Anxious and excited: Tomorrow is OW diving

[fisheater]

Here I sit in the infamous Lone Oak Lodge in Monterey, knowing that my personal "moment of truth" awaits in the morning, my Open Water Checkout Dives at the Breakwater.

The Bay Area is being hit with another big rainstorm, causing urban and suburban flooding, numerous collisions and assorted mayhem. It rained quite a few inches today and they're expecting more all weekend (through Wednesday). The drive down here was a bit thrilling at times. The recorded dive conditions phone line wasn't too encouraging, nor was the email from my instructor, who is taking a "wait and see" approach to the divability of the weekend.

The Lone Oak Lodge is a diver's hangout, well known for their gear rinsing and drying area, the drying hooks outside each door and the "spa" with sauna and jazucci for re-warming bodies that had been immersed in the not-so-warm Pacific ocean all day. However, the parking lot only has a few cars in it, none of which appear to be sporting dive stickers. The receptionist told me that at least one OW class was canceled, which led to a flurry of room cancellations.

In addition, I wonder how I'll react to that first dive. I'm hopeful that I'll be amazed at the window suddenly opened up to me. I'm confident in my skills and knowledge, but I'm a bit concerned about the stories I've heard from others who either felt claustrophobic or couldn't clear their ears or . . . .

With only one way to find out, I'm just hanging in my room, watching old Sea Hunt episodes on the DVD player and thumbing through my dive computer manual so I won't look like a COMPLETE idiot when I have to use the thing for real tomorrow.

By tomorrow, I should have lots of answers. And, I hope, some new buddies to hang with tomorrow night in Monterey. Sucks being a dive hermit.

Thanks to everyone on this board for all their information and support.

[MLenyo]

good luck! my checkout dives were fine, and i was buddied up with a DM so it was even better. there's nothing to worry about if you're pretty confident in your skills. the only thing i was worried about that i had to do was the fin pivot and hovering "indian style" controlling your buoyancy with your breathing, but both went fine.

have fun!

[SkuaSeptember]

Just Looked at your weather report, 45mph gusts! Hope your dives off well!
We are headed out this morning with an expected high of 25 deg. but no wind.
Good luck and enjoy!

[snagel]

Good luck...This sounds like one of the worse conditions to dive in. Remember, if it is tough conditions it will be a lot better when the weather conditions are better ; so, don't judge open water diving under these conditions. I took my open water in 105 degree ambient temps having to wear a 7mm farmer john, full hood, and gloves. Very hot, but water was very cold (quarry). I remember thinking, this sucks, why is everybody saying this diving stuff is so great.

It is great, trust me.

S. Nagel

[SarahBella]

Good Luck-I hope all goes well!

[whse56]

Relax, remember your drills and skills, and take some time to look around while your down there. You'll do fine

[NucMed Man]

It will be a great time if the weather co-operates! My OW was to have been at Monterey but we could not find any rooms, so the DM moved it to Catalina instead. Best of Luck ( with the weather - you'll do fine on your OW)!

[fisheater]

Thanks,all.Myspacekeyjustdied,soI'lljustsaythatall wentwellandI'mlookingforwardtotomorrow.

[Super-Duper Scubasteve]

I want to start a new thread but have no idea how to.

[jwdizney]

Steve, it's easy! just go to the forum category that suits the topic of your thread, and click on the "new thread" button at the top left.... give it a title and away you go!!