Quote:
Originally Posted by Crompsin
Gnarly SCUBA Action Update:
The Good:
Holy fuck... flying underwater is one of the most amazing experiences I've enjoyed. It's amazing. Go horizontal, tuck your arms at your sides, flip-flip away like a fish. I feel like a frickin' ninja. I can't wait to get out to the quarry and experience the murky depths, wrecked cars, and occasional bluegill.
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Try crossing your arms across your chest.
Wait til you get down here and I show you turtles and rays in water with 100ft+ vis.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crompsin
The Bad:
Turns out having a teaspoon-sized experience pool with swimming and being underwater is a bad idea for an adventurous guy like myself. Worse than that... is doing a crash course in SCUBA diving with said experience. Not only am I learning how to dive, I'm learning how to be comfortable with being in the water as well. I did fine with the vigorous [entry] and fucking around with the BCD to get myself to hover. That'll require some time to master.
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Master that BCD, become Zen with it. Anytime you're in the water and not completing tasks work on buoyancy. Three keys to a good diver- buoyancy, buoyancy and buoyancy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crompsin
Where I fucked up tonight was on the "flood mask, remove mask, hold out mask for a minute, replace mask, clear mask, all okay." Removing and replacing your mask underwater is exactly what everything I've read has said: it's difficult to do at first and must be mastered to be a safe diver. As I attempted it multiple times, I lost my happy place as water jetted up my nose and choked me... I surfaced like a pansy three times during the replacement and clearing phase. Turns out the class was already running late and ran out of time before I could get the technique down. I wish they'd let me stay another 15 and get it right. Meh, I'll see if I can't practice it tomorrow in the apartment complex pool with my snorkel instead of the reg. If that doesn't work, I'll be doing it again in the next class anyway. I'm guessing it's all getting comfortable in the water and not turning into Mr. Panic Pants if I get a shot of water up my nose even while I still have the regulator in my maw and I'm streaming bubbles. I feel like a total cherry and it's okay... I want to do more training.
Just gets me that a 13 year old kid and a grandma managed to do this the first time with no issues. I'm not a genius, so I fucked it up. Talk about embarrassing! Oh well, I'll only get good through practice, right? I figure I'm not getting it because the instructors aren't seeing how I'm mucking it up.
As far as I know, this is how you do the drill that I fucked up like a champ:
- close eyes and flood mask completely by cracking top of seal
- remove mask, hold in hand (they let you pinch your nose while your mask is off)
- breathe normally through reg without mask for 1 minute
- replace mask
- clear mask by lifting bottom seal and blowing air hard from your nose to push the water out
- open eyes into cleared mask, signal okay
What I'm not sure about and what I'm sure I'll quickly learn is when / how to lean my head so as to fill the mask up with air while not letting water into my nose. God, that sensation feels like I'm choking even if I'm sucking air at the moment. I know that while I have the mask off, I squish my nose down and breathe through the reg... but the order of operations for the replacement and clear is getting me. I figure I need to take a deep hit from the reg through my mouth, then use it to clear the mask by exhaling forcefully through the nose. Is it realistic to clear the mask in one shot? They said some may require multiple breaths to do it.
Any tips? Suggestions? Why am I messing this up?
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You'll get this. Make sure the top of the mask is sealed on your forehead, crack it just enough to let the water out and exhale. You can tilt your head back you just keep it vert. Air naturally rises and forces the water out. I don't tilt my head much. Yes it can be done in one breath... or less. This will become second nature to you shortly.
I have a mustache, I'm always clearing. I dive with half drunk tourist who once and a while manage to kick my mask off. I've literally had to chase it to the bottom and put it back on more then once. Plus if you work with tourist long enough some are going to want an underwater picture of you and them. The standard pose is to remove your mask smile, snap and re don your mask.
Again you'll get this, it will become second nature.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crompsin
The Ugly:
My front crawl. Heh. 'Nuff said.
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Yeah, I'm really excited about the next class and hopefully I'll get through my mask-clearing issues next time 'round.
I'll take any tips and wishes of luck. I'll need 'em both.
Next class is Thursday evening. Quarry is Sat / Sun.
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You mean like dog paddling? If so, yeah don't do that.
Try doing a frog kick, your instructor should be able to help you do this properly.
Sounds like great progress, thanks for the update.