Scuba Diver Daisy

Snorkels

2010-08-29T10:56:00.002-05:00

So two years ago during our dive master program we have to swim a really long way (800 yards? I don't remember) with nothing but mask, fins, and snorkel (face in the water the whole time). My snorkel has been crappy ever since a piece of sand damaged the bottom flow out valve (a little plastic disk) and it breathes very wet if you can breathe at all. You suck in for air very mindful to check if it really is air or you are filled up with water. Obviously, not the kind of snorkel you want to have to depend on for a very long, exhausting, timed swim.

Well, snorkels are not cheap. And I had just learned all about dead air. So I, trying to be smart, head to Dollar General and buy myself a dollar snorkel. It didn't stop there. I then CUT the snorkel down even further to reduce the dead air space.

The day came and I was ready for the swim. Hubby and I set off and I got about 20 yards and had to stop because I COULD NOT BREATHE AT ALL!!! I told him to go on and he did. I swam back and cheered him on. In the meantime, I'm searching for a snorkel to borrow so I can complete this "event."

So he finishes and I, with my borrowed snorkel and amid jeers and howls of laughter from others at my original makeshift snorkel, begin again, because I finally was able to catch my breath.

So a couple weeks ago, my students had given me a gift certificate for a local scuba store. I bought myself a real snorkel and I have to tell you, I like it. I can breathe :)

Geez have I died????

2010-07-12T19:09:00.001-05:00

Nothing much new to post on the the scuba blog. Not sure what happened to my excitement. Lack of owning an island maybe?

Video of my Very First Scuba Dive (Discovery Dive)

2009-07-08T12:42:00.004-05:00

This video was shot on my first ever Discovery Dive (before I had even thought of becoming certified.) You can tell I am not certified as I am diving- I was pretty nervous. I'm the one in the yellow headband holding on to the divemaster for dear life. Nowadays, the roles are reversed! :)

This dive was on the north shore of Jamaica in 1999, near Runaway Bay.

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbPHAJfapQ4

Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOJP0qe4K5Q

Shore Duty

2009-06-26T19:29:00.003-05:00

The large rock you see in the pic is the place where I spent most of my shore duty. It offers an excellent vantage point to see all the groups of bubbles.

As we went through the majority of our divemaster training last year, there was a nice group of us that got along very well. We rode together, chatted, shared the work and struggles.

Often when we arrived at the dive site, there were three or four of us, which was way more than needed for the actual classes, so we would switch off and rotate. Which meant someone was always pulling "shore duty."

Most of the people I dove with weren't crazy about shore duty, but I have to tell you, it has it's own responsibilities and perks.

Perk #1 - you can listen to music and be in the sun getting a tan

Perk #2 - you can get a drink, go to the bathroom, etc. (VERY quickly)

NOT a perk #1 - you better be keeping an eye on all sets of bubbles to make sure no one gets separated

NOT a perk #2 - you gotta watch the sky and be ready to head out with rocks to bang if a storm is coming/lightning, etc.

NOT a perk #3 - you better know your first aid/CPR/rescue stuff really well because YOU are gonna be the one in charge if there is a problem

NOT a perk #4 - if someone is shaky underwater and they come out, you need to know how to talk to them and help them through whatever it was that they couldn't work out the first time

NOT a perk #5 - it gets awfully hot when you are out of the water

NOT a perk #6 - know gear - how to adjust it, fix it, replace it, or find another one so whoever came out can finish up with an enjoyable dive

NOT a perk #7 - help the instructor, help your other dive buddies, and help the students get in and out of the water, take gear off and on, etc.

So while no really likes to go diving without ending up in the water, shore duty is pretty important. So the new term for shore duty? Land diving.

Jellyfish

2009-06-14T10:56:00.005-05:00

Let's talk about that dreaded animal that all midwesterners fear and know of. The jellyfish.
I think it's so high on everyone's list because EVERYONE knows about them. Swimmers, little children, old people, etc. And everyone knows someone who got stung by one on a vacation.

So my very first experience with jellyfish happened when I was NOT swimming or scuba diving. I was, well, trying to relieve myself. Here's the whole story.

We were in Jamaica, staying at an all inclusive, which among other things that they tell you are included, a nightly drunkeness is included. We were walking on the beach, far from the hotel and really anyone. Of course, I had to go to the bathroom.

Being kinda a country girl and used to going into the river on float trips, I waded out into the ocean just over knee high. Hubby followed to relieve himself too.

No problems. Until we got back to the shore and headed off walking again.

We both felt like our legs were on fire. We hadn't seen a thing. I itched so bad and nothing would relieve it. I rubbed sand on my legs to get it scratched really well. (Realize we had no idea why we were itching so bad - we suspected sand fleas or something like that) Nothing worked.

The next morning we talked to the dive shop guys about it and they laughed (of course). They explained that it was more than likely we had been in a group of tiny baby jellyfish, which are attracted to the shore lights at night. We should NOT have rubbed sand on our legs, as that probably just made it worse.

So the best bet for jellyfish that they suggested? Douse the area in fresh cool water. And of course if you don't have that, try rum. It seems rum is a cure all in Jamaica. Cure's a hangover, cure's an ailment, and I'll bet if you had enough it would cure a broken arm - or at least make you forget you had one :))

Another night (different vacation) we went on a night dive. We had extremely strict instructions to not turn our lights on within 15 feet of the surface (we didn't need to anyway because it was so bright out). They explained that we would attract jellyfish when we surfaced. They also explained that the boat lights would attract jellyfish too, so we needed to be on the lookout as we surfaced.

This, folks, is one of the best reasons to always wear a full wetsuit, or at least a dive skin, even in warm water. It just saves your skin.

Anyway, of course someone, despite the warnings, ended up getting stung by a jellyfish as we were waiting to get back onto the boat after the dive. The person followed all the directions. Even had on a full dive suit. But didn't really pay attention when surfacing and ended up getting stung on the neck and face.

It turned red and blotchy but they were fine the next day.

Another hint I read about said to apply meat tenderizer to the stung area. I don't know if this actually works but I do take some with us every time we visit the ocean. (Yeah right, like there won't be any rum around!)

The Weather

2009-06-12T14:16:00.002-05:00

The good thing about diving is that you can do it in the rain. You can do it when the weather stinks and you can't lay in the pool and sunbathe. Unless of course, it is a thunderstorm and there is lightning. That's a whole separate ball game. GET OUT!

But anyway, the problem is, we have had SO MUCH rain that the sun hasn't had a chance to shine. Therefore, here it is in June, and the water temp is still COLD!

I heard that the last weekend in May the one spot we went to a lot last year (Rolla Quarry) was 59*. Sorry folks. I don't find that enjoyable.

So until we start getting some sun and warmer weather, I'm a landloving mermaid.

Oh, and if it sounds like I am whining, moaning, and complaining, you're right. I am!

Not Really About Diving

2009-06-04T01:28:00.002-05:00

So I posted a while back about being in the dunk tank. Here it is - my maiden foray, pre-wetness.

I took a while to curl my hair that day and then walked around telling my students I spent 5 hours doing it to entice them to come try and dunk me.

One little "darling" who wasn't my student, was first up. She got mad that she didn't hit it and ran and pushed the lever. My students were SOOO mad! And I didn't blame them.

Anyway, it ended up I didn't need the wetsuit - one of the parents had used the school's hot water heater and tapped into that water. It was like a sauna. But what else was I gonna wear???

But at least I dug it out, along with the boots - it hurts to fall into that thing with bare feet!

