When i dive it seems like my feet are less bouyant that other peoples. i see people all the time with ankle weights but even without them, my feet seem like they are weighted down. i dive with a 7mm wetsuit and some booties. i use the rocket fins with spring straps. could it be the position of my tank and backplate and wings?
anyone with heavy feet?
- Thread starter Jorbar1551
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Do try sliding your tank up a bit if you can, without banging your head on your reg.
Are you wearing any additional weight on a belt? If so, try ditching two pounds on the belt and putting a two pound ankle weight on your tank valve.
You can take the weight from one of those guys diving with ankle weights - they don't need them!
Are you wearing any additional weight on a belt? If so, try ditching two pounds on the belt and putting a two pound ankle weight on your tank valve.
You can take the weight from one of those guys diving with ankle weights - they don't need them!
lifeisfullofgooddives
Contributor
i used to have that problem....then I realized I was over weighted so I lightened up which helped....of course once I got my rear inflation bcd it was all trim and level from there.
How tall are you? What bp/w are you diving? What type of tank(s) are you diving?
I would first try to adjust the positioning of tank(s) on the bp/w. You can move the tanks around, the wing, or the bp, or a combination of the 3. You will want to move the tanks higher on your body, which means placing the bolts into the tops holes of the bp and wing, or if you're diving a single tank, placing it higher in the straps. A shorter tank may help. Another issue that might be creating heavy feet is the rocket fins. They are heavy fins. My wife has to dive lighter fins when she dives wet. She reserves her jets for dry suit diving because otherwise she ends up in a feet down position. Check out the DiveRite fins if the change in bp/w and tank positioning doesn't help.
I would first try to adjust the positioning of tank(s) on the bp/w. You can move the tanks around, the wing, or the bp, or a combination of the 3. You will want to move the tanks higher on your body, which means placing the bolts into the tops holes of the bp and wing, or if you're diving a single tank, placing it higher in the straps. A shorter tank may help. Another issue that might be creating heavy feet is the rocket fins. They are heavy fins. My wife has to dive lighter fins when she dives wet. She reserves her jets for dry suit diving because otherwise she ends up in a feet down position. Check out the DiveRite fins if the change in bp/w and tank positioning doesn't help.
Like they all mentioned it's all about positioning of weight. Think of yourself as a see-saw and manipulate you configuration. Put another way; your lungs may be light as opposed to your feet being heavy.
Consider where the bubble in your wing is. If it happens to be a generously (too big) wing you may get all of the air up at your shoulders. If you rock forward the air will go to the bottom and lift your legs. This can be true with any bladder. If this is happening make sure you are not overweighted and consider a smaller wing.
Pete
Consider where the bubble in your wing is. If it happens to be a generously (too big) wing you may get all of the air up at your shoulders. If you rock forward the air will go to the bottom and lift your legs. This can be true with any bladder. If this is happening make sure you are not overweighted and consider a smaller wing.
Pete
And then there are people with heavy legs naturally - I take a deep breath, hold and after 10 seconds oir so, my feet are down and I start sinking; I am naturally negatively buoyant, so I feel your pain on this
as Spectrum mentioned, your buoyancy is like a see-saw, teeter-totter, etc - like me you need to get some positive buoyancy below your center of buoyancy to help keep your legs level - I have taken to keeping my knees bent, concentrating on keeping my feet up, and I use far more frog kick, or sculling than most
so after trying to adjust the tank, wearing non-ditchable weights up high and the other recopmmendations, if the feet still drop due to naturally higher body density, try keeping the knees bent and feet high
as Spectrum mentioned, your buoyancy is like a see-saw, teeter-totter, etc - like me you need to get some positive buoyancy below your center of buoyancy to help keep your legs level - I have taken to keeping my knees bent, concentrating on keeping my feet up, and I use far more frog kick, or sculling than most
so after trying to adjust the tank, wearing non-ditchable weights up high and the other recopmmendations, if the feet still drop due to naturally higher body density, try keeping the knees bent and feet high
If all else fails get a set of fins which are floatier. With some RB systems I have to use different sets of fins. This is due to where the mass of the RB is located...even with a drysuit.
The fins that give me adeqaute propulsion and a floatier feet are Mares Quattro. For all other diving I used Jet-type fins.
X
The fins that give me adeqaute propulsion and a floatier feet are Mares Quattro. For all other diving I used Jet-type fins.
X
David P
Guest
aha! welcome to my world! Even with a pair of double 120s hitting the back of my head, wing lowest position, no weight belt (and under weighted), heels almost touching my butt, I hover slightly head up. When I dive a single I have a 7 lb home made chanel weight that I attach to the top of my plate and that really helps my trim. I think I will need to make something like this for my doubles as well.
Blackwood
Contributor
terrasmak:
I've got 4 up there.
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