AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye OK divers, do SCUBA and claustrophobia mix????

I seem to remember a dive shop advertisement at one of the shops on the beach that would let you puddle around off their pier with an instructor for a short time, to see if you wanted to go for a resort course. Am I fabricating memories? Who knows. My brother-in-law, who just had a few years snorkel experience under his belt decided he wanted to try a resort course (he had spent a few years listening to the rest of the families dive experiences). By the time we got out to Hol Chan, and he'd spent about ten minutes in the water with the instructor, off we went. His wife would only let him go if I went along. I don't think he's ever had that much fun, took to it like a natural. The next day we went out to Mexico rocks with a snorkel trip, and he and I dove (the instructor was along, of course). Granted, the ten foot depth was no great shakes, but you would be amazed what you can see when you are down for an hour in a relatively small place.
I think that if you hit a dive shop, they will let you get in the pool for a short time to see if you can handle being down. If you can't, it will become very obvious very quickly. Being comfortable in the water is a large part of it.

Idaho gave very good advise. I would only add a couple of things to what s/he had to say.
I too was very claustrophobic. Back in the '60's I would panic when the mask sucked onto my face. So I stuck to wading for abalone.
The equipment has greatly improved. When I learned that you can actually breath OUT through a mask with a purge valve it opened a whole new world to me.
My friends took me to their private pool, let me sit on the steps and put the mask on my face. I could breath in through my mouth and out through my nose. I did this for a while. Then I put the snorkel in my mouth and swam around for a while breathing in and out through the snorkel.
Next I put the regulator in my mouth and went through the same routine: sit, then swim.
It didn't take long for my brain to accept that I would not suffocate.
I am now an avid diver and so happy I didn't miss this opportunity.
Take your time and be with people you really trust.
Of course, if you decide not to dive it just leaves more ocean for the rest of us.

I can't believe how helpful this is! Thanks so much to EVERYONE! I'll let you know if I decide to go for it and give you progress reports along the way. You guys are awesome!
Turnbun
aka Jenniee

Turnbun...would love to know where you went in Honduras...we are thinking about a trip there! You can e-mal us at mlbwsm@aol.com. Thanks!

Sorry..I meant to address that reply to Jenniee! Thanks.

OK... Florian's dive emergency post has me hyperventilating.

Kathy