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Scuba Forum / General / May 2005helping a nervous diver (snorkelling)
Hello all, apologies if this is not the right place but the snorkelling group seemed kinda quiet. Me and my GF will be taking a holiday soon which will involve a bit of snorkelling. Now the problem is that she is a bit nervous about the whole mask leaking thing (I have just got her a well fitting mask so that should help) and breathing underwater. I figured that going to the local pool and playing around with taking the mask off underwater should help (starting in shallow water and working deeper). However, being a rock climber I have witnessed couples ending up in screaming matches when boyfriend decided to 'teach' girlfriend climbing. I would like to avoid this. So my question is do you have any tips for helping someone who is a bit nervous about diving/snorkelling, but is otherwise perfectly comfortable in the water? Cheers Mike resist the temptation to put the mask on too tight (it doesnt help) at the pool: -put the mask on loosely -underwater, press mask against face with hand (this creates negative pressure and keeps the mask on without distortion -practice letting in a little water by breaking the seal at the top -practice swishing the water round to clear the glass -practice getting rid of excess water by blowing air though nose (be near the surface -advanced - practice tightening your mask by inhaling though your nose (bend your head forward to get water out of nose place and blow water out of nostrils first) hope this helps It took me a while to figure some of this out Do it at the pool Mike, What value can you put on avoiding a big fight, hurt feelings and sulking during your vacation? Boyfriends (and girlfriends) put a lot of pressure on the their partners when they push them towards something that they find uncomfortable. Their partners can feel that pressure whether there was actual pushing or not - simply because they want to please, impress or compete. It can happen when you try to teach too actively, as well. I liked talskeddy's post, but I would make sure that when you hit the pool with your GF that you do teach too actively. Instead, accept that she will be doing the learning - at her own pace. If she gets frustrated or hits a wall - give her room. Only help when she asks. Being able to clear a flooded mask builds confidence for snorkelers, whether or not they have to use the skill. Surface diving is also a great confidence builder. If you really, really want to have her teach herself mask clearing in a fool proof method. Have her follow my Mind, Body, Spirit technique for scuba and snorkel training: 1. Visualize the task at hand by breaking it down into the individual steps involved. 2. Affirm the tasks by speaking them out loud and acting them out standing in shallow water. 3.Place the mask and snorkel on and have her relax, floating face down on the surface, before submerging. Have her float like this on the surface for 2-3 minutes doing deep breathing exercises. 4. Have her submerge, again in shallow water,sit on the bottom and clear the mask. Oh yeah, don't let her tighten down the mask strap too much, it makes the mask leak. You could also talk to your local dive shop and get her a one hour pool session or even have her take a quick snorkeling course. They she'll learn mask clearing, suface diving and the buddy system. The price of a grumpy vacation just aint worth it. Schultzie www.zendiver.blogspot.com >resist the temptation to put the mask on too tight (it doesnt help) > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >It took me a while to figure some of this out >Do it at the pool > What value can you put on avoiding a big fight, hurt feelings and > sulking during your vacation? Boyfriends (and girlfriends) put a lot > of pressure on the their partners when they push them towards > something that they find uncomfortable. Their partners can feel that > pressure whether there was actual pushing or not - simply because they > want to please, impress or compete. Please, OK. Impress or compete is very risky territory. Partners don't strive to impress or compete with one another, they work together. > I liked talskeddy's post, but I would make sure that when you hit the > pool with your GF that you do teach too actively. Instead, accept > that she will be doing the learning - at her own pace. You're on the right track, but I think you've reached the wrong conclusion. I would make sure somebody else provides the training. When my wife learned to water ski, I paid somebody else to teach her. Once she had learned, I helped her get better. When my wife learned to snow ski, I paid somebody else to teach her. Once she had learned, I helped her get better. When my wife learned to dive, I paid somebody else to teach her. Once she had learned, I helped her get better. When my wife learned to drive a stick shift, I taught her. It went well, but my antacid bill went up until she was ready to go off on her own. She helped herself get better. Lee > When my wife learned to water ski, I paid somebody else to > teach her. Once she had learned, I helped her get better. > When my wife learned to snow ski, I paid somebody else > to teach her. Once she had learned, I helped her get better. > When my wife learned to dive, I paid somebody else to teach > her. Once she had learned, I helped her get better. And when your wife learned how to "do-the-horizontal-mombo", did you also pay someone else to teach her? Notice, I didn't question the part about you helping her to get better afterwards... <dirty-old-man-grin> Sorry, Lee, but when you leave openings like that, I just *can't* resist it... > And when your wife learned how to "do-the-horizontal-mombo", did you also > pay someone else to teach her? That was taken care of before I met her. Horizontal? You can do it horizontal too? Cool. Lee > That was taken care of before I met her. Oh, so someone else paid? >> That was taken care of before I met her. > > Oh, so someone else paid? Some people don't buy new cars either. Something about not being a good value. Me, I like that new car smell. One day mikegw got dressed and committed to text > Hello all, > apologies if this is not the right place but the snorkelling group [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Mike For just snorkelling you wont be doing much 'mask clearing' with a properly fitting mask. If she can hold it on by just taking a small 'sniff' thats a good test. Consider as a newbie she will not be making long duration dives, so if a bit of water gets in it can be cleared at the surface. Get in some experience and all the rest will come with it. Hope your holiday goes well.  SignatureRegards ..... Rheilly Phoull > Hello all, > apologies if this is not the right place but the snorkelling group seemed [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Mike I'd hit the local library and grab a couple of books to relate the beauty of what's underwater. It is a clear motivator. Then I'd sit in the shallow end of a pool for a while and simply practise breathing through the snorkel with mask on. She sounds like a swimmer but you might concider a light floatation vest to start with - just to increase comfort. Lastly I'd remind her that people float when their heads are underwater! Good luck and be very patient and you'll not have a spat! bill > > Hello all, > > apologies if this is not the right place but the snorkelling group seemed [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > Good luck and be very patient and you'll not have a spat! Look at babies who were birthed and raised in the water. The fear of water is learned. > Look at babies who were birthed and raised in the water. > > The fear of water is learned. Learned soon after attempting to breathe water... <grin> There's one piece of advice that someone has not already provided. Avoid overloading her with information, take it slow. It's a common characteristic when couples take up a sport together such as sailing or diving; the more dominant participate throws a barrage of information at the other. At some point it becomes a real deterant. > There's one piece of advice that someone has not already provided. Avoid > overloading her with information, take it slow. > > It's a common characteristic when couples take up a sport together such as > sailing or diving; the more dominant participate throws a barrage of > information at the other. At some point it becomes a real deterant. Oh yea. I could not agree more. I have taken a few people climbing (girlfriend included) and other than the initial safety blurb I tend to let them have a go and then talk about ONE aspect after each go (if that). Mike Forget all the baloney that you just read, Mike. Buy her a mask with a purge valve. End of problems. Bart F. > Hello all, > apologies if this is not the right place but the snorkelling group seemed [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Mike |
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