Snuba or Scuba - which should we pick?

[rarescrambler]

My husband and I have snorkeled a handful of times and are ready to try something new. At several ports on our October cruise, both snuba and discover scuba are offered. We're trying to decide which one to do. Which would you suggest and why?

 

Thanks.

[JABTPS]

The snuba experience has your air tank floating on the surface and has very limited training. That is why it is restricted to around 15 to 20 ft max so there is no chance for decompression sickness.

 

The discover scuba will run you through about 2 hours of training and will then escort you on a dive that usual goes no deeper than 40 feet. You will have some getting adjusted to change in pressure and don't try it if you have any cold or sinus issues. You will see much more and have a better time. You might even get bit by the scuba desire and find you're signing up for the full course deal.

 

Enjoy :)

[The Flying Pirate]

Definately do the discover SCUBA. I am a certified diver and my wife is not. We did the SNUBA thing in Mexico and it was terrible. Besides being depth limited you are tied to the raft along with 3 other people. So you have to swim in a "heard". You will have a better experience with the Scuba program.

 

One thing you might consider if it is a while before your cruise is to take scuba classes now and get certified before you go.

[rarescrambler]

Thanks, FP.

 

I've talked to a couple of divers here @ work also, and everyone also says we should do the scuba.

 

I'm a believer in if you have an opportunity to do something in life you don't get to do every day - carpe diem. However, I must say I'm a little nervous. I want to do this, but I'm afraid that I'm going to get down there and see something that scares me, and/or I'll freak out on my breathing.

 

I really want to get past the fear and take advantage of this opportunity. So, I've found a local dive shop, and we're going to go over there for an intro/overview course. About 1-1/2 hrs in the water, just to see how it all works, and see how I do. But before we do that, we're going to go by a local pool a few days a week for a couple weeks on the way home from work, starting today (my husband and I carpool) and work on my kicking w/the fins. We've purchased and both have snorkel, fins, mask. He says I'm working too hard to move around in the water. Not kicking right. So, we'll see what that's all about. After I get the kicking/moving down, we'll do the dive shop thing.

 

Your encouragement and that of the others who have responded have helped convinced me to work through the fear and do this.

 

Thanks again.

[JABTPS]

Rare-

You don't have to really worry about kicking with the fins. there's no race, take your time, just float and kick. There is always something to look at. The biggest item to work on is buoyancy compensation- or to make yourself neutrally buoyant. Remember the amount of weight they give you and the thickness of wet suit you wear during your introductory and it will make it much more enjoyable.:D

[rarescrambler]

Thanks Jab,

 

The kicking thing - it's not that it's a race, it's that I'm working really hard to get practically nowhere. Of course, the fins help, but only if I keep them in the water. My problem - and this sounds really crazy, I know - is that like a cork, I pop right to the surface and cannot keep my feet under the water to save my life! Now, when I'm on my back, no problem, I can keep them down and kick and move right along. I don't know what the deal is. I would imagine that since you've got the weights on w/SCUBA, that buoyancy problem would be eliminated, yeah?

 

We did stop at the pool yesterday - it was nice, but definitely used some muscles I hadn't used in a while - even though I'm an avid walker.

[curlyqlink]

It's not uncommon to have trouble using fins on the surface. The problem of course disappears automatically when you submerge!

 

With fins, slow and easy does it. It's called a "scissors kick", so think scissors. Don't move at the knee. Avoid "pedaling" like you're on a bicycle... a common mistake.

 

It's good you're taking time to get in a little instruction and practice at the pool. There's nothing terribly difficult about scuba, but you're using your body in some entirely new ways. And there are a couple of things that are vitally important.

 

Don't worry about scary creatures. Seriously-- nothing's going to bother you. The critters will either ignore you or be afraid of you. And yes, that includes sharks... which are nothing like their Hollywood misrepresentations, BTW.

 

Breathing... just breathe normally. Regulators actually breathe easier than a snorkel.

 

On scuba vs. snuba... I know one diver who gets his shorts all in a bunch over snuba. And he kinda has a point. Snuba gets sold as "safer" than scuba, on the grounds that you can't go deep. That's false security. Truth is, it's possible to get an embolism ascending from much less than ten feet of water, if you don't do your ascent properly. Scuba or snuba, you're breathing compressed air. That air expands as you ascend. If you don't keep your airway open, and control your ascent rate, you put yourself at risk. This is something that your instructor will emphasize. People who are trying scuba for the first time are apprehensive enough to pay attention. They haven't been sold a bill of goods that the activity is inherently safe.

 

Anyway... have fun, keep loose, and happy diving!

[rarescrambler]

Thanks Curly Q,

 

You've given some really valuable pointers. This week, we've talked to 2 local diving shops, and one gave us a medical packet my husband's doctor has to complete saying he's OK to dive w/his health conditions. Once we get that all-clear, we're going to sign up for the intro class.

 

Now my apprehension is being replaced by anticipation - I'm getting really excited. Your point about the PE has me a little concerned - but I'm sure that will all be covered in our class. I know lots of people do this and it wouldn't be offered if it wasn't able to be done safely, so I need to just learn everything I can, and know I'll be OK. It's just something new . . .

[efmarek]

Thanks, FP.

 

However, I must say I'm a little nervous. I want to do this, but I'm afraid that I'm going to get down there and see something that scares me, and/or I'll freak out on my breathing.

