helping a nervous diver (snorkelling)

[mikegw]

Hello all,
apologies if this is not the right place but the snorkelling group seemed
kinda quiet.

Me and my GF will be taking a holiday soon which will involve a bit of
snorkelling. Now the problem is that she is a bit nervous about the whole
mask leaking thing (I have just got her a well fitting mask so that should
help) and breathing underwater. I figured that going to the local pool and
playing around with taking the mask off underwater should help (starting in
shallow water and working deeper). However, being a rock climber I have
witnessed couples ending up in screaming matches when boyfriend decided to
'teach' girlfriend climbing. I would like to avoid this.

So my question is do you have any tips for helping someone who is a bit
nervous about diving/snorkelling, but is otherwise perfectly comfortable in
the water?

Cheers

Mike

[talskeddy]

resist the temptation to put the mask on too tight (it doesnt help)

at the pool:
-put the mask on loosely
-underwater, press mask against face with hand (this creates negative
pressure and keeps the mask on without distortion
-practice letting in a little water by breaking the seal at the top
-practice swishing the water round to clear the glass
-practice getting rid of excess water by blowing air though nose (be
near the surface
-advanced - practice tightening your mask by inhaling though your nose
(bend your head forward to get water out of nose place and blow water
out of nostrils first)

hope this helps

It took me a while to figure some of this out
Do it at the pool

[mbsdiver]

Mike,

What value can you put on avoiding a big fight, hurt feelings and
sulking during your vacation? Boyfriends (and girlfriends) put a lot
of pressure on the their partners when they push them towards
something that they find uncomfortable. Their partners can feel that
pressure whether there was actual pushing or not - simply because they
want to please, impress or compete.

It can happen when you try to teach too actively, as well.

I liked talskeddy's post, but I would make sure that when you hit the
pool with your GF that you do teach too actively. Instead, accept
that she will be doing the learning - at her own pace.

If she gets frustrated or hits a wall - give her room. Only help when
she asks.

Being able to clear a flooded mask builds confidence for snorkelers,
whether or not they have to use the skill. Surface diving is also a
great confidence builder.

If you really, really want to have her teach herself mask clearing in
a fool proof method. Have her follow my Mind, Body, Spirit technique
for scuba and snorkel training:

1. Visualize the task at hand by breaking it down into the individual
steps involved.

2. Affirm the tasks by speaking them out loud and acting them out
standing in shallow water.

3.Place the mask and snorkel on and have her relax, floating face down
on the surface, before submerging. Have her float like this on the
surface for 2-3 minutes doing deep breathing exercises.

4. Have her submerge, again in shallow water,sit on the bottom and
clear the mask.

Oh yeah, don't let her tighten down the mask strap too much, it makes
the mask leak.

You could also talk to your local dive shop and get her a one hour
pool session or even have her take a quick snorkeling course. They
she'll learn mask clearing, suface diving and the buddy system. The
price of a grumpy vacation just aint worth it.

Schultzie
www.zendiver.blogspot.com

Post by talskeddy
resist the temptation to put the mask on too tight (it doesnt help)
-put the mask on loosely
-underwater, press mask against face with hand (this creates negative
pressure and keeps the mask on without distortion
-practice letting in a little water by breaking the seal at the top
-practice swishing the water round to clear the glass
-practice getting rid of excess water by blowing air though nose (be
near the surface
-advanced - practice tightening your mask by inhaling though your nose
(bend your head forward to get water out of nose place and blow water
out of nostrils first)
hope this helps
It took me a while to figure some of this out
Do it at the pool

[Lee Bell]

Post by mbsdiver
What value can you put on avoiding a big fight, hurt feelings and
sulking during your vacation? Boyfriends (and girlfriends) put a lot
of pressure on the their partners when they push them towards
something that they find uncomfortable. Their partners can feel that
pressure whether there was actual pushing or not - simply because they
want to please, impress or compete.

Please, OK. Impress or compete is very risky territory. Partners don't
strive to impress or compete with one another, they work together.

Post by mbsdiver
I liked talskeddy's post, but I would make sure that when you hit the
pool with your GF that you do teach too actively. Instead, accept
that she will be doing the learning - at her own pace.

