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Scuba Forum / General / August 2004

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First Lesson Finally!

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Von Fourche - 13 Aug 2004 03:46 GMT
   Well, I have finally had my first scuba lesson.  Over all very
interesting.  I tell ya one thing first off - I am super tired.  I had to
swim back and fourth 15 times for the first water test.  Now, I don't
consider myself a weakling, but I quickly lost major energy after five or
six laps.  I'm not sure how many laps I actually completed.  The instructor
headed to the main office while I did the laps.  He poked his head in from
time to time to make sure I was alright.  I think he did this on purpose so
I could do all the laps I was able to do and then say, after he came back
in, that I completed the 15 laps.  I lost count after 10 laps, but I think
if I didn't get 15, I sure as heck came close, 13,14, or 15.  Treading water
for 10 minutes was not much of a problem, I just floated on my back.

   Anyway,  setting up the scuba equipment was no problem at all.  I set up
my equipment, then took it all apart.  I guess the most important thing to
remember is to put the first stage dust cover on and not let water in it.
Then I set up my equipment again, and set up my instructors equipment.

   We used small aluminum tanks.  I'm not sure the size/volume.  They were
around 3000psi.  I was shocked by how heavy they weighed.  Around 40 pounds
I think.  The weight belt with weights kind of heavy too.  Then again, I was
completely tired from that 15 lap swim, my arms were aching a little. So
maybe next week that tank and weights wont be so heavy for me with my full
strength.

   We sat at the edge of he pool, and slid our arms into the bdc.  Getting
my arms into the bcd with that heavy tank on was a little challenge.  But I
found out I had air in my bcd.  So deflating it made it easier.  I was
shocked that you can fill a bcd up very quickly with the low pressure
inflator.  Also using your longs doesn't take long to fill it up.

   After I dropped my head under water for the first time I was shocked by
so many bubbles from the regulator.  I didn't know the bubbles coming out
would be so many and so loud too.

   We went over the usual things, regulator recover and stuff.  That was no
problem at all.  I thought the easiest method of clearing a regulator is
simply exhaling into it.  But I really like putting it in my mouth first,
then pressing the purge button while my tongue blocks of some of the air.

   My instructor said the problem most people have in the course is
clearing a mask.  And after doing it a couple of times I completely agree.
I had to pull the mask off my face a little to let water in.  Then exhale
thru my nose to clear it.  It was difficult to inhale thru the regulator
while exhaling thru my nose, plus felling that water around my eyes.  But I
did it and my instructor was satisfied.

   When we finally swam to the deep end I sunk like a stone.  I didn't put
any air in my bcd.  I was a little surprised the tank pulled me down like
that.  Plus trying to sit on my knees was a little difficult.  Then, when I
did shoot air in my bcd, a couple of seconds later I shot up.  Again, I was
shocked you can fill air in your bcd so quickly and it takes you right up.
I can see neutral buoyancy is something that tanks time to develop.

   I was also surprised how much bigger things look. I actually got a
little disoriented a few seconds in the deep end.  I turned around to face
the shallow end, but didn't see it, then turned around again, and didn't see
it either.  One more turn and I found it.  Some what disorienting.

   Also, the first dive to the deep end I really felt the pressure on my
ears.  We swam back to the shallow end, then after that I think I equalized
the right way and didn't feel much pressure on my ears when I went back to
the deep end.  But I do have this feeling that I have water stuck in my ears
or something. Or my sinuses are giving me trouble.

   Anyway, before this class,  I have been thru the Padi cdrom course so
much and have read so many magazines that I thought If I stumbled upon a
full set of scuba gear while walking on a beach in the Caribbean, I could
put it on, jump in, and go scuba diving as good as any pro without taking
any classes.   Boy, was I wrong.  I had just one thing on my mind when I got
home - break open my 18 year old Kentucky bourbon, sit down, and relax.
Alan Street - 13 Aug 2004 04:07 GMT
>     When we finally swam to the deep end I sunk like a stone.  I didn't put
> any air in my bcd.  I was a little surprised the tank pulled me down like
> that.  Plus trying to sit on my knees was a little difficult.  Then, when I
> did shoot air in my bcd, a couple of seconds later I shot up.  Again, I was
> shocked you can fill air in your bcd so quickly and it takes you right up.
> I can see neutral buoyancy is something that tanks time to develop.

