Well, did dive #3 OK, but had a problem with #4: couldn't manage the Controlled Emergency Breathing Ascent. Bummer!!!

I tried it twice, but seemed to run out of air before I reached the top. Don't know whether I was pushing the air out too fast, or going up too slow. I've never been a good "breather", and this evening when I've been practicing taking a deep breath and then breathing out slowly, I only have enough air for 35 seconds.

After two tries, I was a bit pooped, so we reconvene tomorrow morning at 8:30 am to try again. SO, all my BonaireTalk friends have to visualize my success-- see me surfacing triumphantly and then reporting my success here.

Thanks again for all your support and encouragement. Just a little bump in the road. Send me some deep breaths, guys!!!

That's okay, Josie. I hated that one, too. It sounds like you are letting it out too fast.

Thirty-five seconds is good for at least 30 feet with time to spare.....relax - you can do it!! You have the "Attitude" for success.

Good luck on your retry!!!

Josie, I can only hope that you read this before tomorrow. When you make the "ahhhh" sound, that is all you are supposed to do. It should produce no more than tiny bubbles (ala Don Ho), you only want to resonate the regulator so that the instructor knows your are keeping you airway open.

That and kick maybe just a smidge harder !!! Give em hell kiddo !!!

Hi Josie,

You're almost there! And I suspect you'll find a lot of folks have to redo stuff during their open water dives (I don't even want to think about how many tries it took me to get my BC back on when I had to do a doff/don at the surface -- I was exhausted, had to hold off on dive #4 for another day!)

And remember that that 35 seconds is with the volume and density of air that you've breathed in at the surface. At depth, you breathe in the same volume, but the density is greater. As you move toward the surface, the volume increases. So 35 seconds at the surface will translate quite nicely into something greater than that if you start with a full set of lungs at depth. Your practice this evening should do you nicely for tomorrow's run. You'll have it, for sure! I can already see your celebration at the surface...

Faith

Josie,

Relax, let the air out slowly. I found that hard too - when I go Ahhhh, I go AHHHHHHHHH!!! I had to practice a bit out of water to tone down my ahhh a bit.

Good luck and keep trying - we're all behind you!

Susan

Thanks, Kelly, that helps. I understand a little better now. I'll emulate Don Ho (love Hawaiian music!). Off to bed now to make sure I'm good and rested.

Watch this space for tomorrow's exciting episode.

Tiny bubbles.....in the wine....Go Josie! Carole

Josie- had the same problem, till I did this: press your tongue to the back of your teeth and blow out slowly. Takes forever! Good luck...

We here at Bon Bini Divers wish to be the first to congratulate Josie on being a brand new diver! She has just completed all her skills, and is enjoying the after-glow (grin), but I'm sure she'll be posting details soon!

CONGRATULATIONS JOSIE!
Welcome to the underwater world!

WOOOOO HOOOOOO JOSIE....Yeah!!! You did it! I have tears in my eyes

Josie...DIVER

Josie, that's GREAT news, WELL DONE you... Now you can relax and enjoy the diving...

JOSIE. WAY TO GO LADY!
Welcome to a world of exploration and beauty. On my second check out dive - ran out of air, almost lost my weight belt, got lost in the middle of a bait ball, and ascended with a totally flooded mask! Remember to go slow, and keep your safety measures close. Have fun. The Clownfish

Yippee!
Now we all want to see Josie in action at the ReefCam!

Way to go Josie! I had problems with that skill too (breathing out way too much air too fast), but like you, kept persevering. Enjoy your next fun dives!
Susan at Bon Bini Divers: thanks for posting and helping Josie succeed!

Susan, thanks for posting the good news. A bunch of us have been holding our breaths waiting for news on Josie.

Josie... I never had a doubt!!

All right, Josie, congratulations. The skill that got me was remove and replace my weight belt. 40 lbs of lead in cold water. My mistake was doing it with a snorkle, when I rotated to get the belt back on, I sucked in water, then almost paniced. I calmed down, put the regulator in my mouth and tried again, with some help from my dive buddy, I got it.

Josie, what you'll find nice about your next dives is no skills tests. Now you can just dive and enjoy the veiw without the pressure, have fun.

WAY TO GO-OO-OO, JOSIE!!!!!!

Josie, that's wonderful!

Linda & Jake: I especially want to thank you two also. Your efforts on this newsgroup have made all the difference to our returning to Bonaire and feeling so at home here. Without that, I wouldn't have had the incentive to dive, so it's your responsibility that I went through all this anguish!!! (Just kidding --- I feel SO good now)

Would you call me at Benny's to let me know when I can visit the ReefCam? My only commitment is tomorrow afternoon with Ellen and Erwin. Other than that, whatever you want to do works for me.

I do truly appreciate the community you two have created here. It's great to be part of it.

Josie...WAY TO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Hmmm, I'm 12 hours ahead of everyone, but 12 hours behind the congrats. What a wonderful Thursday morning wakeup to see you were successful

We all knew you could do it and I'll bet you did, too - it was the attitude .

Have fun and enjoy years of a whole new adventure. Keep us informed of your first dives. We all remember our first dive experience as if they were yesterday. I'm sure it brings back good and some funny experiences in all of us . A word of advice...dive experiences are much like a fishermen's experience....I caught one thissssssssss big. Well, divers 'saw one thissssssssssssssss big and sometimes, even bigger!!

Again, Congratulations, be safe and have fun.

Kelly....held your breath? Glad Josie learned to let those little tiny bubbles out

I would like to add my 2 cents, if I could. Congratulations to you Josie...we all knew you could do it. It is simply amazing how folks can help a person pass their certification test via the Internet (and, of course by way of the "live" instructor on Bonaire)with tips, love and support. What a show of support and encouragement. It truly DOES bring tears to one's eyes. Have a ball with the sea creatures now, Josie. You have conquered all. Carole

Josie. That's a bit of alright,eh! Go kiss a fish for us, then.....I luv happy endings!!!!