You're on the right track, but I think you've reached the wrong conclusion.
I would make sure somebody else provides the training. When my wife learned
to water ski, I paid somebody else to teach her. Once she had learned, I
helped her get better. When my wife learned to snow ski, I paid somebody
else to teach her. Once she had learned, I helped her get better. When my
wife learned to dive, I paid somebody else to teach her. Once she had
learned, I helped her get better. When my wife learned to drive a stick
shift, I taught her. It went well, but my antacid bill went up until she
was ready to go off on her own. She helped herself get better.

Lee

[Grumman-581]

When my wife learned to water ski, I paid somebody else to
teach her. Once she had learned, I helped her get better.
When my wife learned to snow ski, I paid somebody else
to teach her. Once she had learned, I helped her get better.
When my wife learned to dive, I paid somebody else to teach
her. Once she had learned, I helped her get better.

And when your wife learned how to "do-the-horizontal-mombo", did you also
pay someone else to teach her?

Notice, I didn't question the part about you helping her to get better
afterwards... <dirty-old-man-grin>



Sorry, Lee, but when you leave openings like that, I just *can't* resist
it...

[Poida]

I know nothin' about teaching people how to snorkle as noone ever taught
me. Probably why I'm no good at it.
But, I reckon trying to teach people by ramming all this info into
their heads turns them off. They are trying to learn to do this bit
and that bit and being bombarded by instructions.

My recommendation is, go to the edge of a shallow reef that is about
waist deep. Let her stand there bend over with the mask and snorkle on
and have a look at the reef. Feels uncomfortable, then she simply
stands up. Let her play around by herself until she gets absorbed in
the activity and she will probably leave her head in the water longer
and even start floating around.

But, let her do it at her own pace.
--
Poida
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[Lee Bell]

Post by Grumman-581
And when your wife learned how to "do-the-horizontal-mombo", did you also
pay someone else to teach her?

That was taken care of before I met her.

Horizontal? You can do it horizontal too? Cool.

Lee

[Grumman-581]

Post by Lee Bell
That was taken care of before I met her.

Oh, so someone else paid?

[Greg Mossman]

Post by Grumman-581

Post by Lee Bell
That was taken care of before I met her.

Oh, so someone else paid?

Some people don't buy new cars either. Something about not being a good
value. Me, I like that new car smell.

[Rheilly Phoull]

One day mikegw got dressed and committed to text

Post by mikegw
Hello all,
apologies if this is not the right place but the snorkelling group
seemed kinda quiet.
Me and my GF will be taking a holiday soon which will involve a bit of
snorkelling. Now the problem is that she is a bit nervous about the
whole mask leaking thing (I have just got her a well fitting mask so
that should help) and breathing underwater. I figured that going to
the local pool and playing around with taking the mask off underwater
should help (starting in shallow water and working deeper). However,
being a rock climber I have witnessed couples ending up in screaming
matches when boyfriend decided to 'teach' girlfriend climbing. I
would like to avoid this.
So my question is do you have any tips for helping someone who is a
bit nervous about diving/snorkelling, but is otherwise perfectly
comfortable in the water?
Cheers
Mike

For just snorkelling you wont be doing much 'mask clearing' with a properly
fitting mask.
If she can hold it on by just taking a small 'sniff' thats a good test.
Consider as a newbie she will not be making long duration dives, so if a bit
of water gets in it can be cleared at the surface. Get in some experience
and all the rest will come with it.
Hope your holiday goes well.

[Bill Fright]

Post by mikegw
Hello all,
apologies if this is not the right place but the snorkelling group seemed
kinda quiet.
Me and my GF will be taking a holiday soon which will involve a bit of
snorkelling. Now the problem is that she is a bit nervous about the whole
mask leaking thing (I have just got her a well fitting mask so that should
help) and breathing underwater. I figured that going to the local pool and
playing around with taking the mask off underwater should help (starting in
shallow water and working deeper). However, being a rock climber I have
witnessed couples ending up in screaming matches when boyfriend decided to
'teach' girlfriend climbing. I would like to avoid this.
So my question is do you have any tips for helping someone who is a bit
nervous about diving/snorkelling, but is otherwise perfectly comfortable in
the water?
Cheers
Mike

I'd hit the local library and grab a couple of books to relate the
beauty of what's underwater. It is a clear motivator.

