[Rhodes22-list] Scuba vs. snorkeling

Thu Oct 20 14:43:35 EDT 2005

Jut an FYI, the vertigo problem is frequently related to not equalizing enough as you go down. If you frequently blos air (lightly) into your ear tubes as you go down, it makes it easier for the air to equalize the other way as you come back up. But, if you had problems on a resort dive, it's definitely something worth working on before you do more. Resort dives are typically 30 ft or less, and greater depths increase the problem.

Herb Parsons

S/V O'Jure
  1976 O'Day 25
  Lake Grapevine, N TX

S/V Reve de Papa
  1971 Coronado 35
  Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana Coast

>>> rlowe at vt.edu 10/20/2005 1:13:50 PM >>>
Herb,

I agree, scuba diving is preferable to snorkeling.  And we have done a
resort dive when we were in the Virgin Islands a few years ago.  I had a
problem with vertigo on the dive though. When we were surfacing, I got real
dizzy, and it took hours to pass.  We also try to take a scuba class, but I
have a mild case of asthma and went I had to fill out the information for I
noted such.  Even know I had a note from my doctor saying that my asthma was
under control they still refused to enrollment me in the course.  We
consider taking the certification course to a friend of mine who is
certified, but we never got around to it.  So, we will snorkeling.

-- Rob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Herb Parsons" <hparsons at parsonsys.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 10:57 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Ugly Forcast

Rob,

My suggestion, forget the snorkeling, and go scuba diving. First, I'll say
why, then I'll give more info about being able to scuba dive.

=====
Why

Ease - A lot of people think they'll enjoy the benefits of scuba by
snorkeling, and believe it will be "easier". In reality, it's harder to
snorkel than to scuba dive. First, even though your body isn't far into the
water, it's still under water, which means you have to "fight" water
pressure to inhale. Scuba air is slightly pressurized (when you breathe it),
so it is much easier to inhale scuba. Also, when snorkeling, if you see
something deeper, you have to hold your breath, fight to get down to
whatever it is, and "take it all in" as much as possible while holding your
breath, then clear the snorkel when you get to the surface. With scuba, you
see something nearby, you leisurely look at it, then move on. When you
snorkel, you "swim" to stay afloat, when you dive, you don't stay afloat and
you use your lungs and equipment to control your depth instead of your arms
and legs.

Enjoyment - It's next to impossible to describe the freedom and
"involvement" you feel when you scuba. When you snorkel, it's more like
being a "visitor" to the depths, when you dive, you really feel a part of
it. You usually can interact with the aquatic wildlife (usually when you go
lower while snorkeling, most of the fish scatter), and the leisurely aspect
means you get to take more of it in.

Experience - OK, this one is reaching a little, but probably only just a
little. When you come back and tell people you went "snorkeling", you'll get
a "so what?" type response. When you tell them you went diving, they'll be
more interested. Or at least, they'll pretend to be more interested.

=====
How

I know you're probably thinking "Yeah, but I don't dive". Maybe you can.
Please note ahead of time, I'm an advocate of people being fully certified
scuba divers (I've been a PADI certified diver since 1979), and I am not
advocating "resort courses" lieu of full certification. That said, I do
believe resort courses have their place.

Resort courses are short "mini-courses" on scuba diving given by hotels,
local charter companies, and sometimes individuals. They usually last 30
minutes to an hour, and typically allow the "student" to dive with a
divemaster in a pre-defined area up to a depth of (roughly) 30 feet. When I
was last saw pricing (about 2 years ago) in the Caribbean, a resort course
cost about $60, they and they provided all the equipment except mask fins
and snorkel (in other words, your snorkel gear).

These resort classes are typically non-transferable. In other words, they're
only good for the place in which you got them, other locations typically
won't honor such a class to allow you to rent equipment or sign on for other
dives. Plus, they're not in-depth and are definitely not a replacement for a
real NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) or PADI
(Professional Association of Diving Instructors) course. However, they are
great introductory courses to give you feel for scuba diving, and help you
decide if you want to invest $200 - $500 for a full course.

=====

As a side note, I think scuba is a great add-on skill for a sailor. I've
found being able to dive my boat to do minor repairs has come in handy
several times. When we decide to head out cruising, I definitely plan on
taking our gear along with us.

Herb Parsons

S/V O'Jure
  1976 O'Day 25
  Lake Grapevine, N TX

S/V Reve de Papa
  1971 Coronado 35
  Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana Coast

>>> rlowe at vt.edu 10/20/2005 9:21:06 AM >>>
Wally,
No diving, but we are taking our snorkeling gear.  Any suggestions on what
to do on Cayman Brac? That's where we are staying. - rob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wally Buck" <tnrhodey at hotmail.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 8:55 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Ugly Forcast

> Rob,
>
> Do you SCUBA dive? I have vacationed at Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. The
> diving was awesome!
>
> Wally
>
>
> >From: "Rob Lowe" <rlowe at vt.edu>
> >Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Ugly Forcast
> >Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 13:47:51 -0400
> >
> >I'm hoping it misses the Caymans, we have vacation plans for there in
> >December. - rob
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: <R22RumRunner at aol.com>
> >To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 1:09 PM
> >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Ugly Forcast
> >
> >
> > >
> > > In a message dated 10/19/2005 12:22:36 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> > > ekroposki at charter.net writes:
> > >
> > > http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/gmex-ir4-loop.html 
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Damn, I hope it misses Cancun.
> > >
> > > Rummy
> > > __________________________________________________
> > > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list 
> >
> >__________________________________________________
> >Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list 
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list 

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