Thanks for writing about your first class. We sometimes forget what it
was like the first time we did this crazy underwater thing.

<soapbox>
Your comments about buoyancy are especially insightful. As you noticed,
neutral buoyancy is both hard to acheive and really, really important.
I think one of the issues people have with scuba training today (with
the exception of GUE) is that instead of embracing buoyancy as a
fundamental skill for diving, they try to teach other skills in a way
that removes buoyancy from the equation (i.e., kneeling on the bottom
while doing mask clearing exercises). This makes it quicker to get
underwater safely, but it ultimately does a disservice to the student
who never bothers to learn proper weighting and buoyancy control, but
gets a c-card anyway.
</soapbox>

Thanks for taking the time to write about your experiences. I look
forward to reading more.

Alan
Scott - 13 Aug 2004 04:17 GMT
> Thanks for taking the time to write about your experiences. I look
> forward to reading more.

Ditto
mike gray - 13 Aug 2004 05:07 GMT
>> Thanks for taking the time to write about your experiences. I look
>> forward to reading more.
>
>  Ditto

re-ditto

As for the ears, remember that shallow (like a pool) is hardest on them.
Dillon Pyron - 14 Aug 2004 04:33 GMT
>>> Thanks for taking the time to write about your experiences. I look
>>> forward to reading more.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>As for the ears, remember that shallow (like a pool) is hardest on them.

Equalize like you vote.

Early and often.
Signature

dillon

When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark
and the horse's name was Bob.

chilly - 13 Aug 2004 04:09 GMT
(snip discourse of usual first time pool experience)

You see VanF, we warned you that you really needed to take your lessons
before you understood some of the answers to the questions that you had
asked.

As for your ears feeling full, you've probably done the usual to them.  You
didn't equalize properly: it is a learned skill.   Did your instructor not
give you any advice in this regard before you went into the water?  In any
event, the usual thing that happens with new divers is that they don't
equalize early enough or often enough and when they do equalize . . .they
blow too hard.

You must have another lesson or two coming up, yes?  Make sure that your
ears are OK (not infected) before you continue.
Von Fourche - 13 Aug 2004 05:44 GMT
> (snip discourse of usual first time pool experience)
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> You must have another lesson or two coming up, yes?  Make sure that your
> ears are OK (not infected) before you continue.

   Yep, next Thursday is my next class.  I realize now that you need to
equalize as soon as your under water.  And yes, my instructor told me how to
equalize.  I guess I didn't think it was all that important.  Now I realize
it is.  I look forward to tackling the next lesson with full strength.
chilly - 13 Aug 2004 08:18 GMT
>     Yep, next Thursday is my next class.  I realize now that you need to
> equalize as soon as your under water.  And yes, my instructor told me how to
> equalize.  I guess I didn't think it was all that important.  Now I realize
> it is.  I look forward to tackling the next lesson with full strength.

Start equalizing before you go under the water.
Joe English - 13 Aug 2004 12:49 GMT
>>(snip discourse of usual first time pool experience)
>>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> equalize.  I guess I didn't think it was all that important.  Now I realize
> it is.  I look forward to tackling the next lesson with full strength.

Equalize before you get under water - work them ears!
Von Fourche - 13 Aug 2004 05:57 GMT
> (snip discourse of usual first time pool experience)
>
> You must have another lesson or two coming up, yes?  Make sure that your
> ears are OK (not infected) before you continue.

   I've read that the worse thing that can happen to your yours is rupture
or blow your ear drum.  What exactly happens when you rupture your ear drum?
Is it something you would definitly notice?  Like, would you be screaming in
paign or something?
Steve - 13 Aug 2004 07:28 GMT
>     I've read that the worse thing that can happen to your yours is rupture
> or blow your ear drum.  What exactly happens when you rupture your ear drum?
> Is it something you would definitly notice?  Like, would you be screaming in
> paign or something?

