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Diving With All Star Divers And Ensogo


FarangFarang

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Ked has mentioned to me many times that one of her dreams is to try scuba diving. I'm a scuba diver and even brought most of my expensive gear over to Thailand when I moved (reg, BCD, etc) so it seems like something we can enjoy doing together.

Unfortunately, she had some ear problems when she was younger and before we shelled out 15,000 baht or so for a Open Water Diver course I wanted to make sure that she could handle clearing her ears underwater. If you can't clear your ears you can't dive.

So a few weeks back I got my little email from Ensogo and there was a deal to do a Discover Scuba class with All Star Divers for 220 baht (usually they charge 1000 baht)! Ked was still sleeping but I bought the package because I knew she would love to at least try so we can find out once and for all if she is able to dive.

Ked called and made the appointment and yesterday we went down to the 1st Signal Battalion of The Kings Guard on Nang Lin Chee Rd. Strange place for a dive shop but that's where it was.

I had also made arrangements with All Star Divers to let me use the pool as well. I have a AGA full face mask that I haven't quit got down yet (coincidentally, it makes hard for me to clear my ears since you can't pinch your nose) and I wanted some more time with it in the pool. I told them I was a certified dive instructor so I didn't really need any supervision and they said they could give me the tanks, weights, and use of the pool for about 3 hours for 300 baht. Score!

Ked did the classroom training where she learned the basics about the gear, some hand signals, and what to expect in the water and then we geared up and hit the pool.

Ked was the only student so I assisted the instructor a bit. I tried to give him some space and not get in his way. I've taught way too many classes where the boyfriend or husband is all gung-ho to get him and the girlfriend/wife certified or is already certified and wants to play coach the entire session so you've got someone who is already being taken beyond their comfort level trying to listen to the instructor and to their "coach" which makes them even more nervous.

But it was obvious Ked was having some problems and the instructor asked me to join for moral support.

Many people new to diving freak out breathing underwater. They feel claustrophobic or like they can't get enough air. Strangely, that wasn't Ked's problem. Her problem was that she couldn't stop breathing out of her nose. Underwater all I could see was a continuous stream of bubbles flowing out of her mask and none coming out of the regulator.

And so when she tried to stop breathing through her nose the exiting air would allow some water to flow back into the mask and she would get nervous and signal that she wanted to go to the surface. Again, I gotta give her credit because most students bolt for the surface (a majorly dangerous and potentially life threatening thing to do) but she gave the signal she wanted to go up and was under control.

The instructor and I tried to get her to pinch her nose and just breath through the regulator on the surface so she could get the feel for breathing only through your mouth. Then we took her down and as long as she pinched her nose she was fine. The second one of us motioned for her to remove her fingers from her nose bubbles came pouring out of the mask.

All in all, she gave it a good two hours but being in the water that long (in the early evening), stressed out a bit, and not quite making much headway she decided to call it a day so we showered up.

She says she had fun. She really enjoyed it and wishes she could fight the urge to breath through her nose so she can learn to dive. And if she can get over that I think she can do it (if the ears don't create a problem) because she seemed quite comfortable and in control in the water which is a huge first step. I think we're going to buy a mask and snorkel and spend some time in the pool at the apartment and see if she can get the hang of it.

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Ked has mentioned to me many times that one of her dreams is to try scuba diving. I'm a scuba diver and even brought most of my expensive gear over to Thailand when I moved (reg, BCD, etc) so it seems like something we can enjoy doing together.

Unfortunately, she had some ear problems when she was younger and before we shelled out 15,000 baht or so for a Open Water Diver course I wanted to make sure that she could handle clearing her ears underwater. If you can't clear your ears you can't dive.

So a few weeks back I got my little email from Ensogo and there was a deal to do a Discover Scuba class with All Star Divers for 220 baht (usually they charge 1000 baht)! Ked was still sleeping but I bought the package because I knew she would love to at least try so we can find out once and for all if she is able to dive.

Ked called and made the appointment and yesterday we went down to the 1st Signal Battalion of The Kings Guard on Nang Lin Chee Rd. Strange place for a dive shop but that's where it was.

