See Crompsin Get SCUBA Certs - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Tully Mars · 06-23-2009, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biznatch

(This thread just gets me giddy because I haven't had the chance to dive in 3+ years)

You poor bastard. How do you do it?

Good advice above. They make nasal spray called "Ocean" sea water works the same way.

I've never had much of a problem equalizing. On one of my first dives I forgot to adjust the pressure in my mask and ended up looking like I got sucker punched in both eyes. I remember being on that dive and thinking "man, my forehead hurts." D'oh!

I think we've all done dumb things diving, especially in the beginning. I was helping with a discovery dive class a few months back. Went over everything with about 8 students, they watched the DVD, got them all ready and in the boat. I was just about to say it's time to put on fins and masks and this young lady next to me, regulator in hand, asked "so if I keep this in my mouth underwater I'll be able to breath?" "Yep, that's pretty much how this works."

biznatch · 07-03-2009, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

You poor bastard. How do you do it?

I've been unable to leave New York, and haven't wanted to dive around here, nor do I know of any good place to dive around here.

Crompsin, what's going on with the Scuba training? Any new developments?

Plan9 · 07-03-2009, 07:01 AM

Starts in the middle of July, bro. I'll keep everyone posted.

I'm going get into the pool and practice my half-ass strokes.

I've got all the gear I need for this entry-level cert class.

I'm way excited.

Plan9 · 07-21-2009, 09:56 PM

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.

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.

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?

The Ugly:

My front crawl. Heh. 'Nuff said.

...

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.

Tully Mars · 07-22-2009, 02:39 AM

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.

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.

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?

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.

...

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.

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.

Plan9 · 07-22-2009, 08:22 AM

Aaah, my front crawl is a front crawl, but it's not very coordinated. It's like the bastard child of the breast stroke and the front crawl. But, yeah, I think after I get SCUBA down, I'm going to go take some instruction on how to be more of a torpedo and less of a sinking ship. This water stuff is gnarly.

Thanks, Tully. I was pondering an army-buddy Mexico trip for spring break next year. Got an independently wealthy buddy I was in Iraq with who wants to dive in Mexico next year. I heard Cancun is a nice dive site (touristy), but somebody else mentioned another C-name place and said it was better. I have no desire to dive anywhere close to cold, I've got like 5% body fat and I was shivering cold in the hotel pool last night anytime we surfaced.

Tully Mars · 07-22-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crompsin

Aaah, my front crawl is a front crawl, but it's not very coordinated. It's like the bastard child of the breast stroke and the front crawl. But, yeah, I think after I get SCUBA down, I'm going to go take some instruction on how to be more of a torpedo and less of a sinking ship. This water stuff is gnarly.

Thanks, Tully. I was pondering an army-buddy Mexico trip for spring break next year. Got an independently wealthy buddy I was in Iraq with who wants to dive in Mexico next year. I heard Cancun is a nice dive site (touristy), but somebody else mentioned another C-name place and said it was better. I have no desire to dive anywhere close to cold, I've got like 5% body fat and I was shivering cold in the hotel pool last night anytime we surfaced.

If you go AOW they'll teach you that.

Probably Cozumel. Both have decent dive sites but if you want when you come down give me a call/PM/e-mail and I'll take you to empty boats, cheaper dives and more to see.

I have an "in" with a couple condos if you need room and board.

Plan9 · 07-22-2009, 09:07 AM

Hey, this spring break trip is totally looking better by the minute.

cadre · 07-22-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crompsin

...
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?

Clearing your mask is hard at first. Once you get it, you won't really have to think about it again though. I think the thing here that screws people up is resisting the urge to breath through your nose. Make sure you're consciously thinking about everything and eventually you'll get it. As Tully said, a small crack at the bottom of the mask will be fine, and leaning your head back will help trap the air.

If you're still having trouble next time, your instructor should be able to let you spend some more time working on it. The last thing he wants is for you to get out there on the open water dive and have problems.