It's possible to rupture an eardrum and not even know it, but it's extremely unlikely
that would happen while diving. The not noticing part, that is; rupturing an eardrum
is certainly a possibility. Even worse, you can rupture the round window in your
middle ear. A ruptured eardrum can heal leaving no permanent damage, but a ruptured
round window is likely to leave you with permanent damage. Damaging your inner ear is
something you would most likely do by making a valsalva too forcefully. Not
equalizing is your best net for rupturing an eardrum, but it's more likely to happen
while ascending. When you descend the pain from not equalizing would probably clue
you in, but if you are unable to equalize while ascending running out of air will
allow you to put up with the pain as the lesser of two evils. Go back to your Cd-rom
and review all the stuff about equalizing and ears.

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Steve

The above can be construed as personal opinion in the absence of a reasonable
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If you want a reply to reach me, remove the SPAMTRAP from the address.

Von Fourche - 13 Aug 2004 17:30 GMT
> >     I've read that the worse thing that can happen to your yours is rupture
> > or blow your ear drum.  What exactly happens when you rupture your ear drum?
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> allow you to put up with the pain as the lesser of two evils. Go back to your Cd-rom
> and review all the stuff about equalizing and ears.

I suppose I should ask, can you damage your ears just scuba diving in a
regular sized swimming pool during closed water training?
mike gray - 13 Aug 2004 18:18 GMT
>  I suppose I should ask, can you damage your ears just scuba diving in a
> regular sized swimming pool during closed water training?

Yer more likely to damage an ear in the pool than you are in open water.

Consider: In a 10' pool, the pressure diff from bottom to surface is
roughly one third. On a 130' open water dive, a one third pressure diff
will take you to about 75'. (I'm doing this in my head, nitpickers).

In the pool, with yer buoyancy skills and the up and down of lessons, a
small lapse in clearing or a small constriction of the eustachian tubes
will raise hell. From 130 to 75 takes a lot more time, the pressure
change is more gradual, ya have more time to equalize even without
thinking about it.

Personally, I hate shallow dives and pool work because my head always
feels like hell afterwards. No problem below 30' though. When you get to
yer open water, you'll find that almost all the equalization problems
are in that first 15 - 20'.
greatviz - 13 Aug 2004 18:22 GMT
>  I suppose I should ask, can you damage your ears just scuba diving in a
> regular sized swimming pool during closed water training?

Possible, but it's also possible to damage your ears while you are high
and dry.  Remember, the first 15 feet have a great pressure shift.
Start clearing before you feel pressure.  Stop descending or ascend a
couple feet until the feeling of pressure is gone while you attempt to
clear.  It will become second nature with a little practice.
chilly - 13 Aug 2004 20:56 GMT
>  I suppose I should ask, can you damage your ears just scuba diving in a
> regular sized swimming pool during closed water training?

Absolutely!!!!!
chilly - 13 Aug 2004 08:22 GMT
> > (snip discourse of usual first time pool experience)
> >
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Is it something you would definitly notice?  Like, would you be screaming in
> paign or something?

Fortunately, I've no idea how that would feel.  Unfortunately, I do know
what it feels like to blow too hard when learning how to dive.  I do know
how it feels to have a nasty ear infection from improper equalizing.
Unfortunately, I also know how it feels to have a reverse block.

As Steve was telling you, there's a point at which one has to decide to
endure the pain and ascend anyway.  Fortunately for me, that *very* painful
reverse block cleared itself and I was able to ascend pain free.  I hope to
never experience that again.
Dave L - 20 Aug 2004 02:14 GMT
 Unfortunately, I do know
> what it feels like to blow too hard when learning how to dive.

;0)
Practice makes perfect!

Dave.
chilly - 20 Aug 2004 06:10 GMT
>   Unfortunately, I do know
> > what it feels like to blow too hard when learning how to dive.
>
> ;0)
> Practice makes perfect!

