Learning to Dive

What would you all say Is the hardest part in learning to dive?

Remembering to pay attention to a million things at once. Most of which your life depends upon.

Oh, and wading through all the hype about "which gear is best." lol

Cheers

James

Basic diving is easy enough...seems like alot to take in at first but like anything else...do it often enough and it will be like second nature (just never get complacent in your gear checks and personal evals before diving...stuff does and will happen). I would say one of the most difficult things is mastering bouyancy (determining weight, placement, etc)...not just learning the basics, but mastering it so you can get yourself into delicate areas without harming the reef. Some other difficult things people might have trouble with is mastering fear and remaining calm in new situations...like wreck dive penetration...or OW shark dives...or just simple ow diving with no reef around....makes one really realize how small one is in this vast universe. Lastly, always make sure you're breathing underwater...sounds stupid but diving is very relaxing and meditative....don't get too caught up in looking at something so that you start holding your breath.

I would have to agree with the above...bouyancy control takes a bit of practice and fine tuning. And I would have to add navigation to the list..while concentrating on everything else it is pretty easy to get a bit lost underwater..especially in lower vis situations and long surface swims back to the boat or shore aren't too fun. Then there is the warm vs. cold water diving. You get to deal with alot more gear and weight in cold water. But the kelp forests are pretty amazing

Good luck with your class

The biggest problem that I think of it to realized that from the most soficticate creature on land you become a lauzy criuture under water:

- You cant breafe without a lot of equipmant.

- You move very slowly and clumsy.

- You make so much noise in that silence & relax world.