Oh and one other note, I picked up clearing my mask pretty quickly but on the open water dive it was different. When the cold water hit my face, I forgot what I was doing for a second. Just something to be aware of if you're doing your open water dive in colder water.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crompsin

Aaah, my front crawl is a front crawl, but it's not very coordinated. It's like the bastard child of the breast stroke and the front crawl. But, yeah, I think after I get SCUBA down, I'm going to go take some instruction on how to be more of a torpedo and less of a sinking ship. This water stuff is gnarly.

Thanks, Tully. I was pondering an army-buddy Mexico trip for spring break next year. Got an independently wealthy buddy I was in Iraq with who wants to dive in Mexico next year. I heard Cancun is a nice dive site (touristy), but somebody else mentioned another C-name place and said it was better. I have no desire to dive anywhere close to cold, I've got like 5% body fat and I was shivering cold in the hotel pool last night anytime we surfaced.

Keep moving in the water, it'll help you stay warm. I'm sure it looked funny when I was taking my refresher course but I was bobbing up and down while the instructor was talking. I wasn't shivering though!

Good luck!

Slims · 07-23-2009, 02:02 PM

If you need to, go lay in your bath tub and practice putting on and clearing a flooded mask. Air is only a breath away if you begin to choke.

If you can get the hang of breathing while wearing a flooded mask (you have to pinch-off your airway above your throat) you won't have any problems.

We make guys swim laps in the deep end with weight belts and flooded (charged) masks as well as do flutter kicks the same way. It forces them to learn not to panic every time they get a little water down their throats.

Good luck.

Seriously, bathtub. Your old lady (if you have one) will think you are crazy, but it will get the job done.

The other way to 'cheat' is to blow out slightly through your nose as soon as you BEGIN to put your mask back-on under water...it will keep water from getting pushed into your nose by the pressure the mask generates. If you are not able to clear it right away, take your time, grab another breath and keep working at it. It is important to (at first) tilt your head way back so you are looking straight up, that way all the air you blow will automatically go straight into the cavity of your mask. Later, you can get away with a little pressure on the top or side of your mask and a quick snort.

I thought I warned you about panicking under water? It's a different animal when you suddenly start to choke and don't have any air to breathe. Try not to bolt to the surface, you can really hurt yourself even in a relatively shallow pool. I have seen over inflation injuries caused by people freaking out in a pool.

Tully Mars · 07-23-2009, 02:18 PM

All good advice.

Plan9 · 07-23-2009, 06:10 PM

Update 2:

Yay, I got it. Gold star!

Mmm, I don't think you can really "warn" somebody about water jetting up their nose. They have to experience it and learn to deal with it.

Seeing that I'm a mildly insane... I did the mask clear thing half a dozen times and now I'm pretty comfortable with it. My issue was that I was breaking too much seal at the bottom and the instructors didn't correct me. Just pushing on the top of the mask with my fingertips is sufficient... or so now they tell me. Anyway, I unfucked myself. I suppose I deserved to flip out and flop to the surface... I was trying to clear a mask that was largely off my face. Way-to-go, genius. Heh. Anyway, I will continue to practice this and the exercise you mentioned, swimming with a flooded mask, sounds like a great way to get me acclimated to the sensation.

I'm embarrassed at my chokes, but at least I exhaled on the way up (we love bubbles!) and blew out my BCD. "Out 'n out for up."

It's a learning process.

...

I also did runaway regulator, buddy breathe swims, "CESA," etc. Zero cherry ZOMG panic issues despite water creepin' in all over. I found my happy place, pushed it out, and resumed the exercises whenever something went wrong. Seeing that my very first experience doing any diving (or subsurface swimming, really) was yesterday and I have a total of maybe 4 hours under my belt now... I'm figure I'm not doing too bad.