Shhh . . .  truck secrets.
Dave L - 28 Aug 2004 14:11 GMT
> >   Unfortunately, I do know
> > > what it feels like to blow too hard when learning how to dive.
> >
> > Practice makes perfect!
>
> Shhh . . .  truck secrets.

;0)

Dave.
Joe English - 13 Aug 2004 12:52 GMT
>>(snip discourse of usual first time pool experience)
>>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Is it something you would definitly notice?  Like, would you be screaming in
> paign or something?

Yes - you'll know! no personal experience - however the eardrum when
ruptured will allow water to pass to the middle ear.  I am quite sure
that is very unpleasant - OUCH!  Plus now are you balance mechanisms are
thrown into a tizzy! (or dizzy)
Richard Faulkner - 13 Aug 2004 16:34 GMT
>Yes - you'll know! no personal experience - however the eardrum when
>ruptured will allow water to pass to the middle ear.  I am quite sure
>that is very unpleasant - OUCH!  Plus now are you balance mechanisms
>are thrown into a tizzy! (or dizzy)

I've just read in the Rescue Diver manual that the immediate effect is a
relief from the water pressure, and that this is one way to identify a
possible rupture.

Signature

Richard Faulkner

Joe English - 14 Aug 2004 14:14 GMT
>> Yes - you'll know! no personal experience - however the eardrum when
>> ruptured will allow water to pass to the middle ear.  I am quite sure
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> relief from the water pressure, and that this is one way to identify a
> possible rupture.

as usual, I misspoke.  I think you are correct.  It is a rupture of the
oval window that causes the exteme pain.
greatviz - 13 Aug 2004 18:14 GMT
>     I've read that the worse thing that can happen to your yours is rupture
> or blow your ear drum.  What exactly happens when you rupture your ear drum?
> Is it something you would definitly notice?  Like, would you be screaming in
> paign or something?

There are definitely worse things that can happen to your ears.
Symptoms of a ruptured drum can include discomfort, and bloody/clear/or
yellow drainage in the outer canal, and a decrease in hearing
acuity/tinnitus.  Small holes will usually repair themselves. The larger
the damage to the drum - the longer it will take or it could even
require surgical intervention. The ear canal should be kept water/fluid
free until healing occurs.

More severe ear damage can be indicated by profound hearing loss,
vertigo, and small rapid involuntary eye movement and should be followed
up by an otolaryngologist asap.

I knew someone who ruptured her eardrum in a dive immediately after
finishing our AOW class.  She apparently did a fairly rapid ascent from
90fsw, I would count her lucky that's all she got.
Dillon Pyron - 14 Aug 2004 04:37 GMT
>> (snip discourse of usual first time pool experience)
>>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>Is it something you would definitly notice?  Like, would you be screaming in
>paign or something?

Acording to my wife, it hurts like a son of a bitch, then suddenly, no
pain.  When you get out of water, sound is odd.  But no real pain.

We pack an otoscope, as she's always had ear trouble.  I've learned
how to use it pretty well, not something to learn on your own, though.
Signature

dillon

When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark
and the horse's name was Bob.

Von Fourche - 14 Aug 2004 05:37 GMT
> >> (snip discourse of usual first time pool experience)
> >>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> We pack an otoscope, as she's always had ear trouble.  I've learned
> how to use it pretty well, not something to learn on your own, though.

   Well, a problem I'm having now is when I move my jaw from left to right,
or swallow, I hear a popping sound.  Last night when I got home from the
lesson I thought it might be water.  After a nights sleep, the popping sound
has been less, but it's still there.  Could this popping sound I hear be the
eustachian tube?  And why would I be hearing popping 24 hours after the
dive?  Could there be air stuck in there or something?  I can say that my
sinuses have been hit pretty hard (like everybody else here) because we are
experiencing unusually cold weather here in the mid-west.   I've been
blowing my nose a lot the last week or so.  I do get the feeling this
popping sound will be gone in the next couple of days.  It seems to be less
severe today from yesterday after I got home from the lesson.
chilly - 14 Aug 2004 07:03 GMT
>     Well, a problem I'm having now is when I move my jaw from left to right,
> or swallow, I hear a popping sound.  Last night when I got home from the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> popping sound will be gone in the next couple of days.  It seems to be less
> severe today from yesterday after I got home from the lesson.

