Muse back!
November 02, 2006 / Thursday
I Deedit! I Deedit!
I'm back, and I'm officially cleared to continue with my scuba course. Yup, I managed to complete my 200 meters and 10 minutes. I was slow and I'm sure it wasn't pretty, but I did it. Phew!
I swam the first of my 15 pool lengths with my highly incorrect breastroke, then flipped and swam on my back for most of the remaining laps. I have no idea how many more laps I had by the time everyone else finished, but I didn't really care. I just wanted to finish. And I did, eventually.
Treading was kind of fun. I got to play around some more with different kicks, and floated on my back to rest every once in a while. About 8 minutes in Aaron got bored or something and did a circle around me, which made me mad because it was distracting. Leave me alone, goddammit! Can't you see how hard I have to concentrate in order not to drown? I wanted to kick him, but I was busy trying not to blublublub. He's lucky I'm a sucky swimmer!
We actually started off the class by putting our gear on and going underwater. Underwater, we practiced breathing, taking the regulator out of our mouths, retrieving the regulator from behind our backs, clearing our masks, and throwing frisbees. Then we swam back and forth at the bottom of the 3 foot section of the pool.
My first ascent from 3 feet was pretty amusing. I tried to stand up from lying at the bottom on my stomach and promptly turtled tank-down with my fins at the surface. I thought this was hilarious, so I started laughing, which was fine in terms of my regulator, but made my mask leak. Eventually, someone came over and yanked me back upright, silly grin on my face and all.
After the swim test (the order was scuba, test, snorkel), we learned how to pike and dive with our snorkel and fins on. I'm surprised I tried it, actually, since the idea of being that far underwater with no air tank was something that made me uncomfortable... right up until I tried it. Actually, on my first try I forgot that I was breathing through a snorkel and not a regulator. I tried to take a breath and got nothing. Thank goodness I bought a snorkel with a floatey close valve thinger at the top, or that would have been a breathful of water.
On my second try, I actually got deep enough that I reached the steep slopey drop and had to push with my arms to head back up. I wonder how far I'd be able to swim down if air wasn't an issue. Well, that and pressure. I've never felt underwater pressure on my inner ear before. That was pretty cool.
All in all, a successful pool session. Thanks SO much to everyone who helped me with swimming, be it through encouragement, tips, learning materials, or actual in-person guidance in the pool. I'm going to continue going to swimming lessons and practicing on my own at the gym. Not so afraid of water anymore. :)
November 2, 2006 10:04 PM | Water
Comments
hehe. well, congrats!
and jeez thanks for telling me about that flickr wallpaper thing! that looks awesome!
Posted by: heather at November 2, 2006 11:57 PM
CONGRATS! you rock!
Posted by: i, andrea at November 3, 2006 12:56 AM
WOO! You are indeed soopah. Congrats!
Posted by: carolyn at November 3, 2006 07:36 AM
One small step for mankind, one GIANT STRIDE for Viv (if you don't know what that refers to, you soon will)! Yay! Congratulations!
Posted by: Wendy at November 3, 2006 07:47 AM
Wonderful!!!!! I'm so proud of you!
Posted by: -april at November 3, 2006 08:09 AM
CONGRATS!!! you are awesome!
Posted by: christy at November 3, 2006 10:07 AM
Awesome!!! Go Soopahviv!! I knew you could do it.
Posted by: Snarfdog at November 4, 2006 12:56 AM
Woo hoo! Congrats! You're way beyond me. That breathing-while-my-face-is-in-the-water thing is just creepy. "How can I possibly breathe? It's WATER!"
Posted by: Jennie at November 7, 2006 02:46 PM
I <3 teh regulator. And the little close valve on my snorkel. ;)
Posted by: Viv at November 7, 2006 03:07 PM
Yaaay Viv! :-D
Posted by: McJedi at November 7, 2006 09:49 PM