I had a panic attack 35mtr down while training for my Advanced Open Water . Prior to this dive, I had completed over 40 dives, though none of them were deep dives. Since then, I have not gone scuba diving. Now, I am determined to resume diving and am watching motivational videos for encouragement. I refuse to give up my hobby just because I experienced panic attack once. i just want to start again this beautiful sports

Great to hear you got through it and that many of us are the same. I had one about a year ago at the end of the dive. Was doing well up until the end. We spotted a huge loggerhead turtle. So we all fighting the current swam hard to get to the turtle. All that mattered for a few minutes was to get to this turtle and hang out with him. I was taking video and photos like I usually do. When I looked down at my air gauge and realized the effort getting to him etc. burned through a lot and I was at 500 which in trutch was fine, we were close to the end. But that didn't matter to my mind. I freaked thinking about having enough with the group hanging with this turtle, safety stop etc. I started breathing out of control. One of the dive masters noticed me as I was trying to get her attention and swam over. She grabbed my shoukders looking into my eyes, motioning to breath slow and held onto me. It took a minute or so, but she saved my ass! Was exxtremely scary. I know try and do the box breathing technique if feeling it at all. And meditate more.. But it really is a horrible experience. Great people get through though!

I just got back from a night dive. I'd been to this site before, but this time, my group was going down to 27m - 30m. The visibility was 5-10ft, and it was dusk. Shortly after we began the dive, at 26.6m I got my buddy's attention and signaled to her that my heart was racing and my breathing was hard. I felt like i was going to drown, and nothing I could do was slowing my breathing. I convinced me not to rush to the surface, and instead we back tracked up the slope, stopping every 6m to pause and check in. My breathing calmed and I no longer felt like i was going to die. I felt disappointed that i'd come all this way for so little time underwater, and I felt bad that my buddy had to end her dive short, as well, but she said I did good. I don't know how to prevent that from happening again. I got into diving to see the sharks around where I live, and they only come to shallow enough water at night. That visibility is also typical. Some advice i got was to count my breaths. Anther was to stop and focus on something until I calmed down (like an animal). I'll have to try them out. Honestly, this anxiety started after I was persuaded to stop using a full-face mask until I received proper training. The FFM made me feel secure. In any case, that was my experience.

Thank you for telling your experience❤️ I am currently going through scuba diving course with a group of people and we had our first pool lesson yesterday. It went like shit for me, not so much the others.. They all did everything without problems, without panick. I however had to swim up two times while the rest did their lessons in the pool at 2 meters. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and our teatcher did not help to reduce this panick/anxiety because she never firstly explained to us in detail what we need to do. She just said "pay attention underwater and do what I do". Secondly, she never reminded us to descend so basically everyone in our group forgot to descend since we already had so much to think about. Thirdly, as I went back to the surface, I started to panick so much that I couldn’t answer her when she asked me a question. She asked me if I had read the exam like three times in a row as I panicked..I litterally couldnt answer and then she was like "you have to read the exam, I dont have time to show you how to do things" in a irritable voice. She didn’t even think that I might not be able to remember a thing from the exam because I was having a panick attack. Usually when someone panicks, they forget even the tiny bits of things. She, as a scuba sover teatcher, should know that not everyone are able to perform flawlessly in the beginning. Listening to your experience is helping me emotionally to not feel like giving up. I dont want to give up nor make myself feel bad because I wasnt able to perform at my first lesson. Panicking in an environment thats not made for humans is normal. Having these "What if?" thoughts are also normal and I really want to be able to perform like the rest of my group so I can dive like i’ve always dreamt. Thank you and keep sharing stories, youre helping plenty of people in a way that my teatcher can’t. ❤️

I recently scuba dived and had a panic attack, i survived by pinching my nose and forcing the breath using the mouth. And also reminded myself that there are those less experienced and many was doing their first dive so if they could do it, i too can ! After the first dive, the second was pure meditative and relaxing.

Hello Mariam. I am a technical dive instructor and cave diver and I can tell you that yes, many divers do panic as being under water is not a natural place for us to be or thing to be doing. When I first started diving, I believe I had a couple of incidents where I did get nervous, but I never panicked because I am also a highly train martial arts sensei/military instructor (also ride motorcycles, horses, etc.) who learned early on how to control fear through breath-work. I am in my 60's now and can say that I never panic even in tough situations in caves or down at near 100 meters. This is because of my constant training and use of meditation and breath-work. Pushing your skill level higher and higher will bring confidence as the unknown quickly becomes known. But knowing how to calm yourself using your breathing is one of those skills to be mastered. When you have, your anxiety in most things will be super controllable. I know this because I teach these techniques every time I teach and have seen them work firsthand consistently. The brain is connected to the lungs and diaphragm, and being able to control those organs (muscles) helps to control the brain, where all your fears are happening. So keep working on your breathing/meditation skills. Good luck!

Open water course last weekend, first day went well! Second day on the last dive as I was coming up from the bottom (12ft) I started to get lightheaded maybe vertigo. As I was out of the water- we were discussing the dive, a panic attack came on. We are diving to 30’ and 60’ this weekend for course completion. I’m trying not to physc myself out. I would be terrified to have one underwater. Props to you for your perseverance! You’re awesome!

Good to be open about it. But, either you know how to control it or if you don’t maybe diving is not for you. You do not want, for your safety and the one of your buddy to one day shoot to the surface in panic - this is the best way to either have Bari trauma or DCS. There is a sign to say that you are unwell underwater. And I suggest that you explain to your buddy and agree a specific sign between the both of you before the dive.

Thank you for telling your story! I am so happy to have found this channel as well!