The fact you know you're bouyancy is an issue is half the battle, SAC rate will work itself out as you work out your bouyancy and any other comfort issues, like being cold.
Some things that I haven't learned yet
- Thread starter Soakedlontra
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driftwood
Contributor
The magic trick you are looking for is to practice with the same gear in the same water. That is the zen of diving and it is a very good feeling.
Let's start from the beginning. First, arrange your gear in your mind before a dive. Every dive goes through the same routine, just like a religion. I break it down into three categories, exposure, snorkeling and scuba. Suit, hood, gloves. Mask, snorkel, fins, booties. Regulator, tank, BCD. I don't stress about gear since I KNOW that I have done the same thing hundreds of times before. I am relaxed.
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CamG
Contributor
Greetings Soakedlontra! Great advice has been given and the greatest addition to good advice is to train, dive-dive-dive, train, dive-dive-dive, and do it again! There is no magic wand but only experience that is gained through instruction "continued education" and practical application! So my friend do not become discouraged but become determined to conquer issues and be the best diver you can! It will all come in time and SB is a great tool to research.
I find like others have mentioned that I slip into a Mantra like state while preparing to dive. It sounds hooky but it relaxes me and dives are awesome. I mentally go over everything, every piece of gear, strap, I check every dump valve, knives/cutting devices, visually inspect O-rings / seals, zippers, Regulators are gone over very carefully. If it is going on the dive it gets looked at and thought about, whys and hows get asked and resolved or it gets left at home till training has taken place.
This usually happens the night before I dive and takes roughly 30-45 minutes. Once I have everything ready I pack it just as meticulous using a list that gets checked off.
Then before I go to bed I rehearse donning my gear piece by piece in my mind. I know some think this is totally crazy but I rarely forget anything and usually end up helping others out with my extra "just in case gear"!
By the time I get to the water I have reviewed my gear a minimum of three times and I can don my gear like it was my skin, no worries! Does it make the dive better?
It does for me, just my weird quirk but it works.
Good luck and have fun forming your own healthy diving habits. Do not apologize for being anal about your gear and or safety!
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!
I find like others have mentioned that I slip into a Mantra like state while preparing to dive. It sounds hooky but it relaxes me and dives are awesome. I mentally go over everything, every piece of gear, strap, I check every dump valve, knives/cutting devices, visually inspect O-rings / seals, zippers, Regulators are gone over very carefully. If it is going on the dive it gets looked at and thought about, whys and hows get asked and resolved or it gets left at home till training has taken place.
This usually happens the night before I dive and takes roughly 30-45 minutes. Once I have everything ready I pack it just as meticulous using a list that gets checked off.
Then before I go to bed I rehearse donning my gear piece by piece in my mind. I know some think this is totally crazy but I rarely forget anything and usually end up helping others out with my extra "just in case gear"!
By the time I get to the water I have reviewed my gear a minimum of three times and I can don my gear like it was my skin, no worries! Does it make the dive better?
It does for me, just my weird quirk but it works.
Good luck and have fun forming your own healthy diving habits. Do not apologize for being anal about your gear and or safety!
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!
don Francisco
Contributor
Lets take the problems one at a time.
First the light. Swinging lights are a pet peeve of mine. For that reason I only buy lights where the lanyard attaches at the rear, so the light will hang pointing down down. I cannot fathom why manufacturers even make lights that hang horizontally. You can modify the light by changing where the lanyard leaves the body. If there isn't a convenient ring in the right place, use tape or cable ties to hold the lanyard to the body routing it under the grip and out the back.
Bouyancy and trim are only a matter of time and practice. To manage trim, imagine that you're a pendulum, hung from your center of bouyancy, with your center of gravity being the weight. Like a pendulum, you'll swing down and come to rest with your center of gravity directly below your center of bouyancy. The greater the distance between the weight and imaginary fulcrum, the greater the tendancy to swing will be. Solve the problem by moving the weights around to bring the center of gravity closer to the center of bouyancy.
Managing bouyancy after acheiving ideal weighting is all about patience. Most new divers bob up and down because they are too impatient, expecting a immediate response when adding or removing air from a BC. You need to understand that you're dealing with very small forces which have to overcome both your momentum and the resistance of the water. Sneak up on your perfect bouyancy with small changes in BC inflation and giving them time to take effect. With practice, you'll be able to do it in your sleep.
Your air consumption are easy to solve. Just ignore it. It'll get better on it's own as you get more comfortable, until it reaches a plateau. From there on, it is what it is, and you live with it. One sure way to raise your air consumption is to dwell on it, so stop thinking about it. When you reach the plateau, you might decide to opt for a larger tank or tanks.