I can officially now call myself a "dunkee."

My First Aid Kit List for Diving

2009-06-02T12:27:00.005-05:00

Geez - has it been that long???

Ah, well. I'm just going to ease back in here.

Let's talk about one of my favorite things - safety and first aid. (No, really, it is.)

I thought I would share what I take on a fresh water (not overnight) dive in the first aid kit. (Yes, there's more for salt water and overnights)

1. tweezers

2. Benadryl or some form of it.

3. eye drops

4. ear drops

5. q tips

6. neosporin

7. bactine (gotta love that stuff)

8. liquid bandaid (comes in a bottle like nailpolish and is great for in the water)

9. regular bandaids in assorted sizes

10. roll of gauze

11. a bandage wrap (like for sprained ankles)

12. scissors

13. needle (for splinters - no I am not about to sew anyone up)

14. ibuprofen, tylenol, and regular aspirin

15. antidiarhea pills and or gas ex

16. something to soothe the stomach, like pepto or tums

17. oragel swabs

18. something for bee and wasp stings

19. cotton balls

20. baby wipes

21. rescue mask!!!

22. plastic gloves

Most of these are self-explanatory. A lot of goofy stuff can happen when you are on land, or in the water for that matter. I personally would rather be prepared for the small stuff than have to cut diving short because you have to drive to the nearest drug store for something. Do I think I am a bit overprepared? Yes. But I don't mind and it's there if I ever need it. And it's not like it takes up that much space. Besides, when you prepare for it, it usually doesn't happen.

As a side note, we always pack a roll of toilet paper too. You never know - where you're going might be out (or completely water logged).

Check It Out

2009-04-23T16:40:00.002-05:00

I found this cute little place for animated gif's of scuba stuff and thought I would share it for those who are interested!

http://www.rufer.net/Divers.htm

A Good Use for the Wetsuit

2009-04-15T16:54:00.002-05:00

I did it. I am now officially one of the dunkees at the school carnival.

I have never done this dunking booth thing. I'm actually quite excited to see what it is like. But I told them I would be wearing a wetsuit. The thought of wearing anything else in front of all the parents and my young students would be extremely frightening.

And speaking of frightening, I don't want to scare the kiddies either, so plan to get a tan on my face and dig out the waterproof mascara. I think the hair is a total wash since NO ONE has come up with some cute diving thing for hair. Maybe I should borrow a wig too!

I can only hope they fill it with warm water, but I think that is an awful lot to expect. The weather prediction isn't great either, so I am hoping I can get by with the 3mil. I might be layering a shorty over it if necessary. I guess I'll wear the boots and take the gloves, just in case. I wonder, would it be worker's comp if I got frostbite and lost a finger? Ha.

Just an FYI

2009-04-13T17:06:00.000-05:00

I'm still here. Haven't drowned. At least not in water.

Scuba Storage

2009-03-31T17:16:00.003-05:00

All righty then. You got the gear? And of course, then you got more gear. Then you bought some goodies that you didn't need but really wanted. Then you bought some duplicates incase something went bad, you wanted to be prepared. And of course, there are TWO divers in the house, not just one.

So then what? Build on an extra room for storage???

In the beginning, storage was a MAJOR problem for us so we had to limit what we bought. Then we got a bigger apartment and had a two car garage, so we felt unlimited.

Despite finally having a place to put everything, we struggled as we would pack to leave for diving. What to do with it all? We didn't need something so fancy as a nice big piece of luggage because we weren't flying and the stuff would sit wet in it.

So we opted for a PERFECT solution. We went and got a rubbermaid tote. The biggest they make. It has wheels on one end. And it holds EVERYTHING but our tanks - for two people! We can even throw our wet suits and wet swimming suits and towels in it and drive home in comfy dry warm clothes.

What's in our tote?

2 bc's

2 weight belts with weights

2 sets of fins (and of course he wears xl so they are super long)

2 regulators with octos

2 3mm wetsuits

2 pair of boots

2 pairs of gloves

2 sets of slates

2 inflatables (orange ones)

1 flashlight (long story - don't ask)

2 knives

1 repair kit (extra straps, flaps, velcro, tools, etc)

bag of ziploc baggies

1 spare air

1 tarp

Yep. It all fits. And while it is heavy when you have to lift it into the truck/car (like I do that, yeah right) I can easily roll it on the ground AND carry a lounge chair :)

It was one of the best things we ever bought for diving. And in the off season, it is sealed and stored in the garage all nice and neat, out of the way. So if you are having problems with storage, check into it.

Scuba Diving Clothing

2009-03-29T12:26:00.004-05:00

I'm having trouble getting started with this blog. I want it to be about scuba diving and clothing but I don't want it to sound weird, risque, or anything else that might cause PADI to want to revoke my scuba license :)

On vacation in the warm waters, the thought has crossed my mind about scuba diving nude. Not for any sexual reason, just to see what it is like. To be more like the fish and such. To be more natural in the underwater environment.

Then there are times when I just want to wear a swimsuit and look cute, without all the wetsuit bulk. I hate wearing t-shirts while diving - it just kinda ruins the whole look, even though this is very popular resort dive wear.

I once heard it was a custom/tradition to dive naked on your 100th dive. Any one else heard this? I think I am getting close to 100 (or I might be a bit over) but the water around here just wouldn't allow that. I'd get really cold, even in the heat of the summer.

Ahh, warm waters to dive in. You just can't beat it.

Washing the Wetsuit; Getting Rid of the Funk

2009-03-22T13:44:00.006-05:00

Sometimes just the rinse with the hose isn't enough. Maybe I didn't let it dry completely. Maybe it sat partially damp in the dive trunk. Maybe the water was unusually foul. Maybe they just got really muddy and mucky.

And then there are those stinky boots. WHO KNOWS what might be lingering in those!

But sometimes, these things (all this neoprene stuff) gets to stinkin'. Funky ick.

They make special rinse agents you can buy at the dive shop. But I am not into that kinda specialized stuff - I like things to be all purpose.

Here's what I do: (and of course, it is in the form of a list - would you expect anything else??)

1. Load up ALL the neoprene stuff (wetsuits, boots, gloves, hoods, etc) and fasten every zipper and piece of velcro perfectly secure.

2. Add to that the weekend's swimsuits, towels, etc.

3. Put it all in the washer on gentle with Woolite and lots of the nice smelling fabric softener.

4. When it is done, we hang it outside to dry in the shade.

Hubby is currently planning his thoughts on building a specialized rack for drying our scuba gear. We really could use one. If anyone has plans they could share, that would be great.

Anyway, this REALLY keeps the suits and such nice and sweet smelling and I haven't noticed any terrible wear and tear from the washings. Yes, the process is quite drippy and heavy, but it is so worth it being the one who smells GOOD in my wetsuit.

St. Patrick's Day Hair in the Summer

2009-03-20T10:35:00.005-05:00

I just got some interesting news. I don't know why I didn't know this before, and it makes complete sense like I should have figured this out on my own or something, but ahh well.

I have to be so careful with my hair in the summer. I bleach my hair blonde. I've been doing it so long that no one can even remember my real hair color - except hubby from that one time when I tried to dye my hair red and it didn't work but that is a whole other story.

Aside from bleaching/dying it, it goes through the wringer everyday. The wringer being "blow dryer and curling iron." Although, in the summer, these don't get done near as much.

I'll never forget the first summer my hair turned green from the chlorine in the pool. I thought maybe it was just a reflection from the walls in the bathroom when I discovered it. I was wrong. It was BAD. I went into extreme panic mode and yelled for hubby. I spent the next day with it up under a baseball hat frantically scouring Walgreens to find something to help and praying it wasn't going to cost and arm and a leg and half my hair.