Have you tried taking a decongestant?
Joe English - 14 Aug 2004 14:34 GMT
>     Well, a problem I'm having now is when I move my jaw from left to right,
> or swallow, I hear a popping sound.  Last night when I got home from the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> popping sound will be gone in the next couple of days.  It seems to be less
> severe today from yesterday after I got home from the lesson.

THe first time I dove I had this problem (still do) - the doc (who was a
diver) told me that I experienced small blood vessels behind the eardrum
 rupturing and causing some blood to gather in that area.  He told me
it would clear and that I would probably have the problem every time I
dive.  The blood can dry or coagulate a bit and clog the tubes.  I find
it beneficial to keep clearing my ears - but not forcibly.  This helps
me keep that junk moving behind the ear drums.

As chilly advised - take a decongestant - having a cold is probably just
adding insult to your ear problem.

As a side note - I have never had a cold in which my ears became clogged
until after I took up scuba diving.
Von Fourche - 14 Aug 2004 18:06 GMT
> THe first time I dove I had this problem (still do) - the doc (who was a
> diver) told me that I experienced small blood vessels behind the eardrum
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> it beneficial to keep clearing my ears - but not forcibly.  This helps
> me keep that junk moving behind the ear drums.

   Well, do those small blood vessels rupturing cause any permanent damage?
I just woke up and still have that popping sound in my right year, not so
much in my left.  I was thinking I might have damaged my eustachian tube or
something.  Do those small blood vessels rupturing cause any permanent
damage?  Do ears become accustomed to this after time?
Joe English - 14 Aug 2004 20:47 GMT
>>THe first time I dove I had this problem (still do) - the doc (who was a
>>diver) told me that I experienced small blood vessels behind the eardrum
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> something.  Do those small blood vessels rupturing cause any permanent
> damage?  Do ears become accustomed to this after time?

Shouldn't be permanent damage.  It should clear up, only a doc knows for
sure.  If you do a lot of diving then your ears may become accustomed -
but I obviously don't do enough diving.  I do experience less and less
over the years.

The popping is the fluid/blood draining and the eustachian tube clearing
up/draining.
Dillon Pyron - 15 Aug 2004 04:33 GMT
>>>THe first time I dove I had this problem (still do) - the doc (who was a
>>>diver) told me that I experienced small blood vessels behind the eardrum
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>The popping is the fluid/blood draining and the eustachian tube clearing
>up/draining.

There are some easy medical solutions to this problem.  I shan't act
like a doctor but I will say the words "dose pack".

I had a drainage problem once and the doc gave me a scrip that cleared
it up in three days.

Signature

dillon

When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark
and the horse's name was Bob.

Steve - 13 Aug 2004 07:25 GMT
>     Well, I have finally had my first scuba lesson.  Over all very
> interesting.  I tell ya one thing first off - I am super tired.  I had to
> swim back and fourth 15 times for the first water test.

Don't worry about it. You don't need to be able to swim at all to dive. If you
surface from a dive and the boat is missing you might find swimming to be a useful
skill, but until things go wrong swimming is an unnecessary skill. Even if you do
find yourself in the middle of the ocean with no boat in sight, as long as you have a
mask and snorkel (fins may be useful, too) you still won't be swimming in the same
sense as whatever you did for your laps in the pool. I don't consider myself to be a
strong swimmer but I can snorkel for hours with no problem at all. Some people will
suggest that you don't need a snorkel when you're diving, and just like the abilty to
swim, it isn't something you need when things are going well.

>     We used small aluminum tanks.  I'm not sure the size/volume.  They were
> around 3000psi.  I was shocked by how heavy they weighed.  Around 40 pounds
> I think.

Probably an AL 80, a tank made of aluminum and holding 80 cubic feet (when filled to
3000 psi). Ask next time.

>     We sat at the edge of he pool, and slid our arms into the bdc.  Getting
> my arms into the bcd with that heavy tank on was a little challenge.  But I
> found out I had air in my bcd.  So deflating it made it easier.