Lastly packing, where I have two bits of advice. For your dive bag, devise a sequence for packing it and do it the exact same way every time. The only variables are exposure protection, so think of those as a unit. To avoid forgetting items like your SMB, leave them clipped to the BC, so they get packed automaticaly.
When I pack for a trip, I organize everything on the bed, then check and re-check it against my lists. Then I remove anything not going from the room. The rest is easy, I pack until there's nothing left. No more worrying if I packed something or not; if I don't see it, it's packed, period.
To avoid forgetting anything critical like passports, money, or tickets when I'm half asleep at 3AM, I pack those in my messenger bag, and leave it propped against the front door, car & house keys on top, the night before so I can't leave without it.
First the light. Swinging lights are a pet peeve of mine. For that reason I only buy lights where the lanyard attaches at the rear, so the light will hang pointing down down. I cannot fathom why manufacturers even make lights that hang horizontally. You can modify the light by changing where the lanyard leaves the body. If there isn't a convenient ring in the right place, use tape or cable ties to hold the lanyard to the body routing it under the grip and out the back.
Bouyancy and trim are only a matter of time and practice. To manage trim, imagine that you're a pendulum, hung from your center of bouyancy, with your center of gravity being the weight. Like a pendulum, you'll swing down and come to rest with your center of gravity directly below your center of bouyancy. The greater the distance between the weight and imaginary fulcrum, the greater the tendancy to swing will be. Solve the problem by moving the weights around to bring the center of gravity closer to the center of bouyancy.
Managing bouyancy after acheiving ideal weighting is all about patience. Most new divers bob up and down because they are too impatient, expecting a immediate response when adding or removing air from a BC. You need to understand that you're dealing with very small forces which have to overcome both your momentum and the resistance of the water. Sneak up on your perfect bouyancy with small changes in BC inflation and giving them time to take effect. With practice, you'll be able to do it in your sleep.
Your air consumption are easy to solve. Just ignore it. It'll get better on it's own as you get more comfortable, until it reaches a plateau. From there on, it is what it is, and you live with it. One sure way to raise your air consumption is to dwell on it, so stop thinking about it. When you reach the plateau, you might decide to opt for a larger tank or tanks.
Lastly packing, where I have two bits of advice. For your dive bag, devise a sequence for packing it and do it the exact same way every time. The only variables are exposure protection, so think of those as a unit. To avoid forgetting items like your SMB, leave them clipped to the BC, so they get packed automaticaly.
When I pack for a trip, I organize everything on the bed, then check and re-check it against my lists. Then I remove anything not going from the room. The rest is easy, I pack until there's nothing left. No more worrying if I packed something or not; if I don't see it, it's packed, period.
To avoid forgetting anything critical like passports, money, or tickets when I'm half asleep at 3AM, I pack those in my messenger bag, and leave it propped against the front door, car & house keys on top, the night before so I can't leave without it.
fnfalman
Contributor
The way I do my gear is to work the check list from head to toes. What do I need for my head & face (hood, mask, snorkel)? What do I need for my torso (wetsuit, BC, regulator, tank, lights, weights)? When I get to my feet, I'd have everything that I need.
When the water warms up a little bit, come on over for a couple of days and we'll do some more diving and I'll give you some tips on the buoyancy and trim stuff -- and when that comes, the air consumption will fall, too.
Regarding the light issue, if I remember correctly, you're using a pistol grip light, right? There really isn't any good solution for it swinging when you're not holding onto it. If you use a flashlight-shaped light, you can build yourself a Goodman handle equivalent for it, which allows it to rest on the back of your hand, so you can use your hand while holding the light. You saw those with the lights that Peter and I use. They're a very good solution.
Regarding the light issue, if I remember correctly, you're using a pistol grip light, right? There really isn't any good solution for it swinging when you're not holding onto it. If you use a flashlight-shaped light, you can build yourself a Goodman handle equivalent for it, which allows it to rest on the back of your hand, so you can use your hand while holding the light. You saw those with the lights that Peter and I use. They're a very good solution.
One thing no one has mentioned...forget the camera! If you are still having issues with other things leave the camera at home until you get those sorted out. It will make your life much easier.
Air consumption is what it is at a certain point in time. It will come down with experience but you can't compare it to others.
Trim/buoyancy usually works itself out with more experience.
Light. Don't let go of it! I have a Light Cannon/pistol grip. It has a lanyard that I attach with a double ended bolt snap to my right check D-ring. But...I never let go of the light. It's attached at a comfortable point regarding length of lanyard. In an emergency I will let go of course but otherwise don't let go or turn it off.
Air consumption is what it is at a certain point in time. It will come down with experience but you can't compare it to others.
Trim/buoyancy usually works itself out with more experience.
