FEARS & FACTS
Students fear open-water training for many reasons, like having to function in a full wetsuit, or having to deal with environmental factors like limited visibility, cold water or mysterious marine life. And what diver-to-be could ever forget the first few haunting notes from "Jaws", as they descended for the first time in the ocean? OK, breathe deep now and let's take a closer look at these fears.
In reality, today's exposure suits are nothing like the stiff and bulky costumes of the "Sea Hunt" generation; manufacturers now use materials that are highly elastic and quite comfortable. And because these exposure suits are so effective, you can often remain comfortable for hours under water -even under ice - if you use the right one.
As for marine life, there's less cause for concern than most new divers think. The most important thing you'll learn is that marine creatures are far more afraid of you than you are of them. Like wild animals, marine critters usually go to great lengths to avoid humans. In the rare cases where injury occurs, it's usually from the defensive action of a frightened animal. This goes for sharks, too. It's not surprising that a good chunk, so to speak, of shark bites come from the docile nurse shark - who turns to bite when divers pull on it to get it to move about in the water. In fact, it's rare even to see a shark. When art director Shay was lucky enough to see one on one of her first dives, she knew enough about natural history to be more fascinated than scared. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule: Be on the lookout for jellyfish, sea urchins and fire coral, don't handle scorpionfish and torpedo rays and you'll probably be fine. And don't forget about fish-biting-man. If common sense tells us not to handle any form of marine life, our learned skills help us to control our buoyancy to avoid contact with the "live" bottom. Says Shay: "I was nervous about hovering. It was one thing I didn't really get in the pool, because things like hovering a fin pivot are tough to pull off when you're shoulder-to-shoulder - so my instructor had me do that first. And I got it right off the bat, which relaxed me tremendously."
The Reality
Few divers are ever injured - or even have serious problems - while in training. Statistically you're far safer when under the supervision of an instructor; after all, he's undergone many hours of training to keep you out of harm's way. In addition, your instructor will probably have one basic duty to make sure you are safely supervised at all times. Before you enter the water your instructor will give you thorough briefing outlining exactly what you'll be doing. If you're unsure what's expected of you at anytime,ask - chances are others have the same questions.
Next, you'll begin preparing your equipment and suiting up. Don't worry about being left to fend for yourself; your instructor or one of those assistants will help you along. The instructor will also explain exactly where and how you should enter the water. Once in the water you'll be under constant supervision, a requirement mandated by the standards of all diver training organizations. During the first dive you'll perform a few simple skills; your instructor will keep the number and complexity of skills down so you can enjoy your first underwater experience. Even if you don't feel completely at ease after your first dive, don't worry you'll make at least three more dives before you're certified. The key is to relax, follow instructions and do what you've learned in the pool. According to Confucius, a journey of ten thousand miles begins with the first step in your case, that first step should be one giant leap.
Unlimited Sunshine & Blue Water,
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