I actually found a good shampoo. The unfortunate part is that it is a seasonal product and therefore, once it was no longer summer, they didn't carry it. So I had thrown out the bottle without remembering the name. In subsequent years, I have used a kid's shampoo by L'Oreal called Swim and Sport Shampoo - but the orange smell is really not my kind of thing and I don't think it lathers well. And honestly, I am not a 100% sure as to how well it works because after that first year, I avoid getting my hair wet so much in the pool if at all possible.

But I met up with a lady who does hair. She offered two suggestions. Cleansing Cream Shampoo by Redkin. The other was to GET MY HAIR WET WITH TAP WATER BEFORE I GET IN THE POOL. Giant DUH for me. This makes so much sense. She explained that by getting your hair wet first, the hairs have already absorbed water so they don't absorb the chlorine water!

So with all the pool sessions and swimming I do, this is my new plan of attack - so I don't look like a leprechaun or witch in the middle of summer!

Scuba Diving Music

2009-03-14T23:06:00.004-05:00

Has anyone seen these? Or used one?

http://www.scuba.com/shop/productlist.asp?category=246&rf=9&PKeyword=Buy%20Underwater%20MP3%20Player&gclid=

The price does NOT, I repeat DOES NOT include the mp3/ipod. That price is for the housing and the earphones only!!! How crazy is that??

Anyway, it would be nice to listen to peaceful music underwater. It would be funny to loan it to someone and have the "Jaws" soundtrack on it :) You could have a whole playlist of "ocean/diving" music!

Here is a possible song list.

Under the Sea (from the Little Mermaid)

Yellow Submarine by the Beatles

Bent (hehe) by Matchbox 20

and here is a link to a post from Scuba Board about just this subject - they came up with some good ones too :)

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/scuba-poetry/109154-scuba-music-songs-artists-albums-embody-diving-diving-culture.html

But really, it is like music listening to the bubbles and the steady rhythmic breathing. I need THAT on my mp3 player! Does anyone know if that is available anywhere for free?

Dive Planning - Did I Miss It?

2009-03-08T20:53:00.005-05:00

As usual, I came without a plan to post. I guess I will just write and see what ideas pop up.

Okay. Lets talk about planning! A dive!

Face it. Students are taught about dive planning. "Plan your dive and dive your plan." But in reality, they don't plan ANY dives. It's the instructor who does all the planning.

After your certified, if you go out with a group, someone with more experience or the divemaster of the resort plans your dive.

This leads to a very "fuzzy" understanding of what dive planning really is and why you do it.

Trust me. I've been there. In the beginning I thought Plan Your Dive meant, yes, I plan to go dive in that body of water there.

There's more to it than that.

But I think somewhere along the way we are doing a disservice to dive students. Mostly it's "This is where we are going. This is how long we will be down. This is how deep we will go." But WHY? We have to let them know why we plan the way we do, and they have to see that modeled. So they can do it for themselves in the future. So they can question a dive profile that seems a bit, well, off the chart.

Ahhh. Diving "off" the table. There's another post for me to share another time :)

I Forgot One

2009-03-07T11:04:00.002-06:00

Oh dear. I forgot a type of diver. This would be me today if I had to go diving cause I am so tired.

The Lazy Girly Diver - has to be a girl. "Honey, can you bring my tank over here?" "Darling, I am getting a lot of good sun right now. Can you set up my gear while I am laying here?" "Oh damn, I just broke a nail. I hate these stupid thick wetsuits. They really aren't very cute are they?" "You're ready to go in? You're hot? Is my gear ready?" "Yes, that's my gear down in the water. Can you bring it up here and take it apart? I have to go to the bathroom." "Oh yummy. Lunch time. What did you pack?" "All that diving wore me out. Can you drive home so I can take a smidge of a nap?"

I'm sure you've all seen this diver too. :) Just couldn't leave us girls out in the bashing hehe!

More Types of Divers

2009-03-06T17:40:00.003-06:00

I'm tired tonight. It has been a long week. Parent teacher conferences are long, despite the fact that I enjoy them tremendously.

So tonight, I will post a twist on the last post, also entitled "Types of Divers."

The Cool Macho Guy - you have all met him. And yes, it has to be a guy. He dives because he thinks it is a great way to meet chicks and will impress them. He didn't realize that most people who dive are men. He wears his thick gold chains, takes an extra long time putting on his wetsuit so everyone can see the muscles, and , eh gad, wears those dog gone Speedos.

The Whiz without a Clue - This is the person (male or female) who can pass all the exams without ever opening a book because they know all about physics, half-lifes, and pressure. They could probably build their own gear. But you get ready to take a dive and they are like, "Uh, I gotta get in the water to dive?" Their physical skills are about nill and a newborn is way more coordinated and adept at moving in the water.

The Underwater Geek - This person has every single underwater gadget you have ever heard of and then some. He bumps into you the entire dive as he fiddles with this or that and when you get out, you ask him if he saw the giant shark in the cave that he passed and he asks, "What cave?" cause he was too busy playing with the gianormous arm of the light strobe for his ultra high power camera.

The Old Timer - This guy (and once again, it really does need to be a guy because there weren't many woman divers way back when) dives with gear that should be in a museum. Or he has put it together himself. He doesn't care about the safety rules as those are for "sissies." Diving buddy? Who needs that? Regulator? Oh, yeah, those are great but if it doesn't work, I can just do "this" (take off the tank valve) and I got a whole bunch of air.

The Vacationer - "I'm a diver. I just jumped off the boat and headed down and looked around." "Yeah, I didn't realize there was someone I was supposed to follow. Or someone in charge of the dive." "Oh, look, there's my gear all ready to go and set up. It must have been that fairy of scuba divers." "Watch this! Ahhhhhhhh"

The Rest of Us - "Dang that was fun. Let's have a beer now and do it again tomorrow."

I'd be happy if anyone added to this list :) Amuse me!

Types of Divers

2009-03-03T16:23:00.003-06:00

photo by gracey on morguefile.com

I go by diver daisy in a lot of circles and places. Everywhere I am diver daisy, people always ask "What kind of diver?"

I have often been put off by this question because I don't always think they are being kind. Then I had someone ask "Are you a sky diver?" and I realized there were a lot of different kinds of divers.

On the way home tonight I thought what I might blog about. That question came back up in my mind. And away I went into a list of "divers." (For those of you who don't read my everything daisy blog, I'll clue you in a bit - I LOVE LISTS)

1. Of course, the scuba diver.

2. Those crazy people, the sky divers. I just really have no idea what would make them want to do that. I make myself go off the high dive, have jumped off a bridge underpinning (hope you don't read this mom) and have done the Dragon's Tail at Six Flags (kinda like a bungee jump but more like a sideways swoosh rather than an up/down rubberband kinda thing). That whole free fall feeling just tingles my nerves for those things, which I don't find a particularly pleasant feeling. Could I jump out of a plane if I had to? No doubt. But I wouldn't find it all that amusing.

3. The people who stand on diving boards, platforms, and cliffs and jump into water are also called divers. They don't seem to have a label in front of the word diver. At least not until they attempt something crazy, like "high platform diver", "cliff diver" or Olympic diver.

4. Then we get into more loose terms of a "diver" with the stage diver. Jumping into a sea of people just wouldn't be my thing. And besides, they would probably all move back and let me hit the floor. That's when you yell, "Diver down!"