Light. Don't let go of it! I have a Light Cannon/pistol grip. It has a lanyard that I attach with a double ended bolt snap to my right check D-ring. But...I never let go of the light. It's attached at a comfortable point regarding length of lanyard. In an emergency I will let go of course but otherwise don't let go or turn it off.
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OP
Soakedlontra
Contributor
Thank you all for your suggestions and thoughts.
"Building a diver" doesn't seem to me a silly idea, whatever it takes to help remembering the gear to pack is a good thing.
I will get a device (whatever that may ended up to be) to hold my light not on my wrist and an elastic band or something similar to keep in place the inflator hose. It usually tends to disappear behind my back when I am vertical or in other positions rather then horizontal.
Taking classes: I wish I could take a class tomorrow! Unfortunately I cannot fit it with my budget right now.
Diving with more experienced diver: I have made the first steps towards this goal. Last November I was able to dive with TSandM and last Monday with NWGrateful Diver. Thank you guys for being my buddy!
Air consumption>cold I dive with a semi-dry suit and a torso heater. My torso area is usually OK. My feet and my hands are getting rather cold now that the water temp. has dropped to about 45F.
One thing that baffles me is that the companies that manufacture wet/semi-dry suits don't seem to design and produce decent well fitted gloves, boots and neoprene socks! With all the technology available nowadays I cannot believe that those guys cannot figure out better designs and warmer materials to use!
Or am I missing something?
Air consumption>anxiety I don't think I get that anxious in the water in normal circumstances. Lately my level of anxiety has increased because:
A) a new buddy disappeared behind pilings and I could not see him anymore (somebody with 100 dives, as he put it). I decided to switch on my main light thinking that it would have been easier for him to spot me. Eventually I did find him with a relief (At the end of the dive I mentioned something about it and he remarked that he could see me all the time!
)
B) messing around with equipment that it is not properly adjusted and fitted.
(Like in the case of my last night dive when I discovered that I could not see my buddy-husband's computer unless I pointed the light on it. I never dove with a computer at night before and I did not remember how he used to read his computer without natural light available. So I had the light attached to my right wrist then I realized that it was awkward to shine the light onto it so I decided to attach the light to my left wrist, then I realized that in that way it was awkward to operate the inflator hose with the light dangling down, so I moved the light again to my right wrist!
...Sometimes there is no other way that to learn in the hard way. I don't complain)
C) When a buddy doesn't reply to my signal it annoys me.
D) When doing a buddy check with a new buddy who has a different configuration than mine and looks at me with some suspicion that I try to ignore.
(The weight belt dilemma: Shall I put the weight belt above the crotch strap or underneath it? On the first dive I put it underneath it, on the second above it to please him...)
I am exhausted...good night!
"Building a diver" doesn't seem to me a silly idea, whatever it takes to help remembering the gear to pack is a good thing.
I will get a device (whatever that may ended up to be) to hold my light not on my wrist and an elastic band or something similar to keep in place the inflator hose. It usually tends to disappear behind my back when I am vertical or in other positions rather then horizontal.
Taking classes: I wish I could take a class tomorrow! Unfortunately I cannot fit it with my budget right now.
Diving with more experienced diver: I have made the first steps towards this goal. Last November I was able to dive with TSandM and last Monday with NWGrateful Diver. Thank you guys for being my buddy!
Air consumption>cold I dive with a semi-dry suit and a torso heater. My torso area is usually OK. My feet and my hands are getting rather cold now that the water temp. has dropped to about 45F.
One thing that baffles me is that the companies that manufacture wet/semi-dry suits don't seem to design and produce decent well fitted gloves, boots and neoprene socks! With all the technology available nowadays I cannot believe that those guys cannot figure out better designs and warmer materials to use!
Or am I missing something?
Air consumption>anxiety I don't think I get that anxious in the water in normal circumstances. Lately my level of anxiety has increased because:
A) a new buddy disappeared behind pilings and I could not see him anymore (somebody with 100 dives, as he put it). I decided to switch on my main light thinking that it would have been easier for him to spot me. Eventually I did find him with a relief (At the end of the dive I mentioned something about it and he remarked that he could see me all the time!
)B) messing around with equipment that it is not properly adjusted and fitted.
(Like in the case of my last night dive when I discovered that I could not see my buddy-husband's computer unless I pointed the light on it. I never dove with a computer at night before and I did not remember how he used to read his computer without natural light available. So I had the light attached to my right wrist then I realized that it was awkward to shine the light onto it so I decided to attach the light to my left wrist, then I realized that in that way it was awkward to operate the inflator hose with the light dangling down, so I moved the light again to my right wrist!
...Sometimes there is no other way that to learn in the hard way. I don't complain)
C) When a buddy doesn't reply to my signal it annoys me.