 

I really want to get past the fear and take advantage of this opportunity. So, I've found a local dive shop, and we're going to go over there for an intro/overview course. About 1-1/2 hrs in the water, just to see how it all works, and see how I do. But before we do that, we're going to go by a local pool a few days a week for a couple weeks on the way home from work, starting today (my husband and I carpool) and work on my kicking w/the fins. We've purchased and both have snorkel, fins, mask. He says I'm working too hard to move around in the water. Not kicking right. So, we'll see what that's all about. After I get the kicking/moving down, we'll do the dive shop thing.

 

Your encouragement and that of the others who have responded have helped convinced me to work through the fear and do this.

 

Thanks again.

 

rare,

About 2 weeks ago, I was in the same place you are now. My husband has his open water cert from PADI, but I have always been too scared and nervous to go down with him. I have tried about 3-4 Discover SCUBA courses in the past with no success. I felt that I was always rushed beyond my comfort level because we were in groups with other people. On my very first Discover Scuba course in Cozumel, a group of about 10 people watched a video at the dive shop, were fitted with scuba gear, and taken out to a small boat. We drove about 100 yards offshore and were told to "flip backwards" off the boat with all of our gear on. Well, I had never had a regulator in my mouth, nor had I ever breathed with a regulator underwater so I began to freak. I told them that there was no way that I was going to flip backwards into water that I could not stand up in. Anyway, from that point forward, my attempts at scuba failed several times. I had problems with regulator recover and mask clearing constantly.

 

Well, I am somewhat of a persistant gal and I normally don't let anything "get the best of me." So, I decided that I was going to conquer this SCUBA thing and I went to a local PADI dive shop. I explained to the owner my problems in the past and they paired me with a wonderful instructor. The pool at the dive shop is 23 ft deep and the very first time I looked at it, I told my instructor that there was no way that I was ever going down that far. He told me... "Never say never." :) He first took me in the shallow end of their pool with the scuba gear and got me comfortable with regulator recover and mask clearing. It took about three hours for me to overcome my fears and fill my mask with water. He also worked with me to get comfortable with regulator recovery. There was always something fearful in me that did not want to let go of my air supply, nor did I want to fill my mask with water. I will tell you that I got choked several times because I have a tendency to breathe through my nose alot.

 

To make a long story even longer :) ... I knew from that point that I could overcome my fears and I have just completed the coursework and confined water dives for my Open Water PADI cert. I actually finished on Tuesday of this week. And when I get back from my cruise in a week, I will get to complete my open water dives and get my c-card.

 

And Yes.... I did dive several times to the 23 ft depth of the pool. And I even took my mask off and recovered my regulator in 23 ft deep water. WOOHOO!!!!!! :D :D :D

 

Do only what your comfortable with and get an instructor who is patient and persistant. I did do a private class so I did not feel rushed by any other students. This way, it was at my pace and my pace only. Keep with it and you will conquer your fears as well.

[rarescrambler]

EF,

 

Awesome story!! Congrats on overcoming your fears and accomplishing this goal! I hope to be telling a story like yours a few months from now.

 

We're not sure at this point if we're going to go for certification yet. We're going to do this in-town intro thing, then do the excursion on our cruise in October. Then, depends on how bad we get bit by the "bug". It's quite an expensive hobby, in addition to a couple other expensive hobbies we've already got. Can't do them all. Or can you?;)

[SemiSweet]

I DEFINITELY recommend SCUBA, not SNUBA. When snuba-ing, my regulator wouldn't give me enough air. Freaked me out! (Hindsight, I think they had it adjusted for a kid, maybe. DH used a lot more air than I did, and the regulator gave it to him just fine.)

 

Then, I didn't have enough weights, and the snuba instructor inadvertently unhooked my harness, which got tangled around my camera arm when I went back down. Didn't help a bit with the breathing issues. DH suggested I hold the front of my regulator - that I could give it a little pressure, hence, getting a little more air. I was able to make it through it that way, but the next day doing beginning SCUBA I didn't have a bit of problem. And after the snuba, I was PLENTY nervous about SCUBA!!

 

We're bit by the SCUBA bug and both want to get certified.

 

Thanks, FP.

 

I've talked to a couple of divers here @ work also, and everyone also says we should do the scuba.

 

I'm a believer in if you have an opportunity to do something in life you don't get to do every day - carpe diem. However, I must say I'm a little nervous. I want to do this, but I'm afraid that I'm going to get down there and see something that scares me, and/or I'll freak out on my breathing.

 

...Your encouragement and that of the others who have responded have helped convinced me to work through the fear and do this.

 

Thanks again.

[rarescrambler]

for the info on your snuba adventure. Since I made my last post, we've since found out that the dr. won't clear my husband medically for SCUBA. Disappointing, but not to be. We've decided based on what we've learned about snuba since we started considering it, that we'll stick with the snorkeling. It's OK - it'll still be awesome.

[w&k]

Ladies-

 

I'm so glad to see you being persistent - we need more lady sharks around. Too many times I see boats full of men, with me being the only gal on board. Of course that's not all so bad, either. ;)

 

There is nothing under the water that is out to eat you. Trust me on this one - I'm not only a diver, but a biologist. That being said, don't stick your hands in holes, or try to pet moray eels.

 

The most dangerous thing out there is the sun - make sure you are covered up so you don't get roasted. Last trip, I got my face a bit fried on the surface interval, and spent the rest of the trip looking like I had put on pink makeup, and very badly at that.

 

Relax, and have a great time. The best thing about SCUBA is the slower you go, the better it is. I have put a link to my U/W happy snaps below so you can see a little bit of the caribbean. Photo at bottom is me moseying slowly down the reef in Curacao.

 

Welcome to the addiction!

 

Wendy

 

dive pix

http://community.webshots.com/user/wendyandkeith