Video of my Very First Scuba Dive (Discovery Dive)

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

Jellyfish

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!)

How to See Underwater :)

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.

Being Prepared

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 :)

SCUBA Pictures Sea & Sea MX5

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 :)