NAUI Certifcation - Day 2 - Underwater

If you haven't read Day 1: Here's a LINK
Whew, day two was a doozie. I showed up a few minutes late because of traffic and there were tanks and wetsuits all over the pool deck. Ugh! Today was going to be the day I was not looking forward to. The instructor handed me a wetsuit and a weight belt that they had already prearranged with the right amount of weight. Luckily, the wetsuits were the short versions so I don't have to deal with the too-tall long-sleeved/pants version until this weekend. (I wish I could just pack a blade and cut the excess off around the ankles ) I chose the mask I had yesterday and the snorkel as well, but the fins were already spoken for (Note to self: ARRIVE EARLIER). We piled all our gear with the tanks provided for us and were instructed how to attach the Buoyancy Compensator (BC), that black backpack looking vest divers wear, to the tank and to our person. We were also shown how to attach the regulator to the tank and test out all the various working parts. After you're completed you check your buddies equipment over as they do the same for you. The gear is pretty heavy. It didn't stop me from walking with it, but it was significant. Once in the water, everything felt fine though. And thankfully the pool was heated to 80 tonight.

We started off with how to make a proper descent and once underwater for the first time, it took some getting used to. I forgot I was able to breathe a few times and I had a lot of anxiety built up so I was taking short choppy breaths instead of the recommended longer-deeper-than-normal breaths. After I was on my knees in the shallow end, I took a minute to center myself and calm my heart rate a bit. I was struck by how loud the air bubbles were when I exhaled. They really need to come up with a way to have those things come out the top of your head or some where it doesn't obstruct your view. We went over how to clear a mask underwater and also how to find your regulator if it should get knocked out of your mouth.

We moved on down to the deep end (15 ft) and had a little free time to play. At this point in time, I'm still overwhelmed with everything we're supposed to remember to do and not do...so I was more focused on trying to not kill myself, than I was on the little toy torpedoes being tossed around. At one point I did lose control and start to float to the top, but the instructor came over and deflated me to help me sink again .

We learned how to ascend properly and how to orally fill our BC's at the surface instead of filling them with air from our tanks, just as a precaution should we ever need to do it in a real life emergency. Getting out of the pool was a tad harder than I expected. If I thought walking around with the gear was hard, imagine getting out of the pool, wet and tired with all that gear on your back. That last step off the ladder on to the pool deck was a killer, but I did it. If you're a frail female, you may want to arrange someone to help you with this part, or make sure you're only walking into a dive from the beach, and not from a boat. We took our gear off and washed it before we went to the locker room to change for class.

The second night of class was all about how you can kill or injure yourself diving . I think if I would have had this class session before I went underwater for the first time, I would have just given up and thrown in the towel. Some pretty scary stuff can happen to you. But, with a little common sense, ascending slowly, and not holding your breath, you should be ok for the most part.

I'm looking forward to going back tonight. My goal is to get my anxiety under control better so I can feel less like I'm walking through a haunted house with my heart pounding the whole time, and more like I'm floating serenely underwater like I hope it feels like one day on the reef.


Read on to Day 3