Then I'd sit in the shallow end of a pool for a while and simply
practise breathing through the snorkel with mask on. She sounds like a
swimmer but you might concider a light floatation vest to start with -
just to increase comfort.

Lastly I'd remind her that people float when their heads are underwater!

Good luck and be very patient and you'll not have a spat!

bill

[Scott]

Post by Bill Fright

Post by mikegw
Hello all,
apologies if this is not the right place but the snorkelling group seemed
kinda quiet.
Me and my GF will be taking a holiday soon which will involve a bit of
snorkelling. Now the problem is that she is a bit nervous about the whole
mask leaking thing (I have just got her a well fitting mask so that should
help) and breathing underwater. I figured that going to the local pool and
playing around with taking the mask off underwater should help (starting in
shallow water and working deeper). However, being a rock climber I have
witnessed couples ending up in screaming matches when boyfriend decided to
'teach' girlfriend climbing. I would like to avoid this.
So my question is do you have any tips for helping someone who is a bit
nervous about diving/snorkelling, but is otherwise perfectly comfortable in
the water?
Cheers
Mike

I'd hit the local library and grab a couple of books to relate the
beauty of what's underwater. It is a clear motivator.
Then I'd sit in the shallow end of a pool for a while and simply
practise breathing through the snorkel with mask on. She sounds like a
swimmer but you might concider a light floatation vest to start with -
just to increase comfort.
Lastly I'd remind her that people float when their heads are underwater!
Good luck and be very patient and you'll not have a spat!

Look at babies who were birthed and raised in the water.

The fear of water is learned.

[Grumman-581]

Post by Scott
Look at babies who were birthed and raised in the water.
The fear of water is learned.

Learned soon after attempting to breathe water... <grin>

[Brien Alkire]

There's one piece of advice that someone has not already provided. Avoid
overloading her with information, take it slow.

It's a common characteristic when couples take up a sport together such as
sailing or diving; the more dominant participate throws a barrage of
information at the other. At some point it becomes a real deterant.

[Mikegw]

Post by Brien Alkire
There's one piece of advice that someone has not already provided. Avoid
overloading her with information, take it slow.
It's a common characteristic when couples take up a sport together such as
sailing or diving; the more dominant participate throws a barrage of
information at the other. At some point it becomes a real deterant.

Oh yea. I could not agree more.

I have taken a few people climbing (girlfriend included) and other than the
initial safety blurb I tend to let them have a go and then talk about ONE
aspect after each go (if that).

Mike

[Nobody]

Forget all the baloney that you just read, Mike.

Buy her a mask with a purge valve.

End of problems.

Bart F.

Post by mikegw
Hello all,
apologies if this is not the right place but the snorkelling group seemed
kinda quiet.
Me and my GF will be taking a holiday soon which will involve a bit of
snorkelling. Now the problem is that she is a bit nervous about the whole
mask leaking thing (I have just got her a well fitting mask so that should
help) and breathing underwater. I figured that going to the local pool and
playing around with taking the mask off underwater should help (starting in
shallow water and working deeper). However, being a rock climber I have
witnessed couples ending up in screaming matches when boyfriend decided to
'teach' girlfriend climbing. I would like to avoid this.
So my question is do you have any tips for helping someone who is a bit
nervous about diving/snorkelling, but is otherwise perfectly comfortable in
the water?
Cheers
Mike

[land shark]

Practice is the key here.
If you are familiar with your gear, you should be comfortable.
Thats the point right? comfortable.
There is no such thing as a mask that dont leak. At some point it will.
Knowing how to clear it is basic stuff. It should be done as if to
brush a fly off your shoulder.

Also perhaps breaking each session down to a couple of simple drills
one building on the other may help. Then repeat the drills each
session.

With enough time it will become a reaction not an effort.

Just my 2 cents

jim
--
land shark


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