Favorite local dive site: Lake Tenkiller

I imagine going through my Divemaster program is going to be a long, difficult process, as it should be.  I have been pipe dreaming scuba into a career, and wondered if I would get the chance to dive for pleasure once I'm a professional.  I may just be putting the cart in front of the horse, since I just started Divemaster.  I sometimes wonder if my prestigious dive instructors ever want to just go diving for the fun of it.  No students, no check out dives, just diving for the joy it brings.  I am going to try to steal them away every chance I get.

Not too long ago, I was able to accompany the Scubabros to a local lake, just for fun.  Lake Tenkiller, located about 2 1/2 hours east of Oklahoma City, is a great place to dive.  We planned a day trip, there and back.  Starting the trip off, we loaded the truck with all the essentials, tanks, weights, dive bags, dive flag, and O2 kit; we were ready to roll.

I always get nervous/excited before diving and can never eat a meal prior.  This day was no different.  But, once we got a few hours down the road, and my tummy was growling.  A pit stop, luckily, was in my future.  I go for a gas station breakfast and favorite dive snack: Snickers.  For some reason, it never upsets my stomach while I'm diving, like lots of other foods.  Fueled, we hit the road again.  We start to discuss plans for the dives.  Dive 1: Mike, Zach, and I are going to lead the other divers to one of the wrecks, then head over the ledge for a deep dive.  I am trying to break my personal record of 95 feet.  Dive 2: As simple as getting in the water and seeing what we feel like.

The day is sunny, warm, and muggy.  The Oklahoma summer promises to be a scorcher, but for now, it's pretty pleasant.  The state park for Lake Tenkiller has a dedicated scuba park.  We have the ramp and wrecks to ourselves, without having to worry too much about boat traffic overhead.  We start donning our gear an Mike calls over, "Want to do your Divemaster deep dive?"  It feels like my face pales.  "What?" My internal monologue gulps.  He reads off the objectives from the slate.  "We are going to drop the group off at the bus, navigate down deep, and you get us back to the ramp, with a safety stop with no reference."  "OK", I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel.  Navigation has still been something that has eluded me.  But, only practice makes perfect.  And I am up for the challenge.  

We finish gearing up, do our buddy checks, and are off.  The first wreck we encounter is a boat, about 20 feet of of the ramp.  We need to turn south at about 210° to get to the bus.  One our way there, I am counting kick cycles, so I can navigate back to the ramp later.  Once at the bus, Mike signals to Zach that I am driving.  I get my bearings and set my compass (upside down, so Mike has to move the bezel...doh!) and we descend over the ledge.  At about 100 feet, my lips start to go numb from the cold, and I start breathing like a train.  Inoutinoutinoutinout.  At 106, I'm trying to see my computer, compass, grab my flashlight, and put air in my BC.  I manage to only grab Mike's arm out of all those options.  He signals a hover and I recover.  I turn around to touch Zach to make sure he is still there.  Even though I can see both of their lights.  Calming down..... I do a little fist pump, celebrating a new personal record!

I set my compass correctly and start to ascend.  I can see the sunlight returning.  Whew.  We come back over the ledge and head west back to shore.  Every few feet, I'm looking down my belly to see that they are both still behind me.  Yup.  I'm sure that I am close to the ramp and about 12 feet, I feel my fin catch on something.  Zach's got it.  I turn around and he signals "safety stop".  Well, crap.  I was going to find the end of the ramp and do it there, but I've already gone past. I turn around and we sit in the 15 foot range for our 3 minute stop.  Zach pulls out his back up mask and switches it to see the difference.  It's a tinted one, where you can't see the divers eyes.  He hands it to me and I switch.  The tint is blue, but the visibility is less.  I gently shake my head.  Not the mask for me. 

A few kicks back to the north, and I see the end of the ramp, I turn, all Vanna White, like Tadaaaaaaaaaa, I did it!  Here's the ramp.  A successful navigation, but a failed safety stop.  We surface or our interval and regroup.  We want to see the north side of the scuba park.

As we plan the dive, we decide that we will go as a group. There are 4 buddy pairs. How will we stay together, I wonder... Delta formation. Zach and Mike at the head, one pair follow Zach, one pair follow Mike, and my buddy and I follow the 2 pair, diamond shape. It goes really well, surprisingly.  One a few hiccups where I lose sight of the diver in front of me, once when I turn to my buddy for an air check.  I whip out my Orca dive knife and bang on my tank to signal. I hear an answer and follow the sound. We reconnect with the group and continue.  We are really hauling on this dive, and my air is steadily racing towards empty.  At whatever predetermined spot, we turn around and take the reciprocal heading back to the ramp.  A swimming safety stop this time and I surface with 500 psi. Good dive!

