considering snorkelling...

[Helen (AKA Hellvet)]

Hi
I am very nervous about posting here as i feel a bit hypocritical. I've never been a confident snorkeller, and have always preferred SCUBA.:o However i've now been told i might never be able to dive again due to repeated episodes of DCI and am searching for other ways of enjoying the underwater environment, and continuing with my underwater photography.

I would like to say from the start that i'm quite nervous about snorkelling, and always have been. It took a while for my dive club to get me to the stage of duck diving and picking stuff up off the bottom of the pool during dive training. I feel very out of control compared to when I'm diving and I have all my kit to get me out of trouble.

My assistant regional coach is also a keen snorkeller and has had a fairly persuasive chat with me to try to get me to think differently about snorkelling. I would like to give snorkelling a proper chance and get proper training, and see if i can overcome my fears. I've been offered some one to one training which i think will work well for me...though i might think about joining a club up here too. I am based in London, but used to be in Cornwall.

I love the idea of being free underwater, but have a couple of questions...
Having had a look through the BSAC snorkelling site it mentions a medical - what does this involve - similar to the dive medical?
Is my dive kit going to be suitable? I have a Beaver Atomic low volume mask, 3mm wetsuit, 5mm semidry suit (long and short suits), 5mm boots, Avanti X3 strap fins, and a beaver purge snorkel.
How much weight will i carry to start? I used to dive on approx 20lb.

Thanks for your help,
Helen

[Ralph Ellis]

Helen
I had be en a diver for 33years unfortunayily I had to make the decision to stop diving due to the condition of my eyes and being dibetic, althogh I had with the help of several freind run the local snokelling club for the last 21 years I can say that apart from thw wreck diving I have seen more marine life snorkelling than I did when diving.

Firstly I would say to you take your time and gain confidence steadaly dont rush but do be prepared to gain two or three steps forward and one back dont be rushed into doing somthingyou realy are not happy to do until you have gained the confidence

we have a member of our culb that two years ago had a strong fear of the water, with some very gental couching she has been on holiday to sharm el sheik gone snokelling every day and even done a hand held night snokel, in secent weeks she has mastered surface dives and is determind to do a surface dive when we run the next trip to sharm in 2007

finally the equipent you have for the diving ia also fine for snorkelling the weight you will need to expeiment with to find the weight that siuts you for the type of water you are snorkelling in

I hope I have given you some encouregement and wish you well if I can be of any help please dont hesitate to contact me .:)


ralph Ellis
darwen Snorkelling Club
Probably the best in the north west

[John Williams]

Hi
I am very nervous about posting here as i feel a bit hypocritical. I've never been a confident snorkeller, and have always preferred SCUBA.:o However i've now been told i might never be able to dive again due to repeated episodes of DCI and am searching for other ways of enjoying the underwater environment, and continuing with my underwater photography.

I would like to say from the start that i'm quite nervous about snorkelling, and always have been. It took a while for my dive club to get me to the stage of duck diving and picking stuff up off the bottom of the pool during dive training. I feel very out of control compared to when I'm diving and I have all my kit to get me out of trouble.

My assistant regional coach is also a keen snorkeller and has had a fairly persuasive chat with me to try to get me to think differently about snorkelling. I would like to give snorkelling a proper chance and get proper training, and see if i can overcome my fears. I've been offered some one to one training which i think will work well for me...though i might think about joining a club up here too. I am based in London, but used to be in Cornwall.

I love the idea of being free underwater, but have a couple of questions...
Having had a look through the BSAC snorkelling site it mentions a medical - what does this involve - similar to the dive medical?
Is my dive kit going to be suitable? I have a Beaver Atomic low volume mask, 3mm wetsuit, 5mm semidry suit (long and short suits), 5mm boots, Avanti X3 strap fins, and a beaver purge snorkel.
How much weight will i carry to start? I used to dive on approx 20lb.

Thanks for your help,
Helen

Helen,

I think snorkelling is a great alternative to SCUBA - but the two need not be exclusive!

I'm certain that the friends you have made in SCUBA would love to see you stay with the club...you can remain involved too!

They will always be grateful for a non-diving cox.

The time you save by allowing them all in the water at the same time - and therefore allowing everyone to hit slack on the wreck - will be repaid by making sure that you get boat cover from qualifed friends as you go snorkelling during the surface interval!

You never know...you might even convince them that snorkelling is fun too!
(you'll certainly be seeing more sealife that they will!)

You might even open (or support) the snorkelling section of the club...and by doing so attract new members - to BOTH sections!

Even if you cannot participate in the actual SCUBA side of the club...you still have an awful lot to offer!

But...formal qualifications will allow you to monitor your progress, and by measuring the improvements in your skills you will gain in confidence as you gain in qualification. The Ocean Explorer programme is a good one - very progressive and very supportive. Find yourself a good instructor who is familiar with it and work with them to develop your skills/confidence.

If there is no-one you trust who is familiar with the programme...ask someone you do trust as an instructor to get familiar with it!

(or contact your Regional Coach to ask who the Regional Snorkelling Adviser is ..they may be able to introduce you to a trusted instructor who is already familiar with the programme)

Whatever...don't go! (we like you!)

John

[ChristianG]

Helen,

I have a very good friend resident just north of Glasgow who had to give up diving for much the same reasons you have given.

