Overcome 6 most common fears to learn scuba diving

1. 6 Most Common Fears Divers Have to Learn Scuba Diving ext-5777808.livejournal.com/4637.html The SSI open water diver course is certainly a challenging yet fun-loving program and an introduction to the underwater world. New OWD students have numerous doubts and questions regarding the scuba gear, and underwater dive conditions, are curious about dive sites, and are nervous about confined water skills. Most newbie divers have 6 common fear facts in scuba diving who are about to enroll on the OWD program. Check the following 6 common fears along with a proper explanation to counter them. Mask Clearing The number one most common problem or fear people have is taking off their masks underwater. If you've already started the course you would know the open water course has 25 skills that you have to complete before you graduate as a certified diver. Along with theory, pool session, open water session, and equipment. There are certain skills that you have to do underwater to prove to the instructor or yourself that in case of emergencies you'll be able to deal with these problems. 1/4

2. The first skill everyone typically starts with is a mask-clearing skill. This makes a lot of people nervous what you have to do is actually let water into your mask and then blow it out with your nose. This is something we do almost on every dive, if you have a little bit of fog in your mask or if your mask is leaking a little bit. There might be reasons why you have to clear your mask. It is also the skill that freaks most people up because there you are with your mask breathing and all of a sudden you're meant to take away one of your last senses. Don't feel bad almost everyone is apprehensive about this. The first tip of course is to keep your eyes closed and keep breathing through your mouth. We often forget that when we close our eyes, we can actually keep breathing we don't need our eyesight to breathe so as long as you have that regulator in your mouth. You are going to be okay so even when you get some water into your mask don't worry about it because you have the regulator to breathe, you can keep your eyes closed, you can clear your mask and then you can open them again and you're going to be okay. That's the biggest issue most people have, take your time your instructor will go through this carefully and slowly. Breathing through your nose As humans, we typically breathe through our noses so going to the underwater world where our regulator is supplying air through our mouth it's a little bit disconcerting. There are a few different things you can do to kind of help ease yourself into it. The first thing of course is focused on breathing through your mouth and not breathing through your nose. Usually, people still find that reflex will cause them to breathe through their nose you can always pinch your nose closed if that makes you feel better or pretend you don't have a nose. That sounds a little bit crazy but genuinely if you just pretend you don't have a nose you can't breathe in or out. You just say closed off that part of your body you will be breathing in and out purely through your mouth. After a few practices or after your first pool session, you will most likely get the hang of it so don't stress if at the beginning this all feels unusual or different or scary just take your time. Peer Pressure The third most common fear is kind of peer pressure and feeling nervous in front of other people in your group. Unless you take a private lesson you can most certainly find an instructor to teach you privately one-on-one. You will most likely be in a group of divers now everyone is at a different level to start off with there are some people who have been free diving and snorkelling there are some people who are nervous swimmers. Some people are younger and typically have less fear of children. 2/4

3. If you are a little bit older you might you might be a little bit apprehensive because you have that cognitive development of fear and going underwater is kind of crazy. So perfectly normal to be nervous but remember do not compare yourself to the people in your group. It might take you 1,2,3 or even 10 tries to clear your mask. Don't feel bad instructors have seen it all Any questions you may have to ask, any concerns you may have we have heard it, seen it so don't feel bad that you feel like you're falling behind that's why we also have dive masters and our assistants will be more than happy to take you aside and practice some of these skills a little bit more with you to ensure that you're fully comfortable. Just because the other people in your group are going forward does not mean you should push yourself beyond your limit. Don't push yourself into anxiety be kind to yourself take your time and most places will be more than happy for you to come back another day for an extra pool session. Going underwater is an enormous stress on your body it's not natural, it's something very strange so don't feel bad if your body needs a little bit more time to adjust to it than some of the other people in your group. So don't feel the peer pressure, we're all in this together and we want to get you as comfortable as you possibly can before going on your open water dives. Regulator Recovery The next fear people have is once they've gotten over the initial breathing with the regulator once they've gotten over getting underwater and seeing what's happening doing the most basic skills is the skill of taking out their regulator and putting it back in. This is a fear that you won't be able to breathe and that you'll run out of air. Your instructors gonna teach you anytime your regulator is out of your mouth. You are gonna need to be blowing little bubbles at all times. This is to keep the air circulating in your lungs. You will learn all about it in your open water course. When you have the regulator out of your mouth remember that the instructor is going to be right there in front of you so even if you happen to drop it or you don't quite do the skill correctly. Don't find it as quickly as you would want to the instructor is right there. They're gonna have their alternate air source ready to give to you. So don't panic just stay calm you are in good hands. In terms of skill that I was talking about people don't quite get right this is the skill of when you release the regulator you're blowing little bubbles and then you have to do the regulator recovery. The simple way to regulator recovery is to touch your thigh then touch your butt then tap your tank, and then sweep your arm out. If you do this the alternate air source will definitely be over your right shoulder so with your left hand you can grab it and put it into your mouth. Your instructor is going to demonstrate this but just keep in mind if you do little movements then there's potentially a chance that that regulator won't be over your right shoulder even if it's not the instructor is right there to help you out making sure you have enough air. Sharks 3/4

4. The fifth fear some people have is in terms of what awaits them underwater so a lot of questions about sharks or rays or other scary creatures underwater. The bottom line though is we are not in the sharks' food chain. If a shark does see us underwater and if you see a shark on your first few dives you are so lucky. These beautiful apex predators are not only vital for our ecosystem but they're spectacular to look at. They most definitely don't want to eat us, we are not in their natural food chain. They want to eat fish that are much smaller, they certainly don't want to eat that big bubbles-breathing group of neoprene-smelling divers. Don't worry about the sharks if you do see them just stick close with your buddy point out the shark. This is our signal and enjoy the spectacular lucky moment. Again, talk to your instructor and buddies and do some research if you are still nervous about sharks just learn a bit more about them and you will see we are not their target. There has never been an incident of a shark actually biting a scuba diver. Diving Alone The sixth most common fear is diving alone, of course, you never ever dive alone. You are always in your team buddy system after your open water course as a newbie diver you're kind of told there you go, you are certified now, and you can go on dives with just your buddy. This freaks you out because you're worried about navigation, currents, not knowing the area very well, getting lost or running out of air, or anything like that. If you are nervous do not be but simply be honest with yourself and act accordingly. That means either dive with a buddy who is more experienced than you for example a rescue diver or divemaster or go to a dive organization and ask to get a guide, they typically are divemasters or instructors who are there to help you out. 4/4