norajane Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 I'm thinking about booking a trip to Cancun for next month and taking scuba lessons to get my open water certification. I've never done it before, though I was out on a dive boat with some scuba fanatics earlier this year - they kept saying how easy it was to learn, but all that equipment and everything looks so intimidating. Anyone scuba? Is it easy to learn? Link to post Share on other sites
Pyro Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 It sounds like alot of fun. I want to try it as well. Do you have to know how to swim well to scuba dive? I don't swim so well. Link to post Share on other sites
Author norajane Posted November 15, 2006 Author Share Posted November 15, 2006 Well, you don't spend any time swimming on the surface when you're diving. The weight belt is supposed to help you go down; there's also an air thingie that makes you go up and down. And then you do swim underwater to see the fish, but you have flippers. Link to post Share on other sites
Pyro Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 I should have known that already. I should be ok then. I can't tread in water that is over my head. Let us know how it goes if you decide to go. Bring me back any treasure that you find. Link to post Share on other sites
Author norajane Posted November 15, 2006 Author Share Posted November 15, 2006 I should have known that already. I should be ok then. I can't tread in water that is over my head. Let us know how it goes if you decide to go. Bring me back any treasure that you find. Salt water makes you float, so you should be ok in the ocean. If I find sunken treasure, I'm not coming back! Link to post Share on other sites
Pyro Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Salt water makes you float, so you should be ok in the ocean. If I find sunken treasure, I'm not coming back! Hey, I should get some sort of reward for being the first (and only thus far) to respond to your thread. Link to post Share on other sites
Author norajane Posted November 15, 2006 Author Share Posted November 15, 2006 Hey, I should get some sort of reward for being the first (and only thus far) to respond to your thread. Absolutely - I'm sure I'll be able to spare a few gold dubloons. Link to post Share on other sites
IpAncA Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 I don't swim so well. Do what I did. Just throw yourself in the deep end. Trust me you learn real quick. Link to post Share on other sites
Pyro Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Absolutely - I'm sure I'll be able to spare a few gold dubloons. Thats more like it. Its not nice to be greedy. Link to post Share on other sites
Pyro Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Do what I did. Just throw yourself in the deep end. Trust me you learn real quick. I have tried. I have taken many lessons growing up. Its just something that I wasn't meant to learn. Link to post Share on other sites
IpAncA Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Well if worse comes to worse and you REALLY want to learn then you have to have someone drop you of in the lake and make you swim back. That way you can't hold on to the rails and you have to force yourself not to die Link to post Share on other sites
Pyro Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Well if worse comes to worse and you REALLY want to learn then you have to have someone drop you of in the lake and make you swim back. That way you can't hold on to the rails and you have to force yourself not to die That might actually work. I have never tried that. Link to post Share on other sites
Xhie Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Yup, its very easy to learn, just pay attention, do what your told, and be safe. Its a great hobby and I love it. I'm pregnant so it has to be put on hold for the next 7 months (and probably longer) but as soon as the kid is old enough I'm getting him in the water. Link to post Share on other sites
Author norajane Posted November 16, 2006 Author Share Posted November 16, 2006 Yup, its very easy to learn, just pay attention, do what your told, and be safe. Its a great hobby and I love it. I'm pregnant so it has to be put on hold for the next 7 months (and probably longer) but as soon as the kid is old enough I'm getting him in the water. Thanks, Xhie. My bf is a diver, but he's all super-duper master rescue diver dude, so when he starts talking about it, it makes my head spin. He goes into all these details and it sounds so complicated, like I could never learn. He's all mixed gases and night dives and auxiliary tanks, and I'm sitting there thinking - I just want to see the fish! Link to post Share on other sites
Ssheena Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 It's relatively easy. You may be able to do most of the course in your hometown before going to Cancun (which I would recommend) because it takes awhile to get certified and you will be using all your vacation time to do so. You do have to treadwater for a test but I think it's just a minute or so and it is in water where you can't touch the bottom. Both me and my two teens are certified and the reason I am is because my daughter wanted to get certified when she was 13 and I decided that if she was going to I would too. I can get paranoid underwater and find myself about to freakout (the air being forced into my mouth and all) but I just look at her and think about something else and it goes away. If your bf is going to help you and be with you that will be great for you. The water is beautiful in Cancun (I dont' think it's know for it's diving though - Cozumel is) and Cancun has beautiful beaches (what is left of them). If you could practice or take some of the course beforehand that would really be the best. How do feel about snorkeling? Have fun! Don't drink and dive! Link to post Share on other sites
Author norajane Posted November 16, 2006 Author Share Posted November 16, 2006 We were in Cozumel earlier this year - it's one of his favorite dive spots. But I was thinking of going to Cancun on my own and just taking the course. I kinda would like his help, but at the same time, I think he might confuse me more than an instructor would. He's just too into it and gives me way too much information all at once and scares the hell out of me when I try to imagine myself learning everything. I need it to be very simple, or I'm afraid I'll start to panic and forget everything when I'm underwater. It's like learning to drive. Obviously there are a million little things you need to know to be an "expert" driver. But if you're just starting out with the car and try to remember more than brake, gas, steering, you might forget what to do when you're entering an intersection and a car suddenly turns left in front of you. Link to post Share on other sites
Ssheena Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Great analagy.... unfortunately, I am teaching my kids to drive these days...YIKES. The girl is very careful and but the boy...scares the crap out of me. With diving you always have a diving buddy, and there will be a dive master along as well. The only thing you really have to think about is breathing. I have a friend at work and her bf is a dive master/dive instructor etc and she didn't have success at diving with him. Just go at your own speed and I think it's nice that you want to learn and the fishes are beautiful for sure..except I had this one puffer fish that really liked me too much.. Link to post Share on other sites
Author norajane Posted November 16, 2006 Author Share Posted November 16, 2006 I have a friend at work and her bf is a dive master/dive instructor etc and she didn't have success at diving with him. Aha! Was she able to learn from someone else? Link to post Share on other sites
wing81 Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 I got certified a couple of years ago and it wasn't hard at all. They tend to break it down pretty well and take it one step at a time. From what I remember we perfected each skill seperately both on land and in a pool, after that we put all the peices together. After a while the different skills become reactions that you don't need to think about. As far as swimming goes, its generally a good idea but you don't need to be an expert. I tend to get freaked out underwater sometimes but if you find great places to dive you tend to forget your underwater while you are taking in everything around you. Good luck and have fun. Link to post Share on other sites
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