She is now the BSAC Regional Snorkelling Instructor (whatever her proper title may be) for Scotland. Something like that, anyway.

There IS life after diving. http://www.bsacforum.co.uk/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Regards,

Christian

[Helen (AKA Hellvet)]

There IS life after diving.

There'd blooming better be - i'm only 28! No i know that really - i just have to find a slightly different focus...

I think snorkelling is a great alternative to SCUBA - but the two need not be exclusive! I'm certain that the friends you have made in SCUBA would love to see you stay with the club...you can remain involved too! They will always be grateful for a non-diving cox.

You might even open (or support) the snorkelling section of the club...and by doing so attract new members - to BOTH sections!Even if you cannot participate in the actual SCUBA side of the club...you still have an awful lot to offer!

If there is no-one you trust who is familiar with the programme...ask someone you do trust as an instructor to get familiar with it!

Whatever...don't go! (we like you!)

I'm not planning on going anywhere! And i don't think my club will let me - from the support i've had so far!
I think i have to start thinking of ways of staying involved which will allow me to have time in the water though!

I'm planning on doing my boat handling, VHF etc etc and also planning on starting to do more instructing on the next course that comes round. Sadly because i haven't completed my Dive Leader i can't even be a TI, but i can instruct under supervision - i've done the lectures and exam, but was leaving the dives till i had more experience as i didn't feel ready to be a DL - thinking i had the rest of my life to go diving!

I think snorkelling might be an option - getting progressively more excited actually from what people are saying on here - but still waiting to hear back from the docs as to whether its a possibility...

[colinb]

Helen

if you can dive you can snorkel i got into SCUBA by snorkeling i think it is the same principle face in the water fantasic fish ect without the depth give it a good try you will enjoy

colin

[Carol]

Helen,

I have a very good friend resident just north of Glasgow who had to give up diving for much the same reasons you have given.

She is now the BSAC Regional Snorkelling Instructor (whatever her proper title may be) for Scotland. Something like that, anyway.

There IS life after diving.

Regards,

Christian
Helen,
If Christian had told me about your posting on this Forum I would have had something to say before this! In fact, I'm Regional Advisor for Scotland!
I was a Dive Leader and Club Instructor when my diving career was cut short by DCI (3 times in chamber)
I have found however, that snorkelling can be great fun and has many advantages over diving eg you dont get lost;) I went with my dive Club to Sharm at the end of May and they dived whilst I snorkelled. And tomorrow I'm going to Oban - they dive; I snorkel!
Your dry suit will be useless! I use a 5mm wetsuit with rash vest and thin lycra to keep warm. I need about 8kg weight but you should check this out on your fist OW dive. Some of your qualifications will be transferred to Snorkelling but you should go on any course which appears to improve your knowledge and skills - become an Instructor:D
Good luck - write me privately if you want.
Carol

[Jon H]

Except you can spend a hour + without going to surface. Unlike snorkeling which is 1-3 min. it was other way round for me but I would rather do scuba

[Carol]

Except you can spend a hour + without going to surface. Unlike snorkeling which is 1-3 min. it was other way round for me but I would rather do scuba

Its perhaps useful to remember that all reds disappear at 5m and all colours except blue by 15m (unless the sun shines and viz is perfect :rolleyes: )
So we snorkellers can see all the glorious colours ALL THE TIME and for far longer than an hour if we wish AND its FREE :D
Cheers
Carol
Listen Jon.... have you missed the point of all this?
WE would ALL rather be on SCUBA. Come talk to me if ever you find yourself in the chamber wondering if you will ever be allowed to dive again :p

[kpmaher]

Depending on where you live in London. There is a very active snorklling club in Ruislip. They meet on a saturday morning

there web address is http://www.ruislipsnorkelling.co.uk/ i'm sure they well make you very welcome.

[graham griffiths]

Helen

I'm the Southern Development Officer for Snorkelling.

You certainly have no need to feel hard done by in turning to Snorkelling. Its a valid sport in its own right and every bit as fullfilling as SCUBA (but I would say that wouldn't I)
There are a few specialist snorkelling clubs in London. Someone has already mentioned Ruslip, who are excellent. There are also some BSAC branches who have a snorkelling section. Please feel free to contact me at south.sdo@bsac.com or 01306 501 843 to discuss further.

Regards

Graham

[Helen (AKA Hellvet)]

Except you can spend a hour + without going to surface. Unlike snorkeling which is 1-3 min. it was other way round for me but I would rather do scuba
__________________
You can be any age to dive...... well as long as you can dive

Like Carol said i freely admit i'd rather scuba, but as this isn't an option for me, certainly in the short term, tho there's some hope left still (but only a shred!) i'm exploring other options.

However, i'm very positive about the idea of snorkelling, and just need to find the right club now...!

I'm based in Merton Park London SW19 if thats any help to people!

[wolfie]

Hi. I am in Peterborough at the moment and fancy a bit of snorkeling on the east coat from here, not to far. Does anyone know a bit of interresting rocky shoreline or a inlet where i can spend a day. If possible wirh easy access by car, considering sleeping in the car over night to make it 2 days as long we have offshore wind and it is nice and sunny. Cheers for any info.

If it dont fit, I make it fit:D