I feel a helluva lot better. This is going to be way fun. Get me over my water nerves as well as provide a rewarding hobby.

Thanks everybody. I appreciate the comments, stories, and suggestions.

I've got the quarry on Saturday and Sunday.

Slims · 07-23-2009, 08:11 PM

I was giving advice, not criticizing, just in case I gave that impression.

You will find that as long as you make a conscious effort to stay calm...you will be able to work through nearly everything underwater. Your body really does betray you at the first hint of trouble when you are submerged...it's something instinctual that makes us instantly stupid and it takes time to get over that (hence the drill I mentioned above, among others).

Good job for blowing out when you made your 'emergency' ascent.

Plan9 · 07-23-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slims

I was giving advice, not criticizing, just in case I gave that impression.

Oh, no... I didn't mean to suggest any such thing. But I'm all for criticism and I genuinely appreciate all the tips and advice in this thread. I'm starting out here and the last thing I want is to come off as a douchey Know-It-All. There's a reason why KIA and KIA go together.

But, yeah... I've surprised myself with the "stream of bubbles" mantra I've been ohming to myself while doing this relaxed yuppie training. It makes sense and is a good practice. If I'm not sucking air, it should be a slow stream of bubbles at all times. It's kinda comforting to see the stream go by, really. Calms me down to feel the flow.

I'm definitely going to have to get a BCD with integrated weights. The instructors overloaded us... some dude had 12 fucking pounds of lead. They've got me running 8, I could probably do 6. The crusty old weight belts are annoying as fuck, dig into my hips, and distribute the weight about as well as a T10 harness. The Cressi BCD I'm using has the two hip-area pockets that seem like they'd work well. Any thoughts?

Plan9 · 07-27-2009, 05:20 AM

Conclusion'd!

Okay, so basically... I'm a PADI Open Water SCUBA Diver now. Yay. I feel like I should take a tougher diver course now, though. Something like the NAUI "basic training" mentioned above. I didn't feel nearly abused enough after my dives Sat/Sun. I got a tan, but no flutterkicks on the "beach," etc.

I had less issues in 30 feet of ~55 degree quarry water with 5 foot vis (rainstorms like crazy last few day, stirred up the sediment) than I did in a bathwater-warm hotel pool. Go figure. Mask removal, replacement and clearing at depth? It's like a joke now that I've practiced it a bunch of times.

I stayed on site after the class and did an additional dive with one of the instructors to work on my buoyancy control. He was almost impressed; I managed to glide over top of the 30 foot platform, exhale, sink below the platform, glide under it, repeat a few times. Only banged my noggin on the underside once. I'm pretty good at keeping myself level, but I'm probably relying too much on the low pressure inflator to save me. I expect instantaneous results at depth and I know that isn't the case. I shall learn patience, I'd imagine. It's really an amazing feeling to hover and move just by breathing in or out.

Water was way cold below 30 feet, definitely in the 40s. I was close to shivering in a 7 mil. I don't know if it's because I'm a scrawny wanker or because I'm not comfortable with the skill set yet. The hood and gloves kept me relatively comfy, but my face and down the front of my torso was getting a little chilly by the end. Maybe get one of those thin torso covers some of the instructors were wearing. That and not being nervous as hell at first would have probably helped. Three of the instructors had dry suits and those look like the way to go for quarry diving adventures. When they don't leak at the neck.

If nothing else, I need to get a fancy dive-tracking computer now so that I can record my dives. I think I want a wrist-mounted model, although the all-in-one SPG is pretty dang handy as well. I've determined that I like regulators with longer hoses, too. I used a Sherwood (?) and a Tusa (?) and the Tusa made it kinda hard to look around, whereas the Sherwood is long enough to string under your armpit with the octo. That makes me feel a lot more comfortable... I feel more streamlined that way. Jacket BCD versus back BCD is another pros 'n cons debate.

Either way, SCUBA totally kicks ass and I shall be doing it in the future. I think I'm going to Mexico for spring break next year.

