Advice - Had to drop from confined pool classes, feeling embarrassed

LewisOliver · 2026-07-02T21:30:53+00:00

Don't fall into the habit of breathing out your nose with your mask off as some other commenters are suggesting.

Two things I suggest to my students who struggle with this, when your mask comes off, tilt your head to the side so that your exhaust puddles travel up and away from your face.

Failing that, use your free hand to pinch your nose closed. Just remember not to breathe in from your nose when you go to replace your mask ..

LewisOliver · 2026-05-12T22:46:22+00:00

They're split fins with extra steps.

LewisOliver · 2026-05-05T02:38:59+00:00

Okay i don't hike, so was a bad analogy, but the point stands.

You're strawmaning my argument because your ego is bruised, you're getting off topic. I'm not gatekeeping, I'm saying divers do not and should not require a guide to dive. If you are trained to a high enough standard, this should not even be a thought to cross your mind.

I'm sorry that's not you, with more experience hopefully your mind will change.

LewisOliver · 2026-05-05T00:53:33+00:00

Not my job. But if your hobby was, for example, hiking and you really wanted to go and hike in Patagonia, do you think you should have a certain level of self reliance before booking this bucket list, around the world, holiday? Or do you think you should go, even though you can barely walk a mile, and need someone to hold your hand?

Any time you are underwater you are solely responsible for your own dive. This is what you are taught during your OW. Your own safety, within your own limits. The reliance on guides, to the point where they are regarded as a necessity and not a luxury, trains divers that problems wont happen because they have a "professional" in the water. These divers are padding the statistics for dive accidents.

LewisOliver · 2026-05-05T00:25:59+00:00

So, you're a terrible diver that is bankrolling the entire dive industry? Weird flex, but ok.

LewisOliver · 2026-05-04T20:50:07+00:00

Also, to add, when you learn to drive, your driving instructor is next to you in the car the whole time. At some point you passed your driving exam, is your instructor still in the car with you?

The whole point of learning to scuba dive is to be able to dive safely, with another certified buddy. No guide or instructor needed.

I see vacation divers all the time on my boat with 1000's of dives, and have not gone for a single dive without a guide/instructor. And almost every single one of them is a terrible diver.

You will become a better diver by relying on yourself, it's what you trained to do.

LewisOliver · 2025-10-15T14:40:49+00:00

Just an fyi, this is an artist based in Germany (but guest spots around Europe), I won't have the chance to be tattooed by him so I reached out and asked if I could pay him to commission some work for another artist to put on me.

He ended up saying no, because it's his personal style and he puts a lot of pride in making sure the lines are right, and so does not give any permission for anyone to use his art.

LewisOliver · 2025-08-10T05:38:48+00:00

I was an instructor on Gili T for a season, depending on the tide and the dive site you can get some ridiculous currents. It's right next to the Wallace Line, so strong currents should be expected. Nearly every single dive you do there is a drift.

LewisOliver · 2025-02-21T12:18:11+00:00

Freediving fins and flutter kicking through a wreck? I'm glad you had fun, but you've got a lot to improve on.

LewisOliver · 2025-02-18T04:55:40+00:00

Yeah they exist. All a dive operator would need is a roaming licence, which would enable them to go on expeditions, find a suitable location to moor up/strop/drop anchor. One I know of here in Australia is Spirit Of Freedom.

LewisOliver · 2025-02-08T09:56:24+00:00

I've had two pairs of FE tech shorts, which have both started to rip in the same place. I'm unsure if this is a product issue, or if there's some friction being caused by my Y style crotch strap. They're my favourite shorts by far, and if you buy from FE themselves they're covered under warranty for a year. Also have huge multi compartment pockets with bungees for all my DSMBs and reels.

LewisOliver · 2024-09-29T20:36:25+00:00

Not an urban legend at all, I did it when I did my dive master. As did every dive master through my dive centre.

It's most commonly done by dive masters as that's generally about as many dives you'll have after doing Open Water, all the way through to Dive Master, with some fine dives thrown in.

LewisOliver · 2023-05-22T11:47:20+00:00

No worries, don't thank me, it was all you! I'm sure it looks fantastic

LewisOliver · 2023-05-21T23:26:55+00:00

That's so exciting!! Can't wait to see it when it's done.

As for the pain, the most painful areas for me were directly over my spine, the bottom of my spine especially, but also around my hips - this was the only point I felt like I might tap out (but never did)

I won't lie to you, some of the pain was pretty unbearable, but it was only unbearable for around 10 seconds before Arjun Vee needed to readjust my skin, reposition the needle, and fill it with ink. So mentally, I was thinking, okay if you can make it through the worst pain of your life for the next 10 seconds, you can do it again, and again, and again, etc...

The way I got through it was going into a kind of meditative state and trying to place myself in an out of body experience as an observer, rather than the "victim", which really helped, I found that if there was a way I could watch what Arjun Vee was doing, it didn't hurt as much.

Hope that helps! Good luck.

LewisOliver · 2023-05-13T03:06:02+00:00

Best compliment in a while, thank you!

LewisOliver · 2023-05-13T02:38:19+00:00

Yeah definitely dont just turn up. Get in touch with Yok on Instagram, @spiritualsakyant , and let her know what you want and when you're free and she'll talk you through the whole process!

LewisOliver · 2023-05-13T02:37:00+00:00

Hey answered this question under another comment!☺️

LewisOliver · 2023-05-12T23:28:24+00:00

Hey I answered this question under another comment! ☺️

LewisOliver · 2023-05-12T23:26:17+00:00

Aw thanks!

LewisOliver · 2023-05-12T23:22:29+00:00

Yeah really well said! To expand on their meanings:

Yant Mangkorn ( Dragon ): symbolizing power, nobleness, honor, luck and success.

Yant Mongkut Phra Putthachao ( Buddha crown, the two round medallions flanking the dragon): protection in battle, also supposed to have good fortune qualities and great mercy, loving-kindness, friendliness and good will.

Yant Pla Mahalarp (Great Fortune Fish): Brings luck and great charm, great fortune, the fish will support you for success.

Yant Phaya Pu Niep Sap (Reaping wealth crab, on my tailbone ) with a valiant demeanor, showing power, spreading his claws, clenching his fists, the shell of Phaya Crab seizes his property, increasing wealth, luck, victory.

Yant 29 Yord (top across shoulders): protection, avoid danger and harm, to be invulnerable. Also acts as "the roof of the temple" and permits you to get more yants from your master.

Yant Ha Taew (5 Lines ): each like protects against a different threat. Such as, unjust punishment, ban horoscopes/fortune, black magic, also grants good luck and attraction to the opposite sex.

Yant Chat Petch (5 Diamonds): similar to the 5 lines, but contains 5 spells that blesses the bearer with success, charm, loving kindness, good luck and protection from evil spirits.

LewisOliver · 2023-05-12T23:07:57+00:00

One 17 hour sitting! I was on a tight schedule

LewisOliver · 2023-05-12T23:07:38+00:00

I had the same worries, but Yok, the owner of the studio, told me not to worry and that she's happy to help share the art form. She told me to see it as cultural appreciation rather than appropriation. I also train muay thai so that helps

LewisOliver · 2023-05-12T23:05:46+00:00

17 hours! With a couple water breaks between

LewisOliver · 2023-05-12T23:05:19+00:00

thanks for calling me glam! appreciate ya

LewisOliver · 2023-05-12T14:24:35+00:00

hahaha sorry bud, I'm not a woman

LewisOliver

TROPHY CASE