Make sure the straps are loose, too. The second arm is a bit of a PITA. If you point
your arms down and back and put them both in as you sit down you may find it easier.

>     After I dropped my head under water for the first time I was shocked by
> so many bubbles from the regulator.  I didn't know the bubbles coming out
> would be so many and so loud too.

You'll get used to it, and it won't seem as loud later, but that's another reason to
get comfortable and stop breathing so much air.

> It was difficult to inhale thru the regulator
> while exhaling thru my nose, plus felling that water around my eyes.  But I
> did it and my instructor was satisfied.

Plan on doing a lot more of it, including after you finish the class and are doing
fun dives. When somebody kicks your mask off you'll be glad for the practice. You'll
also be reminded why you shouldn't follow too closely.

>     When we finally swam to the deep end I sunk like a stone.  I didn't put
> any air in my bcd.  I was a little surprised the tank pulled me down like
> that.

Properly weighted with a full tank you should have been about 5 pounds heavy at the
start. If you were wearing a wetsuit it compressed as you sank making you heavier as
you went. Did you get hurt slamming into the bottom? I didn't think so. In deeper
water you'll have time to add some air to slow your descent so that you don't crash
into the reef.

>Then, when I
> did shoot air in my bcd, a couple of seconds later I shot up.  Again, I was
> shocked you can fill air in your bcd so quickly and it takes you right up.

Again, a wetsuit would exacerbate the problem on the way up. I think it was one of
your questions that got the answer to breathe your way up, and now you know why. When
you do add air to the BC you should do it in tiny little bursts with just a short tap
on the inflator button. Later you'll have a better idea of how much air you need, and
can add more air with a longer push when you need to stop a descent at 75 or 100
feet. When you've gotten neutral at depth you'll want to let air out of the BC before
you even start your ascent. Instructors tend to overweight beginners so that they
don't shoot to the surface and so they can kneel while doing exercises. In your next
class you'll hopefully start working on getting neutral and you'll do fin pivots,
where you inhale to pivot up with you fin tips still on the bottom, then exhale to
sink back down.

>     I was also surprised how much bigger things look.

That still throws me sometimes. 12 ounce beer bottles look like wine bottles. Things
look closer than they are, too. Don't be surprised when you reach for the ladder and
miss it.

>     Also, the first dive to the deep end I really felt the pressure on my
> ears.

As chilly said, you need to equalize early and often. Since I don't normally have
anything else to do with my hands while descending I tend to hold my nose and keep a
slight positive pressure down to 60 feet or so. Descending feet first helps if you
don't equalize easily.

> But I do have this feeling that I have water stuck in my ears
> or something. Or my sinuses are giving me trouble.

You may well have irritated your sinuses or your ears a bit. If you have a bit of
water in your mask and trap a bit in your nose when you equalize it's possible to
blow water up your eustachian tubes. That can definitely  result in a full feeling
that lasts for a couple of days.

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Steve

The above can be construed as personal opinion in the absence of a reasonable
belief that it was intended as a statement of fact.

If you want a reply to reach me, remove the SPAMTRAP from the address.

Joe English - 13 Aug 2004 13:01 GMT
>>     Well, I have finally had my first scuba lesson.  Over all very
>> interesting.  I tell ya one thing first off - I am super tired.  I had to
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> diving, and just like the abilty to swim, it isn't something you need
> when things are going well.

I hope I never get buddied up with you - while you do not need to be an
olympic or marathon diver, it is in your best interest to know how to swim.
Dennis \(Icarus\) - 13 Aug 2004 13:44 GMT
> >>     Well, I have finally had my first scuba lesson.  Over all very
> >> interesting.  I tell ya one thing first off - I am super tired.  I had to
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> I hope I never get buddied up with you - while you do not need to be an
> olympic or marathon diver, it is in your best interest to know how to swim.

Steve is right, though - the way you surface-swim with fins, even if you
decide to ditch your gear, is different than what you'd do when swimming
without.