Thank you all for the tips and support. Not only did I learn how to dive in this class, I also got over my water-related anxieties. Instruction and experience create confidence. I have that now.

Blunt force trauma wins again!

biznatch · 07-29-2009, 04:33 PM

Very cool, Crompsin, I'm glad you survived the PADI. I got a cool feeling once I got my card, knowing I was OK to dive.

Water's never been an issue for me, I spent many a summer near the ocean, often in adventures with my cousins where we would go snorkeling deep, while holding our breath, collecting urchins to bring them back for soup later. We also loved taking risks and jumping off of rocks and cliffs into the sea, where depths and waves had to be examined carefully before jumping.
Looking back, I'm fortunate for having the opportunity to do so, and also lucky for not having injured myself. But I think it's a part of growing up.

Scuba diving does take it to the next step, though. You're in a medium where humans aren't meant to be in, and once a certain depth/time has been reached, one has to wait and decompress before returning to surface conditions. I mean, there's always decompression tanks, but the dangers of quick decompression are multiple and not to be taken lightly. So, in a way, it's a sport that's unlike many others.

It can get a bit scary, the concept of waiting in an environment with no surrounding oxygen except for the one in your tank. Especially since there's been a few times where I've noticed a faulty O-ring on somebody's tank, or some other problem, right before the dive. These kind of things force you to know it's best to have a buddy you can rely on, in case things turn ugly.

As soon as I return to the Mediterranean, I'm gonna try SCUBA there. There's a few local caves/underwater landmarks I've heard about many times in my childhood there, that I'd like to take a closer look at.
My dive instructor said he befriended an octopus/squid, not far from Marseille, where he lived and worked as a professional diver. The squid would come out and play when he recognized him, messing with the BCD, and wrapping it's tentacles around his face and limbs.
To me, it always felt like I was entering a sacred place when diving in the ocean. The way sound is, in the water, the feeling of entering a place completely alien to our own environment... I need to go back in there. NOW.

Plan9 · 07-29-2009, 04:55 PM

Thank you for the story, Biznatch. It's inspirational.

biznatch · 07-30-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crompsin

Thank you for the story, Biznatch. It's inspirational.

heh, didn't mean for it to be. I do get carried away whenever water/ocean/family comes into play, as I haven't been close to any of those in years.

07-03-2009, 07:01 AM	#43 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Starts in the middle of July, bro. I'll keep everyone posted. I'm going get into the pool and practice my half-ass strokes. I've got all the gear I need for this entry-level cert class. I'm way excited. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

07-21-2009, 09:56 PM	#44 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	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. 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. 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? The Ugly: My front crawl. Heh. 'Nuff said. ... 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. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake." Last edited by Plan9; 07-21-2009 at 10:03 PM..

07-22-2009, 08:22 AM	#46 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Aaah, my front crawl is a front crawl, but it's not very coordinated. It's like the bastard child of the breast stroke and the front crawl. But, yeah, I think after I get SCUBA down, I'm going to go take some instruction on how to be more of a torpedo and less of a sinking ship. This water stuff is gnarly. Thanks, Tully. I was pondering an army-buddy Mexico trip for spring break next year. Got an independently wealthy buddy I was in Iraq with who wants to dive in Mexico next year. I heard Cancun is a nice dive site (touristy), but somebody else mentioned another C-name place and said it was better. I have no desire to dive anywhere close to cold, I've got like 5% body fat and I was shivering cold in the hotel pool last night anytime we surfaced. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake." Last edited by Plan9; 07-22-2009 at 08:28 AM..

