The vast majority of diving instructors are governed by pedagogical criteria and know that each student It needs a different pace of learning. In this article we propose a series of guidelines for those students who require more time, attention and effort. These guidelines are extremely simple... and useful.
A thousand questions and doubts
Someone was afraid, like you, and wondered: "What is under our feet? What kind of animals will I find? How will they react? Will I breathe well underwater? Will I have enough air to finish the dive? Will I feel claustrophobic? By the way, if the suit squeezes me out of the water, will I feel the same underneath?"
Each fear or phobia must be treated personally. Overcoming those thoughts that do not allow us to start or continue with this exciting activity is only a matter of time and practice.
Contact with "beings and things" underwater
Regarding the animals that we are going to encounter, I assure you that, usually, we bother them more than they bother us. If we do not try to touch them or feed them, if we do not disturb them or penetrate their living space, we will prevent them from having a defensive reaction. Even so, they will always move away without delay from such a "loud, bubbling thing."
Our intention is to observe life underwater, have fun and respect the underwater environment. The animals will simply observe us cautiously. Take diving courses to acquire knowledge about fauna and flora that we find underwater. When you meet her, you will be so fascinated that you will love her much more than fear her.
The first sensations of buoyancy
The first thing we notice when we are dressed is that the neoprene suit squeezes us "very much". We think it won't let us breathe well. False! It's a feeling that we all have the first times. Of course it cannot cut off our circulation, but it does have to be a little tight so that too much water does not enter or circulate through it, since our body would cool down quickly.
Once in the water we verify that with the suit on we do not have to make any kind of effort to keep us afloat. The suit, once moistened, adapts to our body. Let's take advantage of these moments to relax and breathe better, slowly and deeply, taking out as much air as possible when exhaling, close your eyes and let yourself be carried away by the water for a few brief moments.
How should I breathe underwater with the diving suit?
Have you ever thought about how you breathe after feeling full? Well, if you like the mountains, imagine the moment when you have reached the summit after physical effort: how do you breathe? Surely you take a big breath of healthy air, retain that air inside you, and take a few seconds to slowly release it. Well, this is how you should breathe, especially in moments when you feel tired, when you start to feel a little anguish, or a little fear.
This action is integrated within us as a mechanism of "enjoyment", it will quickly replenish you and you will return to your normal respiratory cycle (two seconds of inspiration, one of retention or apnea and three of expiration, approximately) .
Follow this guideline as many times as you think is appropriate and whenever you start to feel tired, fatigued... Stop, tell your partner, and recover your normal breathing rhythm!
He thinks that we must avoid reaching panic, that is, the "blockage of reason."
How can we recognize the path to panic?
The route to panic, that is, to chaos, follows this process: Fatigue →Anxiety → Fear → Panic
Therefore, the correct mechanism of action is: Stop → Breathe → Relax → Think → Act
You can't imagine how breathing can make you overcome any difficulty in and out of the water. In fact, in a normal situation when a person is nervous or distressed we tell them: "Calm down. Breathe deeply and calmly"... Well, it must be for a reason, and it is for a reason.
From now on, we will be able to self-control our fears, breathing will help us achieve this. We must control our attitudes in the aquatic environment and at the first symptoms, now that we know what they are, we will use the guideline described above.
The first fear factor: the mask flood
Other One of the things that causes us a certain "fear" in the water is the flooding of our glasses, leaving our nose full of water, etc. Fear of direct contact of the eyes and nose with sea water.
As you remember, during the course you have been taught, or will be taught, to empty the mask, but if you are still afraid of such a situation, let's start again with a basic exercise.
Sitting on a rock where you can have your feet in the water, or from the edge of a pool. Fill the mask with water and keep it horizontal, lower your head slightly until the mask fits on your face. Close your eyes, breathe in through your mouth and out through your nose, letting the water bubbles escape through the mask. Once you have mastered this exercise, do it with your eyes open. It's a little more annoying, but it's perfectly doable.
That's it, you've done it. Now flooding your mask is not a problem.
The regulator, or how to "breathe without your nose"
Do we remember how to breathe with the regulator? Well, Pinch your nose, you will see that to breathe you have to "ask for air" through your mouth. We will quickly get used to this sensation and it will be the sensation we will have when breathing through the regulator mouthpiece. Once the bottle is open and on the surface, we put the mouthpiece in our mouth, pinch our nose and breathe. Do you notice the sensation? Well, follow a few more breaths and you'll see how you get used to it.
There are countless exercises that we can practice to get our mind and body accustomed to the aquatic environment. With themwe will progressively lose the fearof it and acquire greater self-control.
Let's go diving. Practicing underwater with your instructor
Now, already prepared, we are going to put on the diving suit with the help of our partner. We review all underwater communication signals. We inflate the vest on the surface, a few meters from the bottom, and breathe through the regulator. Try taking off the mask, hold it in your hand.
At the same time you are already breathing through the regulator, with your eyes open and your nose full of water. No problem, nothing happens. You control yourself not to breathe through your nose. You are ready to immerse yourself. Start using the breathing already described above. When you feel good, we will dive a few meters away, we will get on our knees in the One of the things that causes us a certain "fear" in the water is the flooding of our glasses, leaving our nose full of water, etc. Fear of direct contact of the eyes and nose with sea water.
As you remember, during the course you have been taught, or will be taught, to empty the mask, but if you are still afraid of such a situation, let's start again with a basic exercise.
Sitting on a rock where you can have your feet in the water, or from the edge of a pool. Fill the mask with water and keep it horizontal, lower your head slightly until the mask fits on your face. Close your eyes, breathe in through your mouth and out through your nose, letting the water bubbles escape through the mask. Once you have mastered this exercise, do it with your eyes open. It's a little more annoying, but it's perfectly doable.
That's it, you've done it. Now flooding your mask is not a problem.
The regulator, or how to "breathe without your nose"
Do we remember how to breathe with the regulator? Well, Pinch your nose, you will see that to breathe you have to "ask for air" through your mouth. We will quickly get used to this sensation and it will be the sensation we will have when breathing through the regulator mouthpiece. Once the bottle is open and on the surface, we put the mouthpiece in our mouth, pinch our nose and breathe. Do you notice the sensation? Well, follow a few more breaths and you'll see how you get used to it.
There are countless exercises that we can practice to get our mind and body accustomed to the aquatic environment. With themwe will progressively lose the fearof it and acquire greater self-control.
Let's go diving. Practicing underwater with your instructor
Now, already prepared, we are going to put on the diving suit with the help of our partner. We review all underwater communication signals. We inflate the vest on the surface, a few meters from the bottom, and breathe through the regulator. Try taking off the mask, hold it in your hand.
At the same time you are already breathing through the regulator, with your eyes open and your nose full of water. No problem, nothing happens. You control yourself not to breathe through your nose. You are ready to immerse yourself. Start using the breathing already described above. When you feel good, we will dive a few meters away, we will get on our knees in the
