thanks for your reply. i spoke to the instructor too about my concerns. he told me how the whole thing was gonna be so i know what to expect. i've been alot calmer since. for sure i will keep you guys posted. thank you for your support.

Keep in mind that your instructor has been evaluating your progress and mastery of the skills required to safely engage in SCUBA. If you have successfully navigated to the point that you are redy for open water dives, be they in a lake, quarry, or the ocean, it is the natural progression for the training you've embarked upon. Keep in mind the thousands of new divers that are certified every weekend around the world from the local swimmin hole to the gin clear waters of the great barrier reef. Every instructor you've ever met was not born with that qualification, they achieved that level of competency one dive at a time, just like every other person with a C-Card. Focus on the task at hand and you'll be fine.
Keep in mind also, that it's not a natural act to breathe underwater. The cool thing is that we can do it safely with the proper equipment and training. Hang in there and ask as many questions of your instructor that you need to to be comfortable. It sounds like you've got a good one so far and he/she should continue to explain what's going to happen next. Sounds like that already helped a bit.
Take care and get in the water.

[QUOTE]:FOCUS,FOCUS,FOCUS!!!!Like everyone else is telling you;Have fun,period.I was certified yesterday in the Comal River in NewBrunsviles,Texas.Lots of strong current,and plenty of great sunshine.I thought at first that well,maby we should go find a nice sand pit somewhere.But as soon as i deflated my BCD and saw all the wonders that this subsurface world has to offer;there was no looking back.Man.. I even opened my own buisness today doing what I realy want to do...DIVE....Hang in there and think of all the great things that YOU have seen that most in thier life will never experience.GOOD LUCK

First of all, you need to decide if diving is really something you want to do. Diving is supposed to be fun and relaxing. If you are filled with anxiety, it isn't fun.

If you decide it is something you want to do you need to basically start from the beginning again. Even though you are certified you need to start from the basics with an instructor you feel comfortable with. Go to a few shops and talk to instructors. Once you find one you have a good rapport with, you should consider taking a private class one on one. This gives all the instructors attention to you alone. Hopefully, you will be able to find the thing that triggers your anxiety and overcome it.

Just make sure the choice you make is what you really want.

Ok, here's the skinny.

Fear gets a bad wrap far too often. Factors that your going into an alien invironment, regardles of previous dives, the fact you must take life support systems with you to do this, the inner fear of sharks, drowning, claustrophobia, loss, etc manifests it's self in fear about SCUBA. Fear is not necessarialy a bad thing really, properly managed, it becomes common sense.

Don't let anyone talk you OUT of diving. Rather, feel encouraged by those who would encourage you. While being a shy person about being around others unknown, that is not a bad thing either. It equates to being selective who you feel comfortable with.

As they have suggested, a refresher course may be just the thing, it certainly would not hurt. But if your not wanting the more advanced classes, don't feel obligated or pushed into those either. An advanced class can't hurt, in fact, it will most likely be fun for you. If you don't want to dive, that's most certainly your decision and your none the poorer for it, after all, you have dove before, but if you feel that pull inside that leads you to dive again. Go for it. Treat it a little like you did when you first started diving, from the student point of view, some caution, some wild eyed curiosity with this very cool under-water world. I think it would be total "Bull-puckey" if ANY diver said they did not feel fear or apprehension at first, of even after a long duration between dives, ie, 5 years. But, with more diving, comes the realization that sharks arn't out to get you, with the proper equipment and education and diciplen, your not going to drown, the ocean won't swallow you up and a mermaid won't kidnap you (I know, the last would be a hopefull!), your eventually going to find it to be the time of your life and even discover that those work hours sure cut into your SCUBA schedule!

Ultimately, the choice has always been yours.
Hmm, lets see, to get wet or not to get wet.

In any regard, have fun.

Dennis