07-22-2009, 09:07 AM	#48 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Hey, this spring break trip is totally looking better by the minute. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

07-23-2009, 02:02 PM	#50 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	If you need to, go lay in your bath tub and practice putting on and clearing a flooded mask. Air is only a breath away if you begin to choke. If you can get the hang of breathing while wearing a flooded mask (you have to pinch-off your airway above your throat) you won't have any problems. We make guys swim laps in the deep end with weight belts and flooded (charged) masks as well as do flutter kicks the same way. It forces them to learn not to panic every time they get a little water down their throats. Good luck. Seriously, bathtub. Your old lady (if you have one) will think you are crazy, but it will get the job done. The other way to 'cheat' is to blow out slightly through your nose as soon as you BEGIN to put your mask back-on under water...it will keep water from getting pushed into your nose by the pressure the mask generates. If you are not able to clear it right away, take your time, grab another breath and keep working at it. It is important to (at first) tilt your head way back so you are looking straight up, that way all the air you blow will automatically go straight into the cavity of your mask. Later, you can get away with a little pressure on the top or side of your mask and a quick snort. I thought I warned you about panicking under water? It's a different animal when you suddenly start to choke and don't have any air to breathe. Try not to bolt to the surface, you can really hurt yourself even in a relatively shallow pool. I have seen over inflation injuries caused by people freaking out in a pool. __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence Last edited by Slims; 07-23-2009 at 02:06 PM..

07-23-2009, 02:18 PM	#51 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	All good advice. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

07-23-2009, 06:10 PM	#52 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Update 2: Yay, I got it. Gold star! Mmm, I don't think you can really "warn" somebody about water jetting up their nose. They have to experience it and learn to deal with it. Seeing that I'm a mildly insane... I did the mask clear thing half a dozen times and now I'm pretty comfortable with it. My issue was that I was breaking too much seal at the bottom and the instructors didn't correct me. Just pushing on the top of the mask with my fingertips is sufficient... or so now they tell me. Anyway, I unfucked myself. I suppose I deserved to flip out and flop to the surface... I was trying to clear a mask that was largely off my face. Way-to-go, genius. Heh. Anyway, I will continue to practice this and the exercise you mentioned, swimming with a flooded mask, sounds like a great way to get me acclimated to the sensation. I'm embarrassed at my chokes, but at least I exhaled on the way up (we love bubbles!) and blew out my BCD. "Out 'n out for up." It's a learning process. ... I also did runaway regulator, buddy breathe swims, "CESA," etc. Zero cherry ZOMG panic issues despite water creepin' in all over. I found my happy place, pushed it out, and resumed the exercises whenever something went wrong. Seeing that my very first experience doing any diving (or subsurface swimming, really) was yesterday and I have a total of maybe 4 hours under my belt now... I'm figure I'm not doing too bad. I feel a helluva lot better. This is going to be way fun. Get me over my water nerves as well as provide a rewarding hobby. Thanks everybody. I appreciate the comments, stories, and suggestions. I've got the quarry on Saturday and Sunday. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake." Last edited by Plan9; 07-23-2009 at 06:37 PM..

07-23-2009, 08:11 PM	#53 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	I was giving advice, not criticizing, just in case I gave that impression. You will find that as long as you make a conscious effort to stay calm...you will be able to work through nearly everything underwater. Your body really does betray you at the first hint of trouble when you are submerged...it's something instinctual that makes us instantly stupid and it takes time to get over that (hence the drill I mentioned above, among others). Good job for blowing out when you made your 'emergency' ascent. __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence

