Scuba + TMJ = probably a bad decision

Well today was John's and my first day breathing underwater! It was pretty exciting, and very very cold. Cold in Hawaii? What? Well it is December, in water, and mainly... 6pm-10pm. And it's December, water is chilly. Now, we were just in the pool so it's baby steps. Thankfully, it's baby steps or I'd be very nervous.

The schedule has been: Finish chapters 1-5 of the PADI Open Water Diver Manual before the beginning of class. Then yesterday we had a meeting inside the classroom where we went over the answers of the first 3 chapters' "knowledge reviews" and then took 3 quizzes on each of those chapters. This took about an hour-an hour and a half. It wouldn't have taken as long if people were on time and the instructor wasn't on the phone. Though, apparently, he's one of 50 great instructors in the world. I admit "great instructors" is doubtfully the correct term, but I can't think of it. Oh, and apparently on top of that, he's rated 5th and the only one of the 50 on the island so I was told it's a great honor. I'd probably be more impressed if I could remember what Tina (the lady dive master who helped me today) had said exactly. But anyway, that was that and we went home pretty early.

Today we were there from 5:30-10. The class started at 6 but we were told to get there early. The moment we got there we had to jump in the chilly outdoor pool and swim 400 meters and then tread water and/or float for 10 minutes. The swimming was the hard part. I was sick from, well, pretty much Thanksgiving - Christmas so my exercising ceased. I was beat! I made it though, so all is well. After the testing we were given the tank, the BCD (Bouyoncy Control Device that pretty much holds everything,) weights, and the wet suit. We had to provide our own mask, snorkel, fins, and boots. I like having my own of those, especially the first three. I can use those for scuba AND snorkeling! Hoorah. They proceeded to show us how to put everything together and have us do it ourselves. After everyone was comfortable we inflated the BCD, got in the pool, and went over numerous activities. Activities/Training including: How to clear your mask of water while underwater, ascent and descent with the BCD, troubleshooting, hand signals, purging the regulator and snorkel of excess water, buddy breathing (breathing from your buddy's tube if you have to), and so on and so on. All things you need to know in order to do it, solve problems, and not panic if something goes wrong. We also learned how to breathe if something goes wrong with the regulator or any of those attachments and a free-flow occurs. The equipment is made so if something goes wrong it gives you too much air instead of none at all. In that case you breathe from it as if you're drinking from a water fountain. Sounds off, but it works!

It was fun down there. A little nerve wracking, but it's me and pretty much anything new makes me nervous. It's definitely the last thing I should be doing with my jaw problem though. Having to bite on the regulator or snorkel pretty much forces my bottom jaw more forward and makes me clench the whole time. I'm very very stiff and I can't think of any sport/activity that would be worse for it than this. Oops! This is something I've wanted to try for years so oh well. I'll just by a lot of advil and bust out my fantastic heating pad.

Anyway. Tomorrow is another classroom day, including the final exam! Dun dun dun. On Wednesday we have another pool day to go over the remaining troubleshooting activities then nothing on Thursday and Friday. Saturday and Sunday we go into the ocean! Yikes! And apparently we do the same stuff we did in the pool. They do this for regular and muscle memory. The more you repeat something corrently, the more you'll be able to do it without thinking. Woo hoo.

So Scuba post 1! It was fun, odd, and cold. It's odd to breathe that way and I'm still a little nervous about the pressure and such but it's seeming like it's easier then I think it is.

Alright, I need to go to bed. I'm sleepy! It's so nice to be warm.

Love,
Meredith

P.S. Christmas pictures are up! They're mainly of the cat and presents since we hadn't showered yet and well, I yielded the camera so they would have been all of John and repetitive. I figured ultiple pictures of a cute kitten would be more exciting than multiple pictures of an unshowered unshaven John, haha. Enjoy! And thanks for the presents!