Breathing and Trim

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jtsfour

Contributor
Messages
87
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Location
Texas
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I am a beginner and finally getting some good time to practice and get things ironed out. Anyway i am using 2x LP85s and a Hollis sms75 with a 5mm wetsuit with no weights other than the tanks. I am still trying to learn how to get everything the way i want.

I realized the other day that when i exhale i lean forward and when i inhale i lean backward. It takes a very specific amount of gas in my lungs to get in horizontal trim position. My understanding is that when i exhale i should just go up/down without many noticeable trim changes.

How would you guys recommend adjusting to minimize this? If i move the tanks won't one of the listing issues be more severe?

Thanks for the help.
 
Make sure you're not forcing your trim first. Get close to the bottom, a couple of inches, and close your eyes. Count to fifteen while trying to not move. Where are you at? Adjust weights until you can count to 60 and right where you started. I bet this will resolve your issues with breathing.
 
Make sure you're not forcing your trim first. Get close to the bottom, a couple of inches, and close your eyes. Count to fifteen while trying to not move. Where are you at? Adjust weights until you can count to 60 and right where you started. I bet this will resolve your issues with breathing.
Thanks for the advice. What do you mean by "forcing trim"?
 
Thanks for the advice. What do you mean by "forcing trim"?
With your eyes open, you're forcing yourself into trim. That means you subconsciously move parts of your body around to get flat. It'll wear you flap out if you're far off of natural trim. Closing your eyes and ceasing to move allows your body to achieve it's natural equilibrium. You might find yourself tilted to one side, to the front or the back and so on. Move weights around and then repeat the process. You'll get to the point that you don't change much after 15 seconds so you go to 30 and then to 60. A buddy really helps and a video can help a lot. But, if you're not changing something between tests, you're doing it wrong. FWIW, don't move much at first a pound or two.

Once you get your natural trim flat, then keeping yourself in trim during a dive is a freaking breeze. People with poor trim always have to keep moving and adjusting. Get your trim to be your natural equilibrium and you can go slow: glacier slow.

As I write this, be sure you do the critical first step first: get your weight down to the minimum. With your legs and arms crossed, bladder completely empty and a normal breath, your head should be just awash. If you sink to the bottom, remove a pound or two. If the top of your head is out of the water, add a pound per inch and re-test.
 
With your eyes open, you're forcing yourself into trim. That means you subconsciously move parts of your body around to get flat. It'll wear you flap out if you're far off of natural trim. Closing your eyes and ceasing to move allows your body to achieve it's natural equilibrium. You might find yourself tilted to one side, to the front or the back and so on. Move weights around and then repeat the process. You'll get to the point that you don't change much after 15 seconds so you go to 30 and then to 60. A buddy really helps and a video can help a lot. But, if you're not changing something between tests, you're doing it wrong. FWIW, don't move much at first a pound or two.

Once you get your natural trim flat, then keeping yourself in trim during a dive is a freaking breeze. People with poor trim always have to keep moving and adjusting. Get your trim to be your natural equilibrium and you can go slow: glacier slow.

As I write this, be sure you do the critical first step first: get your weight down to the minimum. With your legs and arms crossed, bladder completely empty and a normal breath, your head should be just awash. If you sink to the bottom, remove a pound or two. If the top of your head is out of the water, add a pound per inch and re-test.


Wow I thought im pretty good at trim now but i bet if i close eyes and stay still ill tilt or something. Thanks Chair I think you may have given me some great advice today!
 
A pound or two from where?
I would remove it from my weight belt. If you're out of weight, then you're as light as you can get in that configuration. Work from there.

Work, no matter how sleight, creates more CO2, causing you to breathe heavier. The aim is to be able to hang mid-water without moving nary a muscle, not even subconsciously. You'll find your SAC and control to improve with this.
 

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