5. The last type I was able to come up with is the dumpster diver. I'm not too keen on this either as dumpsters tend to smell terrible and look disgusting on the sides. Being a trash picker would be way better because it implies that the trash is strewn about in the open air and you are just using a stick to look through it.

Maybe in all those circles I should change my name to scuba diver daisy for clarification. I wouldn't want anyone to think I was crazy :)

Muddy Waters, no not the singer

2009-03-02T18:08:00.004-06:00

What to write about today? The weather has turned cold again and sometimes I just think spring will never come. I'm hanging at the end of my weather rope here.

Rope. Now there is something I can talk about!

Hubby and I are adventurous. Hmm. Maybe that shouldn't have been the first sentence, but really, you will see where this is going in a minute. We are also very competitive. We also like to do different and new things.

So, when we first started diving (and a few in subsequent years) we started going to underwater treasure hunts. No, not like Mel Fisher. Like here in the Midwest where you go to a quarry and find things purposefully placed.

Around here, they are usually sponsored by one of the dive shops and are fundraisers for charities. I've seen them run a couple different ways. Find the numbered item that corresponds to a numbered prize. Find the lowest number to be the one to pick out your prize first.

Needless to say, there are always a TON of people there. They give away great prizes like BCs, regulators, and then smaller prizes like bandanas and key chains. Usually they provide lunch/dinner too.

After our first one, we learned our lesson. It was truly an ordeal. And dangerous. Well, not really, but being new it was scary. With well over 100 people in the quarry, the silt and muck was stirred up in no time. I can't tell you how much time we wasted looking for EACH OTHER! That was the real treasure hunt. See if you can find your buddy!!! We did end up winning a BC at that event, that we have never even used. It was/is brand new. I have tried to sell it on ebay but no luck.

So at the next one, we came up with a plan. We used cotton rope (like for a laundry line) and cut it about 4 foot long. Then we tied a small loop on each end. We were able to use it to stay "connected" to each other by holding on to the loops. We could signal each other by tugging. We couldn't loose each other, even though we could scour our area completely. We got to spend most of our time searching for the really important stuff :) I have to say on that hunt, we won a bandana.

Over the years, we have used the line for various outings. It just lets us see more and we don't worry about loosing each other.

Ahh, the trials of diving in Midwestern muck!

Scuba Diving Swim Suits

2009-02-27T16:26:00.005-06:00

The time is coming. Luckily, I have plenty in stock.

I am talking about appropriate swimsuits for scuba diving and classes. And before all you "guys" run away, a little note about appropriate swimsuits for men who dive.

I don't care who you are or what you look like or where you are from. You really had better not wear one of the those Speedo suits to teach a class or work with a class. Jeez - that would just be crazy. First, no one would respect you, and therefore, no one would listen to you. Besides, it might be hard for everyone to hear what you have to say if there is a bunch of newbies in the back snickering. Its just too much like being naked.

Second, if you are going to wear one of those red suits with the white stripe across the front for the scuba diving flag, PLEASE make sure it is a quality suit and the white part isn't see through!

Enough said. Guys, you may now leave as the rest pertains to us girls.

This has just been something I have personally come up with. When I dive on my own with hubby, I don't care what suit I wear, as long as he likes it. That is completely different when we are expected to help with a class.

I would love to wear a one piece, like those sleek ones the real swimmers wear. But I don't have a swimmer's body. Or enough water resistant glue to hold down the back of the suit to an appropriate spot (like they do in the pagaents). Besides, when I get in one of those I look like a majorly overstuffed sausage. And while I don't strive to impress, I don't want to look like an idiot with tons of rolls lolling around.

I try to find conservative 2 piece suits. And then I usually wear a tank top over the top part. This helps in more ways than one. It keeps me warmer, it allows me to go to the bathroom more quickly, and it keeps important parts covered up.

Once you get in the wetsuit, everything is fine. It's just getting to that point that you have to think about.

Another thing I am always conscious of is color. My bright fun swimsuits are okay for the pool. But I wouldn't dare wear them in the lake or quarry. They will fade, get mud stains, etc. So I look for dark colors (black, brown, dark purple) to wear in the "pond."

I'm also not gonna pay an arm and a leg for a suit, no matter where I am going to wear it. The butt gets snagged on the side of the pool on concrete or on the door walking into the portapotty and then your done. 100 bucks down the drain to look cute for a smidge of time isn't worth it.

Then there is something to be said for the ones that have hooks everywhere, rather than tie. Those knots can really be uncomfortable at times (like when you are out of the water with your bc and all the gear on).

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any more advice for diving swimsuits. Except maybe to make sure you won't fall out the top, if you know what I mean.

I'm Cheating Today

2009-02-25T17:12:00.006-06:00

This is a rough draft for when I finally finish my divemaster program.

Comments are welcome. Make sure to turn your speakers on (not too loud though).

http://www.archive.org/details/DaisyScubaDocPadi

How to See Underwater :)

2009-02-24T17:52:00.003-06:00

Yes, I wear glasses. No, not just for the sun. My glasses are getting thicker and thicker every other year. But at least I am not as bad off as my younger sister! :) I'm at 100/20 or somewhere there about.

I love my bright hot pink new glasses. They have a magnetic clip for the sunglasses. They are cute and fun and funky. But they can't go underwater.

The first time I had contacts, I had a lot of problems. I kept getting major calcium deposits on them and went through them like crazy.

A lot has changed since 20 years ago. I have the extended wear now, and they are a beautiful bright blue that enhance my own blue-gray eyes. And they DO go underwater.

Lots of students in classes are worried about losing a contact in the water. I can honestly say I have NEVER had a problem. Never lost one. And being a divemaster candidate, I spent a lot of time in the water this past summer. Both the pool and the "pond."

Lots of mask on, mask off (which isn't quite as cool as the Karate Kid's wax on, wax off). Lots of open eyes under the water to demonstrate to students and to complete certain skills in the divemaster program.

I have been diving for 10 years. I have never lost a contact in the water. Now I am not saying it couldn't happen easily, but for those who consistently wear contact lenses, I would at least give it a try before buying a prescription mask.

A prescription mask seemed so limiting to me. I couldn't use another one if mine got lost, misplaced or forgotten. I couldn't use a buddy's spare. I would have always had to bring my own on every trip, even if the place would provide one. It just wouldn't have worked for me.

So for all you contact wearers who are just about blind without them, try a swim or snorkel with them in. The replacement of one contact is a lot cheaper than a prescription mask.

Scuba Favorites

2009-02-21T10:16:00.006-06:00

I have declared it Favorite Day on all my blogs. This one will be focused on diving.

Favorite animal to see in the water - manatees and trigger fish

Favorite time to dive - night time, of course. I love the disco effect in the ocean.

Favorite place to dive - easy - anywhere warm! But really, we love going to Jamaica to the all-inclusives. I don't know that the diving is spectacular but you just can't beat the price deals. All your diving and meals and drinks.

Favorite diving TV show - we used to LOVE the Aquanauts series where they went all over. I don't think it is still on and I don't know why.

Favorite piece of dive gear - I've been thinking about this long and hard. I would have to say it is my custom fit mouth piece for my regulator. I hate using anything else. It really saves my jaw. Although I am pretty partial to my mask and flap strap too. And I kinda like having my underwater camera, even though it isn't anything fancy.

Favorite dive buddy - HUBBY of course. I am so glad it is something we can share and do together.

Favorite scuba memory - my first night dive :)

Scuba Diving Hair

2009-02-16T09:16:00.006-06:00

So who else but a girl would talk about hair when it comes to diving?? But this article isn't just for girls and women. Guys, keep reading too.

