Face up/down when doing emergency buoyancy ascent?

[nohappy]

My instructor taught me to do emergency buoyancy ascent with face up. Is there any reason for doing that? What if I do that with face down and also stretch my arms and legs to slow down?

 

[BRT]

I think face up is to open your airway. Maybe to see if you are coming up under a propeller too?

 

[BoltSnap]

emergency buoyancy ascent

You mean "buoyant emergency ascent" as in drop the weights at depth and go to the surface without your weights while fighting and trying to control you ascent speed and hoping for the best? You didn't mean "Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent" (CESA), did you?

 

[nohappy]

Yes. I mean "BEA" not "CESA"

 

[Trace Malinowski]

Looking down will increase the risk of an over-expansion injury/gas embolism because the airway will not be fully opened. An open airway and a relaxed exhalation technique such as gentle humming or blowing bubbles will allow air/gas to leave the lungs preventing a dangerous expansion and tissue rupture from either holding one's breath or ascending more rapidly than air can be safely exhaled.

Flaring out in a face up position will continue this safer ascent technique, allow a diver to see the surface, and if you surface unconscious, you will be in a position that may keep your face out of the water to reduce the risk of drowning and put you in a position for immediate rescue breathing.

 

[BoltSnap]

Did you actually do it in your course, drop the belt and go up to the surface?

In this type of an ascent, you are supposed to be horizontal facing up while flaring your body to slow down your ascent not vertical.

 

[Akimbo]

Nobody knows more about buoyant assents than instructors at submarine escape towers. See if this helps:
Lack of oxygen during a free ascent?, post #12