My Journey Into Scuba Diving

The blog of a soon to be trainee Ocean (Open Water) Diver chronically her journey into the world of Scuba Diving.

[myscubadivingjourney]

Of cylinder fills and wetsuits

that’s that This isn’t a lesson related post per se, but today I have been to a local dive shop to get my cylinder fled before my next lesson, and tried two wetsuits on whilst I was at it and I thought I’d write a little something on that :) 

So my cylinder (note to self it’s a cylinder, not a tank. A cylinder) is now full again (yay) so when I switch it on again come Monday night’s lesson it should say 200 (or just over that) PSI of air. Which should last me a few weeks

To get my cylinder filled it was £4.50, but because I had a voucher for the dive shop I got my mask, snorkel, fins and bag from for christmas (before the company went bust) the very helpful, and very kind shop assistant (or co-owner I’m not sure) let me swap it in exchange for an air fill card that entitles me to around £34.00 worth of fills, so that will cover me for the next few month’s worth of air I use when I dive (based on a consumption rate of about 3/4 weeks worth of lessons). 

Whilst I was there I also tried on 2 full length 5mm thick wetsuits, both black and purple in colour, both very well made. However, despite the fact the first one was very comfortable, and was largely ok in it’s fit on me, it was a little big under the arms. Which then led me to try one the other one, which was too small.

The ones I tried on, are two copies of the middle one in this picture

https://divemanchester.co.uk/collections/wetsuits-rashguards/products/bare-nixie-5mm

All is not lost though, because I am going to pop in next weekend if I can to see if they have the in-between size, and try that on and if it fits (which it should) buy that. I am also going to get a shortie (half-length) wetsuit from the supermarket chain Aldi where they are going on sale in stores from tomorrow, for a limited time as part of their ‘summer special buys’ range. 

Of course it is more important that I get the full length one, as this will ultimately help the dive shop stay ‘afloat’ (pun intended) as a business.

The reason I want to get a wetsuit, is because the BCD jacket straps rubbed me the other week and left my skin a bit pink on my shoulders (I do my lessons in a one-piece swimming costume). 

But yeah, just thought I’d post this as a sort of mini event in my journey to becoming a qualified ocean diver. I will even update you guys on other things like this, as when they happen. 

[myscubadivingjourney]

Lesson 3 - In deep (literally)

So my third Ocean Diver lesson was certainly a trip and a half out of comfort zone, mentally and metaphorically speaking. Whilst I managed no mask swimming, breathing through a free flowing regulator, neutral buoyancy at depth, out of air/alternative air source air sharing (a personal favourite of mine) and a giant stride entry relatively ok. Mask clearing - partial, full and mask clear/removal was a whole other story. 

Me and my instructor performed the skill initially last week just under the surface, and whilst I managed it ok then, we did it at depth on the bottom of the pool this time. Of course being my instructor he had no issues with it (whatsoever) but I got water up my nose and panicked. I ended up going to the surface to recover and calm down. We later re-did the skill underwater but not quite so deep, and with some persistence I managed it. My persistence at the skill impressing my instructor. So good going on my part

I have also now officially signed up for the course, paid my fees and have my membership/course materials. So here’s to what the next few weeks and months will bring 

[myscubadivingjourney]

Lesson 2 - Stepping things up a gear

So last night saw me take part in the second lesson of my ocean diver course, in which I learnt to set up my gear and did a recap of necessary pre-dive checks with my instructor. But that was not all I did last night. The lesson also touched on the following 

Mask Clearing

No Mask Breathing 

Regulator to Snorkel Exchange 

Regulator Removal

Air Sharing

Though some skills are definitely harder than others my instructor was once again impressed with my progress, though over the coming weeks I will be revisiting these skills and be introduced to others...at depth. I have much to learn...

[myscubadivingjourney]

Lesson 1 - The Beginning

So tonight I took my first steps to becoming a qualified British Sub Aqua Club Ocean Diver - or in simple terms, a qualified scuba diver. My first lesson involved learning about the different pieces of equipment and the necessary pre-dive check procedures using BAR as a step by step guide. 

B - Buoyancy 

A - Air

R - Releases 

In the pool I got used to using the equipment by swimming on the surface, swimming mid depth and doing a breathing exercises on the bottom that involved lying on the bottom on my front, and letting my breathing slowly lift my body off the bottom and back down. Otherwise known as a fin pivot. 

It was great fun, and my instructor talked me through all of it. Luckily for me he's well qualified and experienced and is very patient with me. 

But what surprises me, is how calm I stayed and how well I did. Especially given my first ever experience - a try dive aged 14 was a disaster. 

I think my calmness and comfort underwater is due in part to my snorkel diver course that I began last July. It is now just under a year later and I have come far. Though I have far still to go. 

[myscubadivingjourney]

Today's the Day

It is finally here. Today is the day I sign up for and begin my ocean (open water) diver course. Watch this space for updates over the coming weeks 😊

[myscubadivingjourney]

Sign up/start date

First of all, my apologies that this has been a while coming. I have had to wait a while before I can make a start on my British Sub Aqua Club Ocean Diver course. I am still waiting, but the good news is my time is coming. That is because I have a date to sign up for it - 5th June 2017. Which may also be my start date because I have had correspondence from my Scuba Club in relation to who is going to be teaching me and apparently my instructor is the most experienced/qualified in the club which is reassuring to know :) 

On another note I may start re-watching the anime Amanchu which follows a girl just like me who learns to Scuba Dive when she meets a dive enthusiast and becomes best friends with