My First Go At Scuba

[Cudders]

Hi chaps,

Well I've finally booked a try dive with my local diving club to see what it's like. Only in a swimming pool but it's a start. :)

Mark.

[JasandJules]

I am sure you will enjoy it. I cannot understand how anyone wouldn't !!

Even better in the sea, but the pool is fascinating for me too, just being underwater yet breathin.....

[simonm]

Me and the missus are thinking of doing a try dive, how much it cost roughly ?

[JasandJules]

Should be about 15 -20 quid I would think.

Do it, you won't regret it.

You like looking at fish in a reef in your tank? Multiply that by 10 000 when you are swimming in thier tank....

[Cudders]

I've got the try dive free as a member of Virgin Gym but I think it's about £20 otherwise.

Mark.

[Jevs]

A try dive is well worth it. Some people either can't get the hang of scuba or find it claustraphobic or frightening. If you don't like it then you won't have to find out the hard way by forking out £££'s on a PADI coarse or a diving holiday.

But, if you do like it, it's THE most magical experience i've ever had. I remember my first open water dive in Barbados. Sinking to the bottom of the caribbean and sitting on the sea bed in only about 7m of water with all these fish that I had in my aquarium, swimming around my feet......french and queen angels, grammas, mustard tangs, jawfish, spanish hogs.............

If I can give you any tips, it'll be relax. You're obviously going to be a bit nervous at first but once your under, relax and enjoy it.

Go for it and ENJOY

Andy

[JasandJules]

The main problem I have seen with Scuba at the start is people who don't breathe. For some reason they cannot convince themselves that they can breathe underwater. Once you have the regulator in your mouth take a few puffs on the surface, then just breathe normally as you place your head in the water. As said, relax. It is a lovely comfortable slow paced relaxing sport. Make the most of it, and you can be swimming in the fishes aquarium, nothing better IMHO, I like it even more than parachuting, and I never thought anything would be better than that.

Best of luck, and enjoy.

[simonm]

hi jason,

this is the problem that my wife has, we tried scuba once on holiday and she could not convince herself to breathe at all. Its a real shame, she was panicing even when sat on shore and just putting your face under water. Despite this, she realy really wants to do it so a try dive looks like a plan.

many thanks.

[kenneth_halley]

Re costs of try dives- should be for free if you go to a BSAC club, and I suspect most other organisations that are run as clubs (ie not shops, or PADI)

Generally, you can go along 2-3 times free then you usually get asked to either commit to training or not.

K

[diver]

There can't be anyone that was more terrified than me of having a go at diving, i was petrified of going out of my depth in a swimming pool and the sea. Loads of friends and family are divers and i finally plucked up the courage to have a go. Words can't explain what it is like and now i wouldn't even consider a holiday unless there was diving involved. Overcoming the massive fears that i had was the best thing i ever did, hence the board name!!!

Diver

[JasandJules]

Originally posted by simonm@Aug 3 2003, 11:57
hi jason,

this is the problem that my wife has, we tried scuba once on holiday and she could not convince herself to breathe at all. Its a real shame, she was panicing even when sat on shore and just putting your face under water. Despite this, she realy really wants to do it so a try dive looks like a plan.

many thanks.
A good instructor should be able to convince your wife that she can breathe. Also, try and close your eyes on the surface with a reg in and breathe. Then do the same but gently lower yourself under, that has been known to work for some, but I don't really like having my eyes closed underwater. Essentially it is mind over matter, faith in the kit may help a bit on that...

Best of luck, it really is fantastic.