I had also made arrangements with All Star Divers to let me use the pool as well. I have a AGA full face mask that I haven't quit got down yet (coincidentally, it makes hard for me to clear my ears since you can't pinch your nose) and I wanted some more time with it in the pool. I told them I was a certified dive instructor so I didn't really need any supervision and they said they could give me the tanks, weights, and use of the pool for about 3 hours for 300 baht. Score!

Ked did the classroom training where she learned the basics about the gear, some hand signals, and what to expect in the water and then we geared up and hit the pool.

Ked was the only student so I assisted the instructor a bit. I tried to give him some space and not get in his way. I've taught way too many classes where the boyfriend or husband is all gung-ho to get him and the girlfriend/wife certified or is already certified and wants to play coach the entire session so you've got someone who is already being taken beyond their comfort level trying to listen to the instructor and to their "coach" which makes them even more nervous.

But it was obvious Ked was having some problems and the instructor asked me to join for moral support.

Many people new to diving freak out breathing underwater. They feel claustrophobic or like they can't get enough air. Strangely, that wasn't Ked's problem. Her problem was that she couldn't stop breathing out of her nose. Underwater all I could see was a continuous stream of bubbles flowing out of her mask and none coming out of the regulator.

And so when she tried to stop breathing through her nose the exiting air would allow some water to flow back into the mask and she would get nervous and signal that she wanted to go to the surface. Again, I gotta give her credit because most students bolt for the surface (a majorly dangerous and potentially life threatening thing to do) but she gave the signal she wanted to go up and was under control.

The instructor and I tried to get her to pinch her nose and just breath through the regulator on the surface so she could get the feel for breathing only through your mouth. Then we took her down and as long as she pinched her nose she was fine. The second one of us motioned for her to remove her fingers from her nose bubbles came pouring out of the mask.

All in all, she gave it a good two hours but being in the water that long (in the early evening), stressed out a bit, and not quite making much headway she decided to call it a day so we showered up.

She says she had fun. She really enjoyed it and wishes she could fight the urge to breath through her nose so she can learn to dive. And if she can get over that I think she can do it (if the ears don't create a problem) because she seemed quite comfortable and in control in the water which is a huge first step. I think we're going to buy a mask and snorkel and spend some time in the pool at the apartment and see if she can get the hang of it.

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I too couldn't get round the using only your mouth thing either when merely trying to snorkel in the pool.

Scuba, it seems, will be just something that happens to other people.

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lol

I breathe through my mouth all the time.

The only time I use my nose is when I've got a sore throat (like today).

And when I scuba dive, I use air way too fast. I can drain a 15 litre tank faster than others use a 10 litre.

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doesn't the mask usually seal around ur face eventually forcing u to breathe in and out using ur mouth !!!

i've done a bit of diving in thailand (khao tao & sail rock) but wasn't overly impressed ... too many divers and not enough fish.

had some decent dives in sri lanka and some great dives in the maldives. haven't been for a few years now !!!

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I have never dived, but thinking of immediate problems the nose breathing came to mind. I think I would definitely suffer from the same thing.

Snorkels a good idea though.

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I scare the ocean even it's so beautiful places , i had bad experienced while i was a young kid.I love the sea ,i wanted to do diving things deep into under the sea.I hope one day my dream will come true.I am still afraid now.

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Ciaran, how's the diving in maldives?

diving in the maldives is superb, but staying there can be expensive and a bit boring.

it's basically loads of tiny islands, with nothing to do, but eat, sleep, drink and dive !!

when i was living in sri lanka 10 or 12 of us used to go there for 3 or 4 days at a time and had a blast.

we found 1 resort Summer Island which was fully inclusive (all food and drink in the price) for around $100 a night. it wasn't the most luxurious of places, but for diving and having a good time it was great.

this should be a PM, but ur profile is hidden. anything more u want to know send me a msg.

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Ciaran, thanks, that sounds good. I might take my *****, SteveJR, with me..though maybe you should tell him he needs to learn how to swim first.

i thought u wanted to enjoy ur time in the maldives !! ;-)

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