Comfort level?

[thesarasmile]

Greetings all. I thought I would say "hi" and ask a question:

Just wondering how it has taken people to feel comfortable diving. I started a few months ago (granted I have an inherent fear of the ocean waters)?

[kdtan]

it really depends on persons to person. i know i felt pretty comfortable from my first dives in terms of being at ease in my surroundings. but if you are talking about comfort from a buoyancy/ trim perspective, that took a while longer.

[Nigel Hewitt]

Just wondering how it has taken people to feel comfortable diving. I started a few months ago (granted I have an inherent fear of the ocean waters)?
I always feel edgy on the run up to a dive, especially a big one. I divert it into being meticulous in my set-up and equipment checks.

The fact that I have a tendency to sea sickness doesn't help.

Being totally blasé is probably just as bad.

[pugwash]

Before most dives I take a few moments to mentally run through my gear and the proposed dive; this reduces any butterflies in the stomach feeling. Being blase could lead down the road to disaster.

[nigelhoath]

After 14 dives but that was more about being with the right people on the right dive (within my abilities). After all the normal gulping air dives I did a nice 8 meter shore dive with an expert (Chris diving chef) using my own kit and no rush - and everything came right. And when I went back deeper with others it all stayed in place.

Best advice I got was here - just enjoy it and don't pressure yourself with lack of time to prepare or by pushing the boundaries (especially depth).

[jsdiver]

Greetings all. I thought I would say "hi" and ask a question:

Just wondering how it has taken people to feel comfortable diving. I started a few months ago (granted I have an inherent fear of the ocean waters)?

Hopefully you are more comfortable by now. If you have a fear of Ocean waters try lake/quarry dives first then progress to sheltered sea dives (say portland harbour). This info is probably a bit late by now :(

Anyway

Hope you are enjoying your diving

JS

[Hamish]

Hi Sara,

Welcome to the BSAC forums.

I didn’t get comfortable until I had completely sorted out my buoyancy to the point where I did not need to continually keep adjusting it, which took around 20 or so dives. Having done that it then followed that my air usage dropped and I was also able to take in more of what I was seeing whilst diving.

That is why when I'm instructing I try to improve the students buoyancy at every opportunity as I feel that getting that sorted as quickly as possible also helps them to improve their skills as they do not have to concentrate continually on their buoyancy.

Regards

Hamish

[davebarber]

When you are a new diver all your kit is new and strange to you. Its natural you feel unsettled.

Even experienced divers are put off by new bits of kit.

Don't worry go diving.