What I love about Lake Tenkiller is that it has a dedicated scuba park. Plenty of wrecks to explore, navigation challenges, deep dives, and loads of fish to find.  Every time I visit, there is a new dive that awaits me. Soon, I will have to really take the island challenge, which consists of a long snorkel across the channel. Nothing my Divemaster training hasn't prepared me for
                                                   .

Fit for Scuba?

This article was inspired by Stevie Armstrong, my Divemaster.

When I started diving, almost a year ago, I was a heavy girl.  I tipped the scales at 220 and was pretty out of shape.  Sure, I tried that running program that gets you off the couch.  And I can be good at diets for about a week or so at a time.  But, nothing has been as constant as scuba.

Just putting on equipment is a workout when you are out of shape.  Hauling that same equipment to the shore, or edge of the pool seems like a feat for Hercules.  Once in the water, though, the gear becomes almost weightless.  Your movement gets slower and more fluid.  You're now really only working your legs, as an amateur.  This is just after my Open Water certification.

Going through the Advanced certification did not seem to tax me any extra.  My buddy would lift the tank for me to strap into, I would use a steady surface to put on my fins, and once in the water, the only thing that plagued me was calf cramps.  And boy, were they bad!  While developing my open water skills, I learned that core muscles helped keep you in the right position, and they should be working during your dives.  Here's the end of Advanced.

Rescue class was rude awakening to what is really required, physically, from a diver.  Getting my divemaster, who is a petite young lady, out of the pool nearly had me on the victim end of the spectrum.  Having to tread/swim and get my instructor out of his gear, as well as my own, had me winded for a while after the end off the exercise.  This was about the time I noticed a change in my physique.  My clothes had started to fit a little loosely.  I was less hot and sweaty in air conditioned environments.  This is right before Rescue certification.

If Rescue was a rude awakening, Divemaster has been a 5 alarm fire, so far.  The physical tests have been intimidating for me, being so out of shape.  Since Rescue, I have been lifting, core building, and working on the elliptical.  Admittedly, not religiously, but preparing equipment for class, loading and unloading the truck, and lifting tanks for students on a semi regular basis has replaced much of my at home workouts.

I earned that 21 of 25 points, but that makes me a "B" student.  All in all, an impressive score, all things considered.  I would like to keep training and, at the end of Divemaster, time myself on those skills again.  I would be interested to see if I am able to do better on the free swim, which I earned a 3 on, the snorkel (4), and tow (4). My never ending quest for perfection.

Diving has toned my muscles, and helped shed some pounds.  I am now only 15 pounds from the "ideal" weight all those charts seem to indicate I should be at, for my height and weight.  Now, only 95's make me wince when I lift them. What's really important to me is that I feel comfortable in my own skin.  Being around my dive crew sure would give me a complex, since they are very fit and athletic, but I am my own seashell.  I am who I am and I only change because I want to.  My most recent photo from this weekend:

And just for fun:

Dive Nite #3 "Bring it"

All week long, I've only had one thing on my mind.  Equipment exchange.  Thursday arrives post haste and I'm walking through the steps in my head constantly.  I think ahead and add 4 more pounds to my belt, so I don't float away.  I'm asked, "Are you ready or do you want to swim around first?"  Now, please.  I'm a rip the band-aid off kinda girl.  Do the hard stuff first, and the easy stuff last.  

On the bottom, I give the signal for buddy breathing.  We're going off my regulator.  I'm going to take my jacket off first.  Breath, bc clips, breath, bc cummerbund, breath, left arm through bc then swing it around me, breath.  I'm out of my jacket.  Jesse starts his removal.  Then he starts floating up.  Uh oh.  He's wearing a Classic, so as I swing it around me, I'm searching for the clips to button it down.  It's like a frantic hokey-pokey.  Right arm in, left arm out, crap, where's the air?  Turn about.  Too late, I realize, we have reached the surface.  Oops.  In that run through, I even experienced breathing off my reg upside down.  Not something I would like to do on a regular basis.  It was a wet and sloppy breath in the middle of that exercise.  

I need to do something else for a bit before I try again.  To earn a score of 5, I need to have everything buckled in and have a swim around while buddy breathing before the ascent.  And it needs to look good, not frantic.  Let's practice some open water skills.  I am going to be graded on them soon.  Reg recovery 1 & 2, mask clearing 1 & 2, oral hover, reg free flow, and equipment removal.  It's not important that I can do the skills, it's important that I can show the skills.  Slow and exaggerated.  It takes some practice.  

Next, I'm going to do some skin diving/equipment removal.  At the bottom, take off my bc, snorkel to the surface, skin dive around, dive back down to my bc and put it back on.  During one of my surface swims, I notice Logan and Richard floating around.  I skin dive down behind Richard and slowly turn his air off.  Logan can see me and I signal to him that I'm turning his tank off, so he's ready to share air with Richard.  I have never been able to do this without them feeling me turning the tank off.  Again, practice.

