https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/scuba-advice-generaloahu-advice Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:18:44 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/scuba-advice-generaloahu-advice#post-976123 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 22:59:01 +0000 ClaraT 976123@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rebekah, thanks for relating your experience. Yikes, but helpful to hear about because, as you noted, if someone doesn't tell you that this (hyperventilation w/o knowing it)&nbsp;can happen, you don't even know to be aware of it. <br />It is kind of funny to think about 'making yourself' relax, but I do know from yoga that breathing slowly and deeply relaxes you no matter what else is going on, so that is what I'll try to do.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/scuba-advice-generaloahu-advice#post-975996 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 21:06:20 +0000 rebekahphoto 975996@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>goldenpig really gave some great advice! </p> <p>It is amazing underwater diving in the tropics! such a quiet and interesting world. I Did all my training and certification in the NW, very different environment: cold water with a need for a wetsuit &amp; limited visibility. <br />Good equipment is very important, I have a great mask which made a super difference.</p> <p><b>One thing I wish I had known:</b><br />A little more about the anxiety/breathing issues. It is very important to be relaxed when underwater, in all circumstances. It took me a little while to coordinate relaxing and breathing underwater when I first learned to dive. While on&nbsp; my first real "dive" trip to the san juan Islands in WA, upon entry into the cold water I was breathing too fast, &amp; was too buoyant. So I surfaced, relaxed and went down again. At that point I already had too much oxygen in my bloodstream, (AKA I had hyperventilated) and passed out underwater....Luckily for me my dive buddy was amazing &amp; saved my life! <br />I didn't really think that would happen, it wasnt something I remembered studying during the classes, &amp; Ironically during final testing my partner and I aced the emergency buddy breathing!....So relaxation is key! </p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/scuba-advice-generaloahu-advice#post-975708 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 16:51:17 +0000 ClaraT 975708@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Goldenpig--Thank you, thank you!&nbsp;for replying in such detail. It is very&nbsp;helpful to read about your experiences, and your advice is so appreciated. I will start out with my contacts and look into a prescription mask if this turns out to be something we will do on a regular basis. The tips about entering the water from a boat and keeping calm breaths&nbsp;are great. Reading about how it felt for you helps me know what I can expect.&nbsp;I am adding your other suggestions to my list of things to do (or try to do depending on the family consensus).</p> <p>Wow, Vivi, your photo from Sunset Beach&nbsp;is beautiful. I have the feeling that I am going to want to watch the sunset every night. A side trip to the Byodo-In Temple as we drive to the North Shore is a good idea. Thanks so much. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/scuba-advice-generaloahu-advice#post-975435 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 13:30:41 +0000 Vivi 975435@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I second all of the above recommendations for Oahu. You may also like the Byodo-In Temple at the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. Definitely go to Sunset Beach at to watch the sunset, which is where I took my picture. </p> <p>I plan on getting my diving cert later this year, so can't yet offer any advice. I hope you love it. Let us know how it goes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/scuba-advice-generaloahu-advice#post-975309 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 07:33:54 +0000 goldenpig 975309@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Awesome Clara! You are going to have so much fun! My husband and I got certified in Hawaii our first year of marriage (14 years ago) and we really got into it. I mean, REALLY into it...we were taking 1-2 dive trips a year, going on liveaboard boats, got our Rescue Diver and Master Scuba Diver certifications, etc. We even went to the Galapagos Islands and dove with whale sharks and hammerhead sharks...amazing. Then we got back and I got pregnant with DD, so now we don't dive very often anymore since the kids and it's mostly just a dive or two in Hawaii once a year or every other year. That said, we did take one dive trip two years ago to the Caribbean and DH is going diving in Australia on his own right now. But hopefully once the kids are bigger, we can get them certified and they can come along! (Both DD and DS1 are in swimming lessons and are good swimmers already at 5 and 3).</p> <p>Even with all that experience, I do remember being nervous at first and feeling a little panicky my first ocean dive...it was a beach entry so I was a little winded from lugging the heavy equipment and swimming out a ways before we dropped, so when I first went under I felt like I couldn't breathe. I was breathing too fast and my lungs were full of air, so I was really buoyant and couldn't descend and the instructor was dragging me by the fin to get me to sink. So I couldn't breathe and I was being dragged under! Not a good start! I finally calmed down and slowed my breathing and everything was fine after that. But I totally sympathize with your fears and it is normal to be nervous at first. What helps is to remember to 1) relax, take your time and slow down 2) really make an effort to take slow, long breaths in and out and 3) don't try to paddle with your arms or fin around too much. Try as much as you can to swim horizontally with your arms folded,<br /> instead of vertically with your fins constantly treading water--that<br /> wastes a lot of air. And as you get more experienced you learn how to use your lung capacity to control your buoyancy. The more you act like a