Question How to improve buoyancy and trim?

[BubbleChaser]

What are some drills to work on while diving to improve buoyancy and trim control?

 

[TMHeimer]

For buoyancy try swimming back to shore (or to boat) within 3 feet of the surface where change in pressure is greatest. Try to keep a straight line.

 

[The Chairman]

Underwater Jenga:

Use four soft 2-pound weights.
Two weights on end to make the sides, then lean the last two together to make a roof.

You have to work to stay still (hover).
You have to breathe more when you pick up the weights
You have to breathe shallower when you let go of them.
Without great trim, this is quite difficult.

 

[BubbleChaser]

Thank you for the suggestions. I will try these exercises on my next dive.

 

[admikar]

For buoyancy try swimming back to shore (or to boat) within 3 feet of the surface where change in pressure is greatest. Try to keep a straight line.

I'd just add a variation:
stop every now and then.
You can offset bad buoyancy with swimming at an angle (bad trim). If 1st is right, 2nd will follow.

 

[souladdikt]

Great question and great suggestions. Can't wait to suggest underwater jenga to my dive buddies.

 

[The Chairman]

You can offset bad buoyancy

Bad trim does this. If you find your buoyancy varies whether you're kicking or not, your trim is off. The thrust of your kick should be horizontal with your body. Many people find that they become lighter when they kick, meaning that their legs are down a bit, giving them some upward thrust.

 

[admikar]

I thought that's what I said?

 

[KenE]

The best advice to fix trim is a GoPro in the hands of your buddy. Watch the video at the surface interval. Then adjust weight on your body to improve trim. This is a must to improve your buoyancy. For buoyancy I like the pvc squares that are at many dive sites for training. First make sure there are no fishing line on the pvc, second using your lungs only work on going under, through, and over. This will help you control your position in the water column without adjusting your BC. Next start high and then just before the pvc, change your position to go through, then next time try to go under. Next start low and do the same thing. The idea here is to learn how long it takes for a breathe change to affect your position in the water column. Each individual is different, but knowing definitely helps when diving. Soon you will be making the change before you need it and won't need to wait before proceeding.

 

[Badger7]

Another suggestion, same vein, stated differently - check your trim completely motionless. Ask your buddy ahead time to verify you're in a horizontal position, nudging you a little up or down as necessary. Then have your arms and legs in a comfortably outstretched position and see if you start slowly pitching down or up. This will help diagnose actual trim versus how sometimes if even if you're head heavy you can still find a stable position with your head up about 30 degrees, and vice versa. Once you get back to the shallows, you can do the same thing, but pull a pound or two of lead out and hold it in your hand, have someone put you in horizontal trim, and then put that hand either way out in front or down toward your knees to see if you can find the position of weight that levels you out, then move trim weight in that direction.