I have long hair. It is often a problem when it comes to diving. It has been tangled around the hoses, the tank valve, the snorkel and about every piece of velcro used anywhere on diving gear. But I so LOVE looking as much mermaid-like as I can underwater!!! Often though, reality takes control and I put it in a braid/ponytail, which curbs much of the problems and diminishes the mermaid look completely. I look more like a seal. No, not a Navy seal either.

Once out, the braid/ponytail is a much better choice again, as getting a comb or pick through the tangled masses of dirty, mucky, algaed wet hair can be a humongous chore that I often try to hide in a ball hat rather than deal with. And if I came out of the ocean, well even though my hair is straight as a board, it becomes this giant frizz ball.

Bangs - now here is a definite problem. Underwater they are ok unless you are trying to put a mask back on. I have also seen this problem occur with guys too. I have no answers or suggestions - guys might look pretty silly if they bobby pin their bangs back before heading into the water and putting their mask on.

Most men scuba divers I known opt for the easy way out. A shave of the head. Bald or military short. But this "hairdo" can bring on its own set of problems, with sunburn being the worst. Many men are turning to the skull caps and this had saved many a heads from sunburn and pain. From what I have heard, they also keep your head a smidge warmer while diving.

I guess if we went back to the old diving helmets, none of this would be an issue. We would be more worried about neck pain and not being able to see very easily. But I don't think that is the way of the sport.

Someone needs to invent something cute and divey like to keep everyones bangs out of their face and eyes, whether in water or on shore. I'll buy one!

Hmm Never Thought about THAT

2009-02-12T16:11:00.003-06:00

It dawned on me just the other day.

If you have a scuba blog and you don't post regularly, that might not be a good thing - for the sport.

A couple scuba blogs I have read and/or followed have basically disappeared. The site is still there. But where has the owner gone???

So I just wanted everyone to know I am alive and well. :)

The Importance of a Good Snorkel

2009-02-08T15:41:00.004-06:00

When we bought our gear, snorkels and masks were one of the very first things we got. I was way more concerned about color than anything. I wanted it all to match.

The snorkel (a brand name in scuba diving) started breathing wet about a year into ownership. It never bothered me much. I didn't use it much diving, and when I did snorkel, I was able to just shoot the extra water it had taken on out. I looked just like a whale spouting, and it helped hubby keep track of me :)

Things changed when I had to complete the 800 meter/ yard (whatever, stinking long is all I know) swim for the divemaster program. We had to keep our face in the water the entire time, breathe through only the snorkel and we got to use fins.

Oh, and it was timed.

So I knew my snorkel wouldn't cut it and I couldn't use hubby's cause we would be doing it at the same time. I came up with the brilliant idea of just getting a cheapy one from the general all purpose store. Big mistake.

To make my idea even more brilliant, I cut it off so the tube would be a lot shorter, therefore having less "dead air." (a concept I had just learned about in divemaster class)

So the time came. We were lucky enough to do it outside in the quarry, as it would have been extremely difficult going back and forth in the pool with our big fins on.

The instructor said go. We went. And about 50 yards into it, I stopped and yelled to hubby "go on without me." And I swam back to shore. I was just about dying. I couldn't get any air at all. So I trudged back and explained I couldn't do it because of my snorkle. The instructor saw it and began laughing hysterically at my homemade cheapy contraption.

One of the other girls in the class offered hers. And one of the other students (who had just purchased the fabulous and wonderful scuba pro split fins) offered me her fins. I couldn't pass up an opportunity to try the new fins AND maybe get a great score.

So I cheered and rooted hubby on till he finished and then I started again, all on my own. No way to gauge my speed, but I could look at my watch for time elapsed.

The borrowed gear was great. The snorkel stayed dry and worked great. And those fins!!! I'm saving up for a pair.

I ended up passing and getting four point out of five for my time. It all worked out. But I learned that those cheapy snorkels are for nothing but pictures and a good laugh.

Interesting Dive Log Website

2009-01-31T11:38:00.003-06:00

I found this little gem one day just wasting time on the computer.

I haven't signed up yet. But only because I have so many dives to log it seems like a huge project. But I can see the benefits of this website.

It would be great for those just starting to dive. :) And it is free. There is a place to look around before you sign up too.

http://www.diverecord.com/Welcome.asp?p=f

So there it is. Check it out. Let me know what you think about it and if you sign up and what it is like :)

Being Prepared

2009-01-30T17:08:00.005-06:00

I think divers have to always be on their toes. Always thinking ahead to what might happen. What might go wrong. By doing this, it helps you prepare for the dive.

It isn't a sport for those who are lax in doing what needs to be done to prepare.

But sometimes you don't know what it is you need to prepare for.

This post is about one of my very first dives AFTER my certification, about 10 years ago.

We headed down to the home of Superman! Metropolis (Illinois to be exact). They have a nice, large diving site down there called Mermet Springs. We were staying the weekend just for some diving fun, just the two of us.

The first day was great (we got there on a Friday). Lots of room and the weather was warm and the water was cold. Too cold to go too deep. (I like it like that, when you know how deep you are just by the temperature :)

The second morning was crazy. There were classes (large ones) every where. The heat was majorly intense (90*). We still had to wear our 8 mm suits because the water was so cold. With hoods. And gloves.

My poor hubby just can't stand getting so hot. He was ready to get in and saw a gap in the line of people getting in, so we went.

We got in and went right down to the school bus they have close to the main dock (we wanted to get out of the way of the classes). The bus sits at about 20 or 25'.

The next thing I know, he's asking if I'm ok and I'm shaking my head no vigorously. I KNOW there was a look of panic on my face.

I was getting ready to puke.

Here I am, 25' down, thinking, OMG how am I gonna do THIS?

I tried to calm myself down as I debated whether to head for the surface or just try to stay. I kept thinking back to my training and any stories I had heard about puking underwater and what to do.

I knew what had caused it. The massive sudden change in temperature. It hit my body like I had been dumped into a tub of artic ice, fully submerged.

As I stood on the top of the bus, debating, I began to get a bit more acclimated to the water temperature. The rushing nausea subsided bit by bit. I was NOT going to get sick :) Yeah for me!

I swam around a bit checking out the bus and trying to get my mind off it. It worked. We were able to continue on a nice shallow dive with no problems.

So my question is this. How do you prepare for that?? No one had ever told me about how that sudden change might affect my body. Maybe it doesn't happen to others. ?

Over the next few years, I asked others about puking underwater. All said it was possible, you gotta keep the reg in your mouth, and then you gotta have it serviced right afterwards for a good cleaning.

I would prefer for it just not to happen.

And I learned how my body doesn't like a fast temperature change, so I have subsequently avoided that.

Any other comments on if this has happened to you and such would be great. Tell me a good story :)

The Ocean

2009-01-29T09:28:00.005-06:00

A Humorous Yet Thoughtful Poem

The Ocean is a Woman

The ocean is a woman and I can prove it.

Depending on the season, it's calm, fluid and captivating

or rough, angry and roaring.

Men continue to try to conquer it and out manuveur it.

They explore it and dive to the depths.

Which leads to land being a man.

Just look at the continent of Africa or South America.

Or the best example, the state of Florida. Need I say more?

The ocean is a woman and mother of all.

It heals, inspires, and nutures us

Yet dares us to walk on it.

(Once again, men invented surfboards and boats.)

Why Did I Start Scuba Diving?