jellyfish (drift along slowly with the currents), the less air you will use and the more relaxed you will be underwater. </p> <p>The pool sessions will be good to get you used to the equipment. See if you can do your first open water dives off a boat instead of from shore--less work pre-dive so you won't be so tired out before the dive. Also, contacts are OK but you may want to look into getting a prescription mask--that's where they put new lenses or stick on lenses into your mask. That's what we do, so there is no worry of losing a contact lens underwater (esp since some of the exercises involve filling and clearing your mask underwater). Also helpful are hair bands to put your hair back if it's long and a neoprene mask strap to cover the rubber strap so it doesn't pull on your hair. Don't try too hard to clear your ears when you descend--I blew too hard once and developed some hearing damage. If you can't clear, just stop and ascend a little bit until you can clear easily. And make sure you learn how to set up and check your own equipment--it's often easier to let SO do all the work but then you don't know how to tell if there's a problem. And finally, don't be afraid to call a dive. DH and I always tell each other we can abort at any time for any reason if one of us doesn't feel right before or during a dive. If you feel pressured to dive or to complete a course then you might be tempted to ignore problems or warning signs and that's when an accident is more likely to happen. That said, it is a lot of fun and prepare to be amazed underwater! There's really nothing like diving! Oh...and sharks...they won't eat you (the ones you typically see are little reef sharks or nurse sharks), they're actually really cool to see them!</p> <p>We haven't been to Oahu in a long time, but some of the fun things I remember there are: <br />Matsumoto Shave Ice on the North Shore<br />Snorkeling Hanauma Bay<br />Hiking Diamond Head<br />Kayaking Lanikai Beach<br />Pali lookout<br />Pearl Harbor<br />Polynesian Cultural Center</p> <p>I'm so jealous! Have fun and have a shave ice for me! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/scuba-advice-generaloahu-advice#post-975144 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 01:57:41 +0000 ClaraT 975144@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you so much&nbsp;for the specific recommendations, alaskagirl. We do plan to hike Diamond Head (for sure) and will check out your food recs. I just did an image search of the Pali Highway--wow! (Did I mention that I was excited about this trip?) This gives me a good starting point.</p> <p>lyn*, I am a bit worried about the breathing. I will find out next weekend if I can control that in the pool, and I appreciate your comments. I will also see if I can keep myself from thinking about sharks while simultaneously looking out for them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/scuba-advice-generaloahu-advice#post-975122 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 01:39:07 +0000 catgirl 975122@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Can't chime in on scuba but we lived in Waikiki and visit friends there regularly.&nbsp; The zoo is great and the Sea Life Park is fun though pretty expensive IMHO.&nbsp; If you like Thai food, eat at Keo's; there are a few locations.&nbsp; The food court at the Ala Moana shopping plaza is also really international with lots of local food options.&nbsp; My favorite beach is Kailua which is a little ways off from Waikiki but if you have a car you can drive the Pali Highway which has absolutely spectacular cliffs.&nbsp; Also hike Diamond Head, the local volcano, if you can handle the heat.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/scuba-advice-generaloahu-advice#post-975053 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 00:35:50 +0000 lyn* 975053@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My dad used to scuba all the time before us kids were born - I remember trying to learn with him to do it (so I could swim with him), but for the life of me, I couldn't work away the panic. Just remember that it isn't for everyone, and there is no shame in being one of those people who can't stay submerged </p> <p>PS: He says you should watch out for sharks.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/scuba-advice-generaloahu-advice#post-975003 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 00:02:46 +0000 ClaraT 975003@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the bump, Glory, and I appreciate your comment about your sister's experience. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/scuba-advice-generaloahu-advice#post-974783 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 20:46:09 +0000 Glory 974783@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Bumping for some scuba enthusiasts to chime in. </p> <p>I have never done it but my sister is a huge fan. She has mentioned that you need to use your zen at first to combat some of the initial anxiety but once through that it is fantastic.<br />It sounds like a wonderful trip. Hope you can share some photos when you get back </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/scuba-advice-generaloahu-advice#post-974570 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 15:47:02 +0000 ClaraT 974570@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My son and I plan to get certified for scuba diving, with the pool portion this weekend and the dives in a few weeks (in Oahu!!)(so excited). Frankly, I am a little bit apprehensive about scuba (will I panic? is it hard to figure out the breathing? Will my contact lens be OK as&nbsp;normally I wear glasses?)<br />&nbsp;<br />1. If you have gone scuba diving, I&nbsp;would love any advice you have&nbsp;and would like to hear about anything you wish you'd known before you did it.</p> <p>2. Any Oahu advice? We will be in Waikiki for a 3 days (and have our Pearl Harbor tickets) and then on the North Shore for 4 days (which is where DS and I will dive). What do you love to do/eat/see in Oahu? Our usual vacations involve visiting family or camping, so this is a big deal and I want to eke out every bit of pleasure w/o overdoing it.</p> <p>Thank you in advance. </p>