.

[Amphibious]

next time you're in the pool, float on the surface, mask off, and get used to breathing out of your snorkle.

usually the fix of this prob with my students....

Congrats!

[naiad]

I may give that a try, but not sure about how safe it is. As I still freedive, I want to be sure that I will not breathe in with my face in the water for any reason, even blacked out. So far it has worked that way.

It is a difficult one - I am realising that a lot of the training for scuba and freediving is contradictory, such as not holding your breath and ascent rates. If I do both, I will only do scuba to a depth of a few metres. It is just too scary not to be able to do a rapid ascent if things go wrong.

[island_sands]

Lucia!!! Congrats, i missed this one. I bet it was hard not to hold you breath Interesting that, your experience with the apnea reflex.

Horsea Island, is that South East? I think i have been there as a child.

[Jon]

Naiad,

I'd try what Willer said- with either a snorkel or a regulator. It can have plenty of uses for freediving as well as scuba. Here's a shot of Nostres, from last weekend, getting into the "groove" with a little no-mask breathing.

Another thing that I've had students do when first getting used to mask clears is to pinch their nose with one hand while they take their mask on and off with the other.

Jon

[naiad]

I will try again when I am feeling brave.

I may try at a different site - I have to admit that the 0 visibility and jumping into deep water really scared me, and although it got easier after the first time, it was still very difficult.

Last time I did the mask clearing thing, I said I would never do it again. I really wish it could stay that way.

Sara, Horsea Island is mid-south, in Portsmouth. It is a seawater lake, about 6m depth and a popular dive site.

[Amphibious]

Originally Posted by naiad

Last time I did the mask clearing thing, I said I would never do it again. I really wish it could stay that way.

mask clearing will happen lots as you start. new divers have piss poor bouyancy for the most part, are unaware of their surrounds and generally bumble-fu%k around the dive site. a fin to the face is not uncommon with rookies, learning to quickly clear and/or replace your mask is a good thing to practice

don;t worry if it happens to you, or you do it to a buddy, we were all there once.

just thank the grand goldfish you're not male and a scuba instructor. there are far worse places for a newb diver to kick you then your mask

[naiad]

I tend to stay on the bottom, either head-down or on my back. That way there is little risk of getting lost, or of moving around and then ending up out of breath for ages.

The underwater compass navigation was a comedy act - I kicked my way through the silt on the bottom, moving in random directions as the compass pointed to the nearest metal object.

I know that mask clearing is an essential skill. I did get kicked and get some water in my mask, but it was not a big problem because I cleared it immediately and did not have to breathe in with the flooded mask. The thing which I don't like is breathing in with water on my face. It feels so awful that I can't face doing it again.

[wet]

Originally Posted by naiad

A few days ago I did most of my PADI Open Water diver course in Horsea Island.
Jumping in has got to be one of the most scary things I have ever done. I still want to go diving again though...

How did you jump in? off a dock or backwards or what? I haven't done SCUBA.
Was it the weight on your back of the tanks that felt weird or what?

Congratulations!

[Observer]

Originally Posted by naiad

I know that mask clearing is an essential skill. I did get kicked and get some water in my mask, but it was not a big problem because I cleared it immediately and did not have to breathe in with the flooded mask. The thing which I don't like is breathing in with water on my face. It feels so awful that I can't face doing it again.

Perhaps some practice at home in the tub? It's not like apnea practice where you could pass out and drown without anyone else there after all.

[naiad]

Originally Posted by wet

How did you jump in? off a dock or backwards or what? I haven't done SCUBA.
Was it the weight on your back of the tanks that felt weird or what?

Congratulations!

The side was a vertical wall, so I jumped off the side into the water. The weight of the tanks and the weight belt was a lot! The total weight of the gear must have been about 25kg, which is a lot for me considering that I weigh about 57kg.

Training for the mask clearing in the bath or pool is not a bad idea.

The only thing I am still worried about is reducing the apnea reflex. I like to know that I will not accidentally breathe in water, even when blacked out.

[land shark]

What helps a lot with the mask thing is get in and swim some laps. As you do your turn arounds at the end of the pool push off so you come up on your back it will have you blowing through your nose in no time. with control I might add It also helped me with my breathing rythm. Did I forget to mention with just a swim mask on? sorry no full mask.

[naiad]

I normally use a swim mask, not a full mask, for swimming, static and dynamic training.