With the current 30 FPM rule I would favor a horizontal ascent. Ascending horizontal means you are essentially using positive buoyancy to rise, in other words you depend upon your BC to go up and likewise to go down in a horizontal position you must go negative and consequentially you are using your BC to descend.
Between absolutely vertical and horizontal there are 90 degrees. Divers were taught swimming ascents and descents during the time before there were BCs and even after the BC was common, somewhat later, were taught not to depend upon a BC for ascent. Mostly due to the possibility of a runaway ascent.
In dark water and limited viz where especially there might be something above you like a boat (traffic or anchored) one might consider going vertical.
In practice, watching all sorts of divers, for example, if you are going hand over hand down an anchor line into a ripping current to the Spiegal Grove you are not going to be horizontal. Having good horizontal trim is efficient and the hall mark indicator of a good diver. Maintaining good horizontal trim and neutral buoyancy (or close) prevents the diver from bicycling and hand swimming both the hall mark indicator of a poor/new diver.
I try to use the smallest possible BC (including no BC) and the least amount of weight (and equipment) possible. I would not describe my ascents and descents as being vertical or horizontal but I adjust through the entire range of movement possible, slightly negative on ascent and slightly positive during my initial ascent before going neutral (especially above 30 feet).
I swim down, swim around and then swim back up, but if I have a BC then I use it to assist as modern trained divers do and when without a BC I still set my buoyancy negative initially so that as air is exhausted from my tank I become increasingly positive but not so much that I cannot hold a stop, it is a learned skill now, it used to be taught. I do not use more air this way as one might assume I have the SAC of a dead person because I control my breathing and I have learned long ago the most important consideration and hall mark indicator of a good diver, stillness.
Let yourself be still.
N
Between absolutely vertical and horizontal there are 90 degrees. Divers were taught swimming ascents and descents during the time before there were BCs and even after the BC was common, somewhat later, were taught not to depend upon a BC for ascent. Mostly due to the possibility of a runaway ascent.
In dark water and limited viz where especially there might be something above you like a boat (traffic or anchored) one might consider going vertical.
In practice, watching all sorts of divers, for example, if you are going hand over hand down an anchor line into a ripping current to the Spiegal Grove you are not going to be horizontal. Having good horizontal trim is efficient and the hall mark indicator of a good diver. Maintaining good horizontal trim and neutral buoyancy (or close) prevents the diver from bicycling and hand swimming both the hall mark indicator of a poor/new diver.
I try to use the smallest possible BC (including no BC) and the least amount of weight (and equipment) possible. I would not describe my ascents and descents as being vertical or horizontal but I adjust through the entire range of movement possible, slightly negative on ascent and slightly positive during my initial ascent before going neutral (especially above 30 feet).
I swim down, swim around and then swim back up, but if I have a BC then I use it to assist as modern trained divers do and when without a BC I still set my buoyancy negative initially so that as air is exhausted from my tank I become increasingly positive but not so much that I cannot hold a stop, it is a learned skill now, it used to be taught. I do not use more air this way as one might assume I have the SAC of a dead person because I control my breathing and I have learned long ago the most important consideration and hall mark indicator of a good diver, stillness.
Let yourself be still.
N