D) When doing a buddy check with a new buddy who has a different configuration than mine and looks at me with some suspicion that I try to ignore.
(The weight belt dilemma: Shall I put the weight belt above the crotch strap or underneath it? On the first dive I put it underneath it, on the second above it to please him...)
I am exhausted...good night!
Despite checklists, and mentally building a diver from toe to head before leaving each time, I have managed over the last three years to forget to take to the quarry, at different times: i) drysuit; ii) mask; iii) fins; iv) regulator; v) wing; vi) weights. Each time a key element was my failure to properly 'repack' AFTER each (previous) dive, in addition to packing before.
Rigging a Goodman-handle equivalent on a flashlight-style light, as Lynne suggested, would be a very good idea. A piece of inner tube slipped over the harness webbing might work to hold the inflator hose in place, although I find that too restrictive for the inflator, unless it is a very big inner tube. Instead, I use a piece of bungee cord, run under the left chest D-ring, between the D-ring and the slide/triguide, and tied in a loop. I slip the inflator valve loosely through the bungee loop. When I want to use the inflator, it is always where I can find it, and easily use it.
Fortunately, you have a great wealth of experience available nearby. Sounds like you are beginning to take advantage of that. Good for you.
I see this contributing to increased air consumption in a lot of divers (myself included at times). They realize during a dive that something is not right, and almost 'fight' their equipment, using a lot of air in the process.Soakedlontra:
Something I have also done is use my back-up light at times, instead of a primary. My back-up light is butt-clipped to my right chest D-ring, and secured below with a piece of inner tube slipped around the harness webbing. I turn off the primary, turn on the back-up, and it gives me light to look at computers, etc. Sometimes, I remove the light head from the inner tube restraint, so it dangles pointing down (but doesn't spin) and I can easily grab to head and point it where I want it as needed. (Of course, the 'best' solution to reading a computer U/W at night is the X1 unit Lynne has been diving for some months.)Soakedlontra:
Ah, the joys of learning to dive with a buddy, new or old! As bad as the challenges of dating (at least, based on my observations of the angst of my teenage daughters and their friends).
Put it underneath, and let him deal with the frustration.
A final comment, NOT intended in any way as an equipment advertisement (and recognizing you have already mentioned that budget is, as for most divers, an issue that influences what you can do, when), but something to think about in the future: I tell students and newer divers, who ask about gear, that the three absolutely most valuable / best investment (and, unfortunately, most expensive) pieces of gear that I have purchased over 8 years are my: 1) drysuit; 2) canister light; 3) X1 computer. At this point I dive only a 3mm wetsuit, if the water temps are above 73, or my drysuit. I stand in awe of you folks in the Seattle area who dive cold water in anything (wet or semi-dry) other than a drysuit. The can light actually wasn't terribly expensive, but is a truly functional piece of equipment (I just don't like having a hand tied up holding a pistol-grip) and is worth considering in the future. Finally, the X1 is not a computer necessary for the recreational diver by any means, but the screen is SO readable - night AND day - that it is, literally, a sight to behold. Hopefully other manufacturers will take the hint and direct their energies toward improving their screen lighting rather than adding more useless bells and whistles.
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OP
Soakedlontra
Contributor
Thanks to the folks who have added more suggestions and thoughts after I posted my second post.
Thanks for your offer. I will keep a close eye to the water temperature.
However I don't expect it to change any time soon. It's just the beginng of winter after all. In the meantime I will keep practicing with whoever feels comfortable diving with me.
Yes I have a pistol grip light (Princenton Tec Shock Wave LED that now is under repair because I busted the switch, so I am using my husband's light a UK Cannon HID pistol grip - he is still sick and cannot dive and now it looks like I am catching his bug too...The joy of sharing your life with a partner!)
So I cannot actually messing around with my own light right now but I can test the various suggestions using the Cannon light, though.
(I wanted to post multiple quotes in this post but I guess I missed something...Ah clicking on the multiple quote button, perhaps?)
Thanks for your offer. I will keep a close eye to the water temperature.
However I don't expect it to change any time soon. It's just the beginng of winter after all. In the meantime I will keep practicing with whoever feels comfortable diving with me.
TSandM:
Yes I have a pistol grip light (Princenton Tec Shock Wave LED that now is under repair because I busted the switch
, so I am using my husband's light a UK Cannon HID pistol grip - he is still sick and cannot dive and now it looks like I am catching his bug too...The joy of sharing your life with a partner!)So I cannot actually messing around with my own light right now but I can test the various suggestions using the Cannon light, though.
(I wanted to post multiple quotes in this post but I guess I missed something...Ah clicking on the multiple quote button, perhaps?)
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