Prepare For Those First Open-Water Mask Drills
Overcome Anxiety And Ace That First Mask Replacement and Clear
Repetition is the key to mastery of any skill, and beginning dive classes typically give a new diver plenty of practice during their pool sessions.
However, a swimming pool is not the sea. Some new divers dread the prospect of taking off their mask on an actual dive in the ocean, let alone replacing it and clearing it. This may be especially true in temperate regions where water temperatures are often around 50 degrees Fahrenheit—somewhat chillier than a swimming pool!
Pre-Dive Anxiety
As an anxious student gears up for that first true plunge, their heart rate is up, their breathing shallow and rapid, and their stomach roils with butterflies. If that little voice in the back of their mind kicks in and starts whispering negative thoughts…in extreme cases, the student may back out of the dive, the victim of negative expectations.
Sports Psychology Skull Work
One of the keys to success in any sport is learning how to focus on the task and not the let negative thoughts intrude. Fortunately, the mind can concentrate on only one thing at a time. A new diver can use this fact to reduce their anxiety. Rather than fight to suppress dread over the impending mask drills, they can take an easy, proactive step to help ready themselves for their underwater drills. By doing so, they give themselves a slice of manageable reality to think about, rather than imagined fears.
Get Wet
Once they are in their wetsuit, the student can take a quick dip in the shallow waters off the beach. This accomplishes two things. First, the nervous student experiences once more the flotation support of their wetsuit, which helps them start trusting their gear in the ocean as well as the pool.
Secondly, it is an opportunity to experience the ocean’s temperature, especially on their face. By fully immersing their face several times they familiarize themselves with the water's feel, reducing any concerns about the cold water shock that accompanies the removal of their mask for replacement and clearing. And they now have accurate tactile sensations to inform any last minute visualizations.
The Head Edge
By familiarizing themselves with the feel of seawater on their face, an apprehensive new open-water diver greatly increases their likelihood of acing their mask removal, replacement, and clearing drill. This simple mental training step gives them what sports psychologists call “the head edge.” They are now better prepared, both to visualize their drills correctly, and to perform their drills successfully.
References
Bantin, John. 2007. The Scuba Diving Handbook: The complete guide to safe and exciting scuba diving. Firefly Books, Buffalo New York.
Mack, G. and Casstevens, D. 2001. Mind Gym: An athlete’s guide to inner excellence. McGraw-Hill, New York.
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