2009-01-28T15:38:00.004-06:00

What made me think I could do it? What made me even want to do it?

I asked hubby the other night because I really didn't know.

He said it started when we got married in Jamaica. We saw them going out and thought we would like to try it and were kicking ourselves when we got home.

I said, "Yes, okay, but what made us even think about doing it?"

He replied, "We're adventurous." (yeah that is me jumping into the water)

Which is true. I love doing different things. I love trying new things, to an extent. I still go to McDonalds and order the same thing over and over. I rarely try new food. I know what I like. I hate the changing of plans or rituals. But I do like to experience different things. And I am awfully dog gone curious.

I wondered what was down there. What did it look like? What could you see? What was there?

Nowadays I am much more comfortable down under than floating on the top. You can't see anything from up there. I would rather see something scary and face it head on than not know it was there.

So I guess it was all about the unknown. And I could make it known, so I (we) did.

But I had a lot on my side before we ever even started. My whole life we had swimming pools. I spent my summers swimming and was never afraid of the water. We canoed and swam in rivers. I went on cruises with my family when I was young and saw the vastness of the ocean. We visited beaches.

Water is very comforting to me.

The Fight with Myself

2009-01-27T17:43:00.006-06:00

I am a toucher. Now mind you, I don't want to touch coral, or break it off, or damage anything ever. If there is a sign posted, or a law, that says DO NOT TOUCH, I won't.

But what about when you can? And want to?

I love have my picture taken with various creatures. I think it all started when I was 8 and they had a bobcat at the place where we bought our family car. I got my picture taken hugging it. Not the car, the bobcat. (The poor thing was so drugged it could barely open it's eyes as I look back to the pic.)

I also am a big proponent of protecting marine life. Do no harm. Protect the ecosystem, etc.

I have had my picture taken with the porcupine puffer, a sea cucumber (I am actually snuggling with it), and several starfish. I have had my picture taken while petting/scratching manatees. None of the animals were harmed. I have been one on one with sea turtles and never touched them due to the laws.

I have also petted dolphins at Sea World. I have had clams opened up and killed to get the pearl (at Sea World.) But I don't eat fish (well, except tuna) but only because I don't like the taste of any of it.

So I struggle with myself. Get a cool picture with an odd animal or get one of just the animal. They just seem so much better with a person involved.

I would imagine a lot of you have a lot to say about this subject. But please be kind - as I said, I fight with myself.

Scuba Diving is a Small World

2009-01-23T17:45:00.002-06:00

I went to a meeting the other night for NEA. I arrived an hour early and just sat working on my computer (or "Pewter") as my 3 year old niece calls it.

As I sat there, FINALLY someone showed up. He had on a scuba diving jacket from a "rival" dive shop. (Yes, here in my city, they are all rivals and none of them like the other. Strange. It isn't the instructors or the students. It's just the dive shops in general that can't get along, but anyway . . .)

I immediately struck up a conversation. It is so rare to find a fellow diver and it tends to be a unique sport. I asked him about his shop and which one it was exactly. From there we proceeded to talk about local dives (Rolla, Dive Stop, and Mermet). Then we talked about the divemaster class. He is an instructor, so he had been through it. He asked how far I was and I explained the 2 measly things I still had to do.

Then, we spent the next 10 minutes talking about the equipment exchange. Everyone seems to have their own horror story. And everyone wants to hear everyone elses! It really is a small amount of people that you meet that can relate to that particular experience.

Personally, my story will be a long one, so that will probably be the next post, as I came home from that ordeal and wrote it all down and have been dying to get it on here. So stay tuned!

Anyway, I enjoyed getting to chat with someone about diving and share experiences. I am ready to hear about your scuba experiences so feel free to comment!

Frozen

2009-01-18T13:34:00.003-06:00

My pond is frozen over. The larger pond down the way is frozen over. No watery waves or ripples to see anywhere. Just ice. How my poor fish do it is beyond me. I guess they don't get miserable in the cold.

It all got me to wondering when spring will REALLY arrive and how much longer after that it will take for the water to warm up.

I don't remember ever diving in April. May seems a bit early too.

The water needs so much sun to warm up. And then there is that period where the water turns over - murky, cloudy, ick.

We have dove well into September though. Some of the braver souls around here dive in October and cut out pumpkins - weirdos! :) I think I might be fine IN the water at that time of year but coming out to frigid cold really doesn't excite me at all especially if you already got chilled in the water.

I talked to a guy once who went ice diving. YIKES! Not only is it cold, you have to deal with getting lost under the ice. Not my idea of fun.

I'm ready for warm waters.

It's Time to Finish the Story

2009-01-17T13:55:00.003-06:00

Way back in the early days of this blog I started to tell the story of getting my Open Water certification. I never finished the story. So, here is the rest of it (or the more memorable parts). Finally. (here is a link to the first part of the cert. - here)

The second day (after I had spent all night warming up) started out ok. One of the final dives in that frigid water was to practice our CESA (controlled emergency swimming ascent), which is actually called something else by SSI.

The bottom of the mine is silt covered. Over rocks. CESA's take a long time. The instructor had to do each student individually, and sometimes more than once to get it right. To keep myself occupied, I began sifting through the rocks on the floor, looking for interesting things. (At this point I should mention that I am a true rock hound and this was quite enjoyable for me.)

As students went up and down, they began to really stir up the silt and the visibility went down to about 1'. Realize I didn't know this at the time. I didn't understand about silt getting stirred up. It was only my 4th time in the water.

I'm very patient. I was enjoying the rocks.

The next thing I know, I look up and can't see anyone. Anywhere. I figure I am pretty much alone. Then I noticed how cloudy and murky the water is. I can't see a thing.

Honestly, my very first thought was, "Oh my god. We had an earthquake. I am going to be trapped in this huge rock mine AND UNDERWATER!" But, I didn't panic. I checked my air. I stayed where I was.

The instructor found me. It was my turn to practice. Guess there wasn't an earthquake.

The next dive was the last. We went on a short tour of the mine, just working on buoyancy and such. The highlight was that they presented us with our certification patches UNDERWATER at the end of the dive. I liked that, but I wish I would have had a picture of it.

Since that time, we have never gone back. We just don't enjoy cold water dives. And there really isn't that much to see, even though the vis for the most part is great.

It was an experience to dive Bonne Terre Mine, but I am glad it is over and don't have to go back. Once is enough.

Where Do YOU Practice?

2009-01-16T19:21:00.002-06:00

I'll admit it. I filled the tub with water, got my mask, and practiced breathing through the snorkel and taking the mask on and off when I got my first certification. Does anyone else do this?

I practiced the equipment exchange in my pool. By myself (kinda). I had my gear on without a tank. Hubby handed the reg back and forth (taking breaths) from outside the pool. I traded masks and bc's with him while I was underwater.

I practice hovering while students are on the platform waiting for their turn with the instructor.

I practiced the 15 minute tread in a pool 4 feet deep - talk about hard! Gotta kick sideways!

I also practice holding my breath incase I ever have any desire to do any free diving (which seems kinda silly to me when you got a tank handy).

I'll never forget the anxiety my mom had when I told her about the equipment exchange. I thought she was going to hyperventilate. She stated, "Well at least he (hubby) is going to be with you." It turns out he wasn't, but that is a whole other story.

Practice. It helps me. Repetition helps me. Knowing what I have to do helps me. Scuba is a sport of planning. I love it.

Great Winter Dive Trip

2009-01-14T18:23:00.006-06:00

photo thanks to PD Photo.org

I'm beginning to think more about scuba again, as you can tell from the blog frequency. I don't know if it is the new year or if it is that spring is on it's way.

