I’m almost a scuba diver
October 11, 2004Yesterday was the last classroom session for my scuba class. And it was a bear–first half was the written test, a very long affair with dozens of essay-style questions and some pressure/depth math problems. It’s been a while since I had a test quite that involved.
Then the second half was in the pool. First up was the swim test–seven laps if you could swim freestyle, 12 of any other stroke. I can’t do freestyle–the breathing part is a problem because I need to take a breath more often than I’m able to with a steady stroke pattern. I went to the pool at least three times a week during the class, trying to build up my stamina so I could do the lap test freestyle. But in the end I could only do one length freestyle, then I had to switch to backstroke. And even backstroke it’s still a difficult length for me to swim.
It’s convinced me that swimming is the cardio exercise I’ve been looking for. I am not really good with the step aerobics, the cycling instructors at the Y are kinda dull, and I’m no good at running. Swimming is the thing I believe, if I can build up my strength and the breathing skills. So even though scuba class is over, I’m gonna keep up with the swimming.
Anyway, after the lap test we had more scuba skills to practice–doffing and donning the equipment underwater. Which turned out to actually be pretty easy, even in the deep end of the pool. You kneel at the bottom and take off all the equipment–weight belt, bouyancy compensator, mask, and then the regulator–before ascending slowly to the surface. Then the donning part comes where you have to dive back down to the bottom and put all the equipment back on. Starting of course with the regulator so you can breath.
The final skills test was where we just swam around and the instructors would simulate accidents–they’d turn off the air on your tank so you had to practice turning the knob back on while it’s still attached to your back. They’d sneak behind and un-do your mask so you could practice putting it back on and clearing it underwater. And so on. It was a pretty long section, and you’re cruising around the whole time underwater, and I for one got really tired. I’m just exhausted today, and more than a little sore.
So now that the classroom part is over, all that’s left is the checkout dives. Scheduled for the first weekend in November, a field trip down to Florida where we’ll get two days of diving–one in a freshwater springs and the second out on a boat in the ocean. I’m excited–I need to get a disposable underwater camera because he said one of the ocean dives we will see a the wreck of a ship underwater. Cannot wait.
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