Scuba - Day 2

 Training went better today.  We learned how to assemble all gear and attach everything safely.


I cannot believe how heavy everything is.  The tank and weight belts being the heaviest and everything else just awkward to carry.  (Isn't awkward just awkward a word?)

I was able to enter the pool wearing my own shorter fins and immediately submerge and breathe just fine.  After a couple laps underwater along the bottom and I was good to continue the next lessons.  We practiced buoyancy with with our BCD (buoyancy compensator device).  AKA the vest with all the attachments.  After letting all the air out of the vest and sitting on the bottom of the pool for a bit, kick to surface and inflate vest upon reaching surface to become a flotation device.  We did this repeatedly.  Easy peasy.

We practiced equalizing (aka valsalva maneuver to get rid of pesky ear/sinus pressure).  And then "pushups" on the bottom of the pool using inhalations and exhalations.  We will not be touching coral or most things on the  bottom of the ocean so we need to be able to rise above.  By this time I was enjoying the process and having fun.  Swimming laps along the bottom of the pool was pretty cool and I was beginning to get excited for ocean diving.  Oh the things we will see!

Then came the "what ifs...".  What if my mask comes off and I need to locate and replace on my face.  UNDERWATER!  Paul was able to do this immediately.  Ugh.  I had to take my fins off and talk myself into submerging with no mask.  Yup, I inhaled a bunch of pool water through my nose and swallowed it.  I was able to find the mask but clearing it of water while underwater (without holding my breath or inhaling water) impossible.  After several attempts, I wound of nauseous.  I called a time out and we moved on to the next lesson.  

It did not get any better.  What if I lose my mouthpiece (aka where I get my oxygen!).  We had to practice losing it, finding it, clearing it (2 different ways) and continue the dive.  Paul completed the lesson.  I did not.  Already nauseous I was hesitant to swallow any more water.  Next time.  

Overall I feel good about the lesson.  Chesla is very patient with me and we had the pool to ourselves with no sightseers.  I know I will master the other lessons but need to visualize all the steps repeatedly before I attempt again.  

Meanwhile I continue to read the book provided and have completed 3 of the 5 written tests.



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