I was going to write about my most favorite dive. But they all tend to run together. Except for one, that wasn't even a dive. It was a snorkel.

A few years back we had the opportunity to go to Florida over spring break. We are older and didn't want the whole spring break crowd thing. We went to see the manatees.

They stole my heart. I don't think I ever adored an animal before until after I had seen a manatee. What an amazing creature. But here is the whole story.

It ended up we left early - the night I got out of school, rather than wait till the next morning. We had lots of driving to do (17 hours) to get to the Crystal River/Homassas area in Florida. We had prearranged everything through American Pro Dive Center (great place and I would recommend them for any visit to the area) http://www.americanprodive.com/

Except because we left early, we didn't have that night arranged. We drove and drove and drove. We got stuck in the Tennessee mountains behind a bad tractor trailer accident. I tried to sleep but in the upright position, it just wasn't working. Finally I looked at hubby and said, "I gotta lay flat." It was 2 in the morning and we had to find a hotel. It wasn't much and it wasn't clean but at that point I didn't care. He got us up after about 5 hours and we headed on down in bright sunshine and warm weather.

I have to say I got a little nervous when I started seeing all the pools and such enclosed in fences. We were going diving. Alligators live in the water. I am much more afraid of an alligator than a shark.

We had rented a "bungelow" (which was a trailer) which was not what we expected but it was right on the water (Homassa River) and it was quaint and clean. It was a small park like setting with boat docks right there and a restaraunt/bar dock maybe 200 yards away. The weather was beautiful. The water was beautiful. The scenery was beautiful.

After getting unpacked we headed out to explore the area and ended up sitting down on the dock drinking beer with our feet hanging over. I said, "Wouldn't that the be coolest thing if a manatee was right here?"

And not 30 seconds later, there it was. RIGHT THERE! below our feet, nibbling on the algae and growth of a pontoon boat. We were in awe and shock and amazement. It wasn't scared. It didn't run or hide. It just kept eating while we stared, slack-jawed. Neither of us had ever seen one except in pictures.

That one moment was spectacular.

The next morning we were so pumped - we were going on the manatee snorkel with the shop. We watched a video about what we could and couldn't do (Florida laws) and headed out. It was a small amount of people, maybe 10, plus the guide and the boat driver.

We actually got to snorkel with them. I petted and scratched a momma and her baby. They were such amazing creatures. So calm and gentle. Yet powerful.

We did other dives down there - King's Cavern, Rainbow River, and a couple others that were fun but nothing compared to being with those manatees.

There are a lot more stories as this ended up being over a week long vacation, but the manatee encounters were truly the best and the highlight of the trip.

Strangest Dive

2009-01-11T14:12:00.004-06:00

I have to say that one of the strangest dives I ever did was at a place called the Dive Stop in Missouri. We (four of us) were working on completing our dive map for our divemaster project.

Two of us had gone out in search of "other things" to map on the bottom.

We were over by the main dock and above us we see, in the water, a wedding party. No lie.

Now they weren't actually getting married at that moment. They were doing a trash the dress shoot. (Where the bride gets in the water with all her wedding attire on).

The poor girl was freezing and looked like she could drown at any moment because her dress was so heavy. Her dress was a long full strapless one and the water temp at the surface was about 65. Brr.

Well, we surfaced to check things out - just in case there was a problem.

The next thing we knew, we were asked to be in the photos. I did my best to look cute in all my cold weather gear - ha ha!

I didn't have MY underwater camera with me and I would doubt the photos came out very well. The water was murky and dark, even just below the surface.

But I have to say it was one of the weirdest, most unusual things that ever happened to me on a dive. The photo at the top is just before she fell in.

SCUBA Pictures Sea & Sea MX5

2009-01-10T11:00:00.009-06:00

I thought I would share some scuba pictures. These were taken in Jamaica on the north coast. With an Sea and Sea MX5. I was feeling reminiscent :)

SCUBA and the Economy

2009-01-01T11:23:00.006-06:00

money photo courtesy of penywise morguefile.com
scuba gear photo - jdurham morguefile.com
For more FREE scuba photos, check out jdurham on morguefile.com

I have to admit. I am a bit worried about our sport and its continuation to grow. Scuba is a very expensive sport due to necessary equipment. With the depression (can I say that word?), people will not being looking to spend money for fun and enjoyment. And if they do, it will be much cheaper things, like movies, Wii, etc. But maybe I am wrong.

In the last few years, meaning 2 to 10 or whatever, the increase in the number of people who have learned to dive has grown A LOT. When we started diving, there weren't many people going out on the boats at our favorite resort (Couples).

A few years later, it was hard to get a spot on the boat sometimes. They had too many people taking their discovery dives to take certified divers. While inconvenient for us at times, it was great for the sport.

Now, as we are (yes still) getting ready to be divemasters, I WANT people to be knocking down the doors to learn to dive, because then I get to dive too! (not that I can't dive anyway, but it just gives more meaning to diving)

Our favorite resort doesn't seem to be fairing well in the current economy either. They are really pushing hard and have extremely low prices right now. But who can go? I'm worried that any minute the bank might close!

I guess those with lots of money will still be learning to scuba dive. But maybe not so many middle class like me anymore. Maybe I am wrong though. And I hope I am. Maybe a lot of people are making "learn to scuba dive" their new year's resolution!

One of the Keys to Scuba Diving

2008-11-02T08:21:00.004-06:00

Last night my husband got a call from one of the instructors at the shop we are affiliated with.(Midwest Scuba - check them out online :)

(photo courtesy of ppdigital at morguefile.com)

http://www.midwestscuba.net/

As I said in an earlier post, we are only "inches" away from completing the divemaster course.

We have all the hard stuff out of the way and all our practicals are completed. But cold weather (not snow and sleet, but cooler water temperatures) hit and we became "invisible" at the dive shop. We used to be there every weekend over the summer, and then at least one evening during the week. I haven't been in almost 2 months now.

But hearing from our friend/instructor got us chatting about diving and finding time to finish. It was much needed.

In the meantime, a woman I work with has called them to get started on her rescue diver course. We have been chatting and emailing about it and I am now longing for diving.

So, one of the keys to diving?? Talk about it. Share it. Even over the icky cold months - talk with other people who dive so you can refuel your passion :)

Oh, maybe someday I will finish my story about my open water course. Hang in there if you are waiting :)

The Weight of Training Scuba Divers

2008-10-27T19:02:00.012-05:00

(picture courtesy of earl53 at morguefile.com)

A sure-fire way to cause diver trauma is by shooting to the surface. Thank goodness the divemaster was strong as the student struggled to right himself and keep from floating up to the surface. Neutral buoyancy was a skill to still be learned by the newbie, as was about a jillion other things. But the calm dive master candidate reached over and grabbed the student's BC and dumped the air from the purge valve, all without moving from his spot. Later, Mr. Daisy (the dive master candidate) said, "It's a good thing I have strength in my arms and weight on my side. Otherwise, Student X would have dragged me to the surface with them."

Face it. Most students learn to dive while being over-weighted to keep from shooting to the surface. While in the pool, they learn the proper technique to find neutral buoyancy in their training. First, dump all the air out of your BC while at the surface and hold a normal sized breath. You should hover/float right at eye level and sink when you exhale that breath. But nervousness, full tanks getting lots of heavy breathing, and lack of underwater comfort can later transfer into "fishing bobber" look-alikes. That full tank becomes positively buoyant as it empties!