I dive back down to my equipment and put it back on.  But this time, I close my eyes.  First dive night, Zach had me put my gear on blindfolded.  Time to use that trick.  I spend a few minutes clipping and un-clipping my bc until is becomes easier.  If I don't have to look at my jacket to fasten it, it will not be as hard when I'm buddy breathing.  OK.  Jesse is in close proximity and I bring out my slate.  "Can we try again?" I ask.  Nod.  "Share air" I signal.

His bc comes off, and he keeps hold of it so he doesn't float up.  Mine comes off, we exchange jackets.  I swing the Classic around and Jesse is in charge of the reg.  He has it, holds it for me, so all I have to do is clear it, take my breaths, then spit it out, nod when I need it again.  That way we have more hands free for the tasks.  I'm laying flat on the jacket on the bottom of the pool, keeping Jesse from floating up, clipping into the Classic, and buddy breathing.  I have a surreal moment when I know I've got it this time.  I'm blowing my slow bubbles while he's got the regulator, trying to find those clips.  Got them.  I signal for a swim around.  We Padi handshake to the surface to the sound of thunderous applause.  (In my head)  YES!!!!  I just want to do a little dance, so I do.  Shake shake shake!  

Big shout of to Jesse who helped me earn a 5 on this skill!  So far, I have a score of 13.  5 on the equipment exchange and float test, 3 on the open swim.  I still have the snorkel test left.  Woo!

When Mike asked, "Ready to do that at a moments notice?" my response after a small pause...  Bring it.

Dive Nite #2

Kristen was in town from Indiana for Sarah's wedding last weekend.  I invited her to dive night, naturally.  I was given the opportunity to do a "Try Dive" with her.  A mini DSD (Discover Scuba Diving).  Since I'm not a Divemaster, I'm not allowed to train those, yet.  The objective was to give her enough knowledge to work the equipment for a short pool dive.  

Stevie was kind enough to lend me her slates so I could go through the skills.  This was the best opportunity to practice my own skills when presenting to students.  Soon, I will be graded on my ability to show these skills for Divemaster.  Having my best friend be my first student was comforting, since I knew it was OK if I screwed up something and had to start over.  Less pressure.  

We started on the surface with explaining the skills.  Regulator clearing, mask clearing, reg recovery, and ear equalization.  She did beautifully!  If I do say so myself.

All in all, I think it went well.  Big Scuba smiles all around!  

Equipment Exchange Plan

This is going to be a very dry entry.  I just needed a place to set this up so I can practice the process.

1. Buddy breathe off my reg
2. Unclip top and bottom bc
3. Bb
4. Unvelcro bc
5. Bb
6. Left arm
7. Right arm
8. Lay down bc
9. Bb
10. Repeat 2-8 for buddy
11. Left arm through buddy's bc
12. Bb
13. Right arm through bc
14. Bb
15. Secure straps
16. Bb
17. Buddy dons my bc
18. Bb
19. Swim around
20. Bb

Baby steps

Buddy breathing:  Something I thought I would have a mental block with.  I guess this is not the case. I just needed to be taught, shown, and practice.

Since last weekend, buddy breathing has not been far from my thoughts.  I walk around the house thinking about having the reg in my mouth for 2 breaths, then pass and make small bubbles in my imagination. If I could get in the water and practice,  I think I can get it.

One of the instructors, Jesse, pulled me aside at dive night and said, "I read your blog and think I can help". *Gulp* We break this skill down into it's smallest parts. Can I do a full mask clear? Yes. Can I remove and replace your fins? Yes. Can I remove and replace my BC? Yes. Well, the only thing left is the reg. Let's go down and only buddy breathe.  Ok!

We get to the bottom of the pool and use my reg. 2 breaths, pass, bubbles.  I'm struggling with my buoyancy. Even with 10 lbs.  Then, I remember, I'm using an aluminum 80 and that makes me lighter than the steel tanks. At first, I have a death grip on Jesse's arm. I will not bolt, I will not bolt, I will not bolt.  My breaths come frantic at first. After a few rounds, however, I settle into a rhythm.  

On land, I have been practicing without the reg for 20 seconds, then 2 breaths. It was only taking 10-12, making me feel much better about the whole exercise. 

By the time we surface,  I'm elated. buddy breathing mental block, history.  I just need to practice the skill before testing to make sure I can put all the pieces together.

Side note: I practiced the 800 meter snorkel and did it in 15 mins.  I think I can shave some time off and get a score of 4. 

Divemaster: Chapter 2

I have been dreading the swim test since shearing about it for divemaster.  The tests are rated from 1-5, 5 being the best.  I took the first 2 tests this weekend.  Complete five water-skills exercises, earning a combined exercise score of at least 15. 

