Help my wife please

[david1963]

Not sure if this is the right section to post this, so please feel free to move it to the right place mods.

My wife would like to snorkel and has tried on a few occasions, she is a good and confidient swimmer. However she has a problem putting her face under water and breathing through the snorkel although she can swim under water with out problem.

Any suggestions as to how she may over come this problem or is it me that thinks she has a problem. Looking forward to hearing from you all, Dave.

 

[ReefTroll]

It's fairly normal, she's fighting a lifeetime of instincts that are screaming "You can NOT breathe underwater!!!!"
It takes practice, and some support. get in the water with her, make eye contact with her, and help her through her first few breaths.
Even using the snorkel while swimming with her head out of the water before putting her face into the water can help.

 

[david1963]

Thanks for that ReefTroll I'd forgotten how unnatural it is to do this, I first did it over 30 years ago and had sort of thought if I can do this anyone can, especially as my 12 year old son learnt in a couple of minutes. Kids do'nt know you car'nt do it or its hard so just go ahead and make us look daft.

well she's still willing to have a go and thinks the idea a good one, I'll let you know how things go, might take a couple of weeks, thanks Dave

 

[david1963]

SHE DID IT11
​

Only for a couple of minutes although she says it felt longer, probably because the water in our local lake is a little on the murky side. At one point she was even swimming unassisted face down and breathing. I am really proud of her thanks for the suggestion, next we introduce fins. Thanks again Dave.​

 

[spaghetti]

SHE DID IT11
​

Only for a couple of minutes although she says it felt longer, probably because the water in our local lake is a little on the murky side. At one point she was even swimming unassisted face down and breathing. I am really proud of her thanks for the suggestion, next we introduce fins. Thanks again Dave.​

Fins may be another challenge like the snorkel issue.

My wife couldn't figure herself with fins: she had the feeling that her feet would be somehow hindered by fins. And the idea of her feet prevented from free movement by something as cumbersome as blades made her feel unsecure.
Of course it was just an irrational fear, but for her still a step to climb towards the unknown...

And so, now, my advice to you is: don't talk about this to your wife. Just give her the fins and get her wet naturally with no thought, no judgement, no talk about possible issues, eventual fears or unsure feelings that may occur. Let her drop herself in the water, and the fun will start by itself.

 

[Erik]

Seems like she's getting it. She should start by sitting or kneeling in very shallow water and doing nothing except breathing. Eventually the limbic system will start to believe that she can in fact breathe underwater. Once reasonably comfortable, she can start moving around ie: crawling along in very shallow water, then swimming in ever-deeper water.
Cheers,
Erik

 

[Erik]

She should also be taught how to clear a snorkel properly if water gets in.

 

[david1963]

Well she has found some problems with her legs already even with out fins, wet suits make you bouyant something she had not thought of before. This she noticed when trying a duck dive in an attempt to duck me!

Called me over a short time ago to have a look at weight belts online and also asked "how do you clear a snorkel". Back to the lake tomorrow lesson two, out doing my speed of lesson plan writing. I can see the kids fins being borrowed. Let you know how things go thanks Dave.

 

[david1963]

Hi everyone, I hope the moderators won't be too cross with me as I am the wife and not Dave. Thankyou all for your advice. I now know how to clear a snorkel and although I don't intend going deep, how to equal my ears! Have not used fins yet and a bit worried about that. I feel as though they are going to trip me up! I also need to work out how to get further down in the water, at the moment if I use my legs I am air kicking. Just practising lying flat in the water and remembering to breath and not panic. Its quite restful really. I know I'm safe, Dave is right beside me. Wendy

 

[spaghetti]

Hi everyone, I hope the moderators won't be too cross with me as I am the wife and not Dave. Thankyou all for your advice. I now know how to clear a snorkel and although I don't intend going deep, how to equal my ears! Have not used fins yet and a bit worried about that. I feel as though they are going to trip me up! I also need to work out how to get further down in the water, at the moment if I use my legs I am air kicking. Just practising lying flat in the water and remembering to breath and not panic. Its quite restful really. I know I'm safe, Dave is right beside me. Wendy

Cool Wendy!

As I said my wife had the same concerns with fins, but she soon found out how amazing is to swim with them, and so much safer than without.

Brief story. When we were newly engaged and she was my girlfriend, not yet my wife, the very first prezzie I gave her was a pair of Mares fins. She was amazed by the present, but the size was not her size: it was the size of my previous ex GF. :head

When she asked me why had I picked that wrong size, I candidly replied "oh, that's the size of my ex GF...". How stupid! :chatup

That caused a bit of controversy back in the days, but we've happily gone through.

 

[david1963]

Hi, Thanks for that. I told Dave when he got home and we both laughed. Unfortunatly for Dave, I used to work with or know all his old Gfs so I was pretty much prepared for him! Been married a fair few years ourselves now. Dave reckons if it had been a life sentance he'd have been out ages ago. Wendy

 

[ReefTroll]

Hi Wendy, never mind the moderators, they put up with Jay, Chef AL and myelf!!

Spaggo, nice move there on the x-gf comment, smooth brother, ha ha ha!!!

My fiance always had a bit of a fear of the ocean, and had the same comments as you, she felt fine being out there with me, as you mentioned about being with Dave. It's all about finding some confidence/comfort and having fun.