(picture courtesy of penywise at morguefile.com)

Despite all the weight, students can still become positively buoyant. Sometimes it is because they haven't quite mastered their BC controls yet. This can lead to dangers for them AND for the dive master candidates. And if a DMC isn't "properly weighted," they can have difficulty doing their job.

Being a dive master candidate means being prepared. And in water that means having

1. enough strength to compensate for both of you while attending to a positively buoyant student OR

2. enough weight in the belt to compensate for a positively buoyant student.

So, DMC's have worked hard to perfect the art of neutral buoyancy to make it look easy for students, yet they are many times over-weighted when helping out the very people they most need to be role models for.

Scuba diving tends to be a man's sport. PADI, one of the largest companies educating scuba divers, believes that worldwide, only 28% of divers are female. This can cause issues with both weight and strength. In a question about gender and who is a better diver, Lawrence Martin wrote, "The long answer is that women, on average, have smaller lungs, a lower aerobic capacity, a greater percentage of body fat, and less upper body strength than men, and these differences have some effects on diving." (http://www.lakesidepress.com/pulmonary/books/scuba/women.htm , October 27,2008) It should be noted that he was discussing recreational diving, rather than women in diving education roles.

The fact remains that I weigh a lot less than most of the students, male or female. And while I work at remaining in shape and staying strong, I cannot overpower and muscle my way through. I have to use other tactics, such as overweighting, to be able to help my students and keep them safe. Having had this discussion with various instructors, one said, "You gotta do what you gotta do."

Dread

2008-10-23T19:45:00.004-05:00

Ah, okay, I told you the next post would be about the next day. But I am not there. I have been dreading that post like I dreaded that cold water. It seems flat and boring and I want something more "now."

So, I got a monkey. He goes underwater with me. No, not really, but I got a monkey on my back about finishing this divemaster thing. The rest isn't fun or a challenge. 7 skills demonstrated in the pool. Boring. Retake the dive table exam (which I should point out, I know and have known for 10 years, but misinterpreted the questions). So, get it done.

Ahhhh - time is killing me right now. So is motivation. Tune in next week . . .

Sometimes The Start is the Hardest

2008-10-21T17:53:00.004-05:00

So, we returned from Jamaica. A month later I decide, "Oh, I want to be certified too!" Boy am I a dork. I had the best place to dive (warm, clear ocean water with tropical fish, spectacular reefs, and an excellent dive crew) BUT NO, I have to wait until the end of September in the midwest to decide that's when I will learn to dive.

We found a close shop and went in and checked it out. They were friendly and it wouldn't take that long to become certified - 2 weekends in the classroom, 1 weekend in the pool, and 1 long weekend doing my 'open water dives.' They were SSI designated (Scuba Schools International) and it all seemed great.

The classes went well. The instructor was great! I did my book work and was diligent (which my husband hadn't been while on vacation and getting certified in Jamaica - but who could blame him?).

The pool session was interesting to say the least. My husband was kind enough to join in all the water sessions with me. We also had some "refreshers" and a few other newbies. Getting all the gear on was a nightmare in 7mm suits and hoods. It was at that moment that I realized what a big mistake I had made in waiting to come home and get certified. The added bulkiness of the suits was insane. And the hoods??? Oh yuck. (Needless to say, no more hoods for me, even if the water is in the 50's.)

Despite the suits and gear, I enjoyed it. I began to grow in confidence.

The next weekend was the real test. We dove at Bon Terre Mines in Bon Terre, Missouri. Yes, the same place Jacques Cousteau dove. We arrived on a Friday night, lugging probably 150 lbs. of equipment each. That's when we found out we had to go down an enormously long flight of stairs (some crazy amount, like 300, which felt more like a thousand) - which no one had bothered to mention. Yes, with all the gear.

Thank goodness we were both young and my poor hubby carted more than his share down to the bottom of the mine. I should have just geared up in my 7mm suit and bounced down the stairs - it would have been less grueling.

The mine is enormous and beautiful. It was well-lit and the dock was nice and large for everyone's gear. The inside temp was around 62* which was a smidge chilly but not too bad. It wasn't till much later that we realized there were no bathrooms. OOPS!

We were gearing up and I had to put my hood on first because it was a hooded vest. I thought my husband was going to just throw me in like that when he saw that on my first attempt, I put the dog gone thing on backwards! I couldn't see and began laughing hysterically, while he was so embarrassed :) He finally got it off of me (there was no way I could have done it myself) and we finished gearing up.

About that time, someone asked about water temperature. I just about died. 56* - 59*! And I HATE the cold. Of course, they all said it sounded worse than it really was. NOT!

THAT FIRST JUMP IN WAS INSANELY COLD - LIKE A GIANT BRAIN FREEZE FROM ICE CREAM! Then it began sneaking into the suit and it was like someone had unzipped me. (Did I mention all the instructors wore dry suits??)

We swam over to the 'saddle area' and dropped down into a half circle (which wasn't near as easy as it sounds). Then began our skills for the first check out dive. We did the second check out dive a bit later, and after that, everyone else did the third dive but me - I just couldn't take the cold anymore.

Check in on the next post to see how the next day went :)

Starting

2008-10-20T21:37:00.003-05:00

So where do I start? At the beginning of the journey? When I snorkeled over my husband when he was 60 ft. down and I couldn't get down because of my ear? And how bad I wanted to be down there with him? Or maybe my first dive just 2 days before that, when the divemaster at the resort (Breezes Runaway Bay Jamaice - great dive people) worked painstakingly slow to get me to the bottom because I wasn't a good equalizer?

I still have that video of my very first ever resort course dive. I had a death grip on the poor divemaster. But look what he has done for me! His patience was immense, and my desire to dive was just as strong. And now, I am just a smidge away from being a divemaster myself.

That first dive I was hooked as soon as I got down and by the time it was over, there wasn't a death grip anywhere. What an amazing transformation that took place in my mind. Being weightless (although not so good at that part back then) and the peace, quiet, and beauty of the alien world before me. Seeing things that not everyone gets to see. I think that was a big attraction for me at first. The wonder and curiosity of what was really down there.

During that time my husband was actually getting his certification. He fell in love the first day, and while I enjoyed it, I wasn't ready to pour all the money into something I would do maybe once a year. (Yeah, right)

So, I came back from Jamaica and realized a month later that it WAS something I wanted to do. So I began the journey of my certification here in the midwest. But that will be for the next post :)

My intention was to start with my divemaster course and explain the difficulties and successes that have come with the coursework. But I felt I needed a slower introduction, and a bigger view to the path. Because it really has been an amazing journey.

I hope you return to read about the journey and I hope it inspires you on your path, whatever path that may be, whether it is diving or not.

Hello to You (and Me)

2008-10-16T21:58:00.004-05:00

Hello all. My husband and I are scuba divers who live in the Midwest of the United States. There aren't a lot of warm tropcial spots here - we mostly have cold murky quarries. But we sure do enjoy it.

We are just about to finish our divemaster program. (I have to retake a test and demonstrate 7 more skills to a class and I will be done). I have journaled about the process we have gone through and wanted to share it with those who are interested, so that will be the subject of many posts.

I will also be writing about dive spots, dive trips, gear, working with students, and a myriad of other topics - all related to diving. Check back regularly, as I am a good poster (meaning I post often) and comment returner. (I currently have another blog unrelated to diving)

I just set this blog up tonight and wanted to make a post to say hi to everyone. Check back soon for a real scuba diving blog post!

Happy Bubbles .o0O%.o0O

Diver Daisy