1 - Swim 400 meters nonstop, without swimming aids and using any stroke or combination of strokes.
under 6:30 min = 5
6:30 to 8:40 min = 4
8:40 to 11 min = 3
11 to 13 min = 2
more than 13 min = 1
stopped = incomplete

2 - Tread water, drown-proof, bob, or float using no aids and wearing only a swimsuit for 15 minutes, with hands (not arms) out of the water during the last two minutes.
Performed satisfactorily = 5
Stayed afloat, but hands not out of water the entire two minutes = 3
Used side/bottom for momentary support no more than twice = 1
Used side/bottom for support more than twice = incomplete

On 1, I got 9:20, so a score of 3.  That was a struggle.  I have always thought of myself as a strong swimmer.  I got a reality check on Sunday.  I started out strong, but petered out after a few laps.  I had to flip over on my back and kept going.  The point is, I kept going.  My Divemaster buddy was timing me, making it a better experience.  Many more spectators and I might not have surfaced after my performance.  

On to the float test.  This one, I have in the bag.  As I laid relaxing, floating in the pool, I reflected on my swim.  If I can shave 40 seconds off my time, I could have a 4.  The last 2 minutes, not only did I have my hands out of the water, but I was dancing to Miley's, "We Can't Stop".  It was a good performance, and I earned a 5.  

The third test:  In confined water, demonstrate the ability to effectively respond to an unusual circumstance underwater by exchanging all scuba equipment (except exposure suits and weights) with a buddy while sharing a single regulator second stage.  Now, I have never buddy breathed before.  I thought I would be able to achieve this, since I can remove my equipment, surface, and free dive back down to redress.  A fellow DITz and I planned out the exercise.  I would remove my equipment first, both using my reg, then he would remove his.  We descended and started the exercise.  2 breaths and we pass.  After the first exchange, I got completely fixated on the regulator.  He's got it, gotta take off my gear.  Mine.  The first breath exploded out of my mouth and I gulped down air.  I took another giant breath and handed it back.  Blowing a steady stream of bubbles, I finish removing my BC.  My lungs burn, and I all I can see is the reg in his mouth.  The next time I had the reg in my mouth, all I could do was huff and puff.  I gave it back and shook my head.  This was too much for me.  I bolted for the surface. 

I have never been so disappointed in myself.  The burn of shame stung my eyes.  Good thing I was in the pool and no one could really see.  Though, I'm sure my face was red, a tell for me.  My fellow DITz and Mike surface, since I didn't come back down.  Concern written on their faces.  You ok?  Was I?  Nothing wrong with me.  I wasn't going to drown.  I was in 8 feet of water.  I said something and they continued with the exercise, my fellow DITz working with Mike.  

Guess that earns me a 1. Inability to complete the exchange; or exchange completed with one or both divers surfacing more than once.  I had to swim it off.  A 1/2 lap down and back.  I'm composed and dive back down to my gear.  I watch the last half of the exercise, taking my reg out each time my fellow DITz does, for practice.  My lungs feel like exploding each time I am without my regulator.  At least I get to try that one again.

At the end of the divemaster morning, Open Water class is to begin.  The DITz are asked to help one particular student with mask clearing.  We Ro-shambo, Rock/paper/scissor, for the task.  I win on the second go.  He's tasked with helping the Open Water class and I take the one off student.  Helping overcome a fear.  Gimme.   

We start with a tool around the pool, trying to get him to relax.  He's sprinting with fins and I signal a slow down.  We do a few laps and end in the shallows.  A full mask clear is his mental block.  We started with a partial clear.  I demonstrate first, then ask for him to show.  Done.  On to full clear.  Me first.  Now him.  He bolts for the surface.  He's sucking water through his nose.  So, it's the water on his face.  Let's try something else.  Hold your nose, reg in, lets sit on the bottom for a while.  Nope.  Next, try holding your nose, reg in, face in the water.  Nope.  I'm running out of ideas.  We are fixating on the problem.  Let's take another lap around the pool.  I lead him around.  Back in the shallows, he taps me and does a full mask clear.  NICE!  He then tries the mask removal, water up his nose, bolts for the surface.  We are in 4 feet of water, so it's not a concern.  I was not able to help him overcome his mental block.  He's done for the day.

The last part of Open Water class is a dive the students plan and DITz are going to present a problem, i.e. remove your mask, unstrap your tank, etc.  After the first few trips, they quickly figured out that they need to watch their buddy pretty close.  Good habit.

The afternoon brought a rescue class.  Only a tiny hiccup in my performance.  I forgot to raise my air 2 in the demonstration of an out of air scenario.  As you can see, I am not a first performance kind of person.  I will get in in the 2nd try.  There was a scuba smile when I was demonstrating the disorientation scenario.  Mike spun me around underwater and I had to find the line and stop spinning. 

All in all, a very good day of diving, if only in the pool.  I have an even greater respect for the Scubabros to be able to do this every day.  Lots of hours in the water.