breathing and panic

Question
Hi James,

I've been diving for 12 years but only averaging 3 or 4 dives a year, mostly in the caribbean.  Lately I'm having breathing and panic issues as I make my first dive.  It's to a point that I get back in the boat and don't do the dive.  I don't have the problem doing a shore dive.  Any ideas or suggestions.

Thanks,

Ed

Answer
Hi Ed,

What kind of diving are you doing?  What kind of shape are you in?  How are you preparing to enter the water?

You need to maximize your comfort and minimize your apprehension.  This can be done by limiting  task loading and stressful things like using unknown rental gear, new stuff, new boats, new locations, rushed experiences and entries, pressure to perform, etc.

I always recommend being very organized on the boat, ready to enter the water without a rush, with time to sit and relax, and take deep breaths with your eyes closed, each breath deeper than the one before.  See blue.  Slow down.  Breathe more deeply, see deeper blue, slow down your brain some more.  You can practice this sort of meditation right now.  It is VERY helpful, combined with reduced task loading and gear familiarity.  A skilled dive guide is also very helpful.

Give me some feedback.

saludos,
James