I was rather tired when I completd my swim tests. In otrder to get a better
handle on it, I decided to take a swim class in preparation for the "SLAM
(scuba lifesaving and accident management)" class.
The instructor knew I was a certified diver (ran the shop, though another
taught my class) so he said
   "let me see your crawl stroke"
I showed him. He then said
   "ok, this is how you do the crawl stroke".
:-)

If the difficulties in swimming come from doing things wrong, and not from
lack of conditioning, then
he should be fine finning though the water.
If the difficulties came from lack of conditioning, then swimming, cycling,
anything would help quite a bit.

Dennis
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It's the -responsible- environmental alternative
                Popeye

greatviz - 13 Aug 2004 18:26 GMT
>> Don't worry about it. You don't need to be able to swim at all to
>> dive. If you surface from a dive and the boat is missing you might
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> I hope I never get buddied up with you - while you do not need to be an
> olympic or marathon diver, it is in your best interest to know how to swim.

If someone is not "a strong swimmer," it doesn't mean he doesn't "know
how to swim".  Clearly, it is nice to be a strong swimmer but it might
be nicer to have signal devices if you are left a few miles out at sea.
 Even relatively strong swimmers can be overtaken by the sea in not so
pleasant conditions.  Perhaps floating ability is more important ;-)
Chris Guynn - 13 Aug 2004 14:41 GMT
<snip>

> As chilly said, you need to equalize early and often. Since I don't normally have
> anything else to do with my hands while descending I tend to hold my nose and keep a
> slight positive pressure down to 60 feet or so. Descending feet first helps if you
> don't equalize easily.

For me, the exact opposite is true.  I find it much easier to equalize in a
headfirst descent.  I think it has to do with the positioning of my head in
relation to the rest of my body (i.e. looking "up" instead of "down")
Chris Guynn - 13 Aug 2004 14:45 GMT
>     Well, I have finally had my first scuba lesson.

Congratulations.  Welcome to our world (at least, the entryway).

>     We used small aluminum tanks.  I'm not sure the size/volume.  They were
> around 3000psi.  I was shocked by how heavy they weighed.  Around 40 pounds
> I think.  The weight belt with weights kind of heavy too.  Then again, I was
> completely tired from that 15 lap swim, my arms were aching a little. So
> maybe next week that tank and weights wont be so heavy for me with my full
> strength.

They're always heavier than I remember them being.

>     We went over the usual things, regulator recover and stuff.  That was no
> problem at all.  I thought the easiest method of clearing a regulator is
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> while exhaling thru my nose, plus felling that water around my eyes.  But I
> did it and my instructor was satisfied.

Did your insturctor cover hand signals before taking you deep?  If not, he
should have.  Don't be afraid or ashamed to admit that you have problems
(like pain in the ears).

Glad to hear your experiences.  I look forward to hearing more as you
progress through the different stages.
David Gintz - 14 Aug 2004 01:23 GMT
Welcome to the world of SCUBA. Thanks for sharing your newbie insights. It's
good to see that you were prepared for most of what you came across and that
you can tell what you weren't ready for. Have a great time with this sport!

- David
Dave L - 20 Aug 2004 02:14 GMT
>     Well, I have finally had my first scuba lesson.
>snip<
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> shocked you can fill air in your bcd so quickly and it takes you right up.
> I can see neutral buoyancy is something that tanks time to develop.

You'll get used to it. Take things slow, use short 'bursts' on the inflator
button, then wait a few seconds to see the result. You'll get it quicker
than ya might think.

>     I was also surprised how much bigger things look.

Don't let people catch you looking at it all the time.....it seems to freak
some people out! ??? dunno what all that's about! ;)

>     Anyway, before this class,  I have been thru the Padi cdrom course so
> much and have read so many magazines that I thought If I stumbled upon a
> full set of scuba gear while walking on a beach in the Caribbean, I could
> put it on, jump in, and go scuba diving as good as any pro without taking
> any classes.   Boy, was I wrong.  I had just one thing on my mind when I got
> home - break open my 18 year old Kentucky bourbon, sit down, and relax.

That's what it's all about. Have a blast next (this) week.

Dave.

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