07-27-2009, 05:20 AM	#55 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Conclusion'd! Okay, so basically... I'm a PADI Open Water SCUBA Diver now. Yay. I feel like I should take a tougher diver course now, though. Something like the NAUI "basic training" mentioned above. I didn't feel nearly abused enough after my dives Sat/Sun. I got a tan, but no flutterkicks on the "beach," etc. I had less issues in 30 feet of ~55 degree quarry water with 5 foot vis (rainstorms like crazy last few day, stirred up the sediment) than I did in a bathwater-warm hotel pool. Go figure. Mask removal, replacement and clearing at depth? It's like a joke now that I've practiced it a bunch of times. I stayed on site after the class and did an additional dive with one of the instructors to work on my buoyancy control. He was almost impressed; I managed to glide over top of the 30 foot platform, exhale, sink below the platform, glide under it, repeat a few times. Only banged my noggin on the underside once. I'm pretty good at keeping myself level, but I'm probably relying too much on the low pressure inflator to save me. I expect instantaneous results at depth and I know that isn't the case. I shall learn patience, I'd imagine. It's really an amazing feeling to hover and move just by breathing in or out. Water was way cold below 30 feet, definitely in the 40s. I was close to shivering in a 7 mil. I don't know if it's because I'm a scrawny wanker or because I'm not comfortable with the skill set yet. The hood and gloves kept me relatively comfy, but my face and down the front of my torso was getting a little chilly by the end. Maybe get one of those thin torso covers some of the instructors were wearing. That and not being nervous as hell at first would have probably helped. Three of the instructors had dry suits and those look like the way to go for quarry diving adventures. When they don't leak at the neck. If nothing else, I need to get a fancy dive-tracking computer now so that I can record my dives. I think I want a wrist-mounted model, although the all-in-one SPG is pretty dang handy as well. I've determined that I like regulators with longer hoses, too. I used a Sherwood (?) and a Tusa (?) and the Tusa made it kinda hard to look around, whereas the Sherwood is long enough to string under your armpit with the octo. That makes me feel a lot more comfortable... I feel more streamlined that way. Jacket BCD versus back BCD is another pros 'n cons debate. Either way, SCUBA totally kicks ass and I shall be doing it in the future. I think I'm going to Mexico for spring break next year. Thank you all for the tips and support. Not only did I learn how to dive in this class, I also got over my water-related anxieties. Instruction and experience create confidence. I have that now. Blunt force trauma wins again! __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake." Last edited by Plan9; 07-27-2009 at 05:38 AM..

07-29-2009, 04:33 PM	#56 (permalink)
biznatch Junkie Location: France	Very cool, Crompsin, I'm glad you survived the PADI. I got a cool feeling once I got my card, knowing I was OK to dive. Water's never been an issue for me, I spent many a summer near the ocean, often in adventures with my cousins where we would go snorkeling deep, while holding our breath, collecting urchins to bring them back for soup later. We also loved taking risks and jumping off of rocks and cliffs into the sea, where depths and waves had to be examined carefully before jumping. Looking back, I'm fortunate for having the opportunity to do so, and also lucky for not having injured myself. But I think it's a part of growing up. Scuba diving does take it to the next step, though. You're in a medium where humans aren't meant to be in, and once a certain depth/time has been reached, one has to wait and decompress before returning to surface conditions. I mean, there's always decompression tanks, but the dangers of quick decompression are multiple and not to be taken lightly. So, in a way, it's a sport that's unlike many others. It can get a bit scary, the concept of waiting in an environment with no surrounding oxygen except for the one in your tank. Especially since there's been a few times where I've noticed a faulty O-ring on somebody's tank, or some other problem, right before the dive. These kind of things force you to know it's best to have a buddy you can rely on, in case things turn ugly. As soon as I return to the Mediterranean, I'm gonna try SCUBA there. There's a few local caves/underwater landmarks I've heard about many times in my childhood there, that I'd like to take a closer look at. My dive instructor said he befriended an octopus/squid, not far from Marseille, where he lived and worked as a professional diver. The squid would come out and play when he recognized him, messing with the BCD, and wrapping it's tentacles around his face and limbs. To me, it always felt like I was entering a sacred place when diving in the ocean. The way sound is, in the water, the feeling of entering a place completely alien to our own environment... I need to go back in there. NOW. __________________ Check it out: The Open Source/Freeware/Gratis Software Thread

07-29-2009, 04:55 PM	#57 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Thank you for the story, Biznatch. It's inspirational. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."