Ascending

[Gryz]

I am new to scuba, and have always had trouble ascending.

I use a computer, and always seem to ascend to quickly, causing it to blink and what not.

I know you have to purge air out, but I am not getting it.

How often should I let air out? How much?

Thanks...

 

[CIBDiving]

I use a computer, and always seem to ascend to quickly, causing it to blink and what not.

I'm not suprised your having trouble, most computers have so much 'Lag' in the ascent reading, be it a bar graph or a number, as to be usless. By the time it says you're moveing to fast you're Really moving to fast. The reason for this is so you can move the computer around to read it with out it telling you to slow down.

As long as your nuetral as you start up then every thing works easier, Don't add air to Start up, just swim up a few feet and let nature take it's course. A very old rule of thumb was "Ascend no faster than your slowest bubble" , it's still a very good rule today.
At least it gives you a good visual reference as to whether you are speeding up or slowing down. Just don't fixate on 1 bubble, large bubbles rise faster than small ones, and remember - bubbles get bigger as they go up!

Now for the computer, use the depth reading, it has almost no 'Lag'.
Ascend at 2 seconds per ft. Absolutly no faster than 1 sec per ft.
Be sure to start slowing Before you need to stop.

a quick pop ( > 1 sec ) of the deflater is all you need as long as you go slow.
Practice!!

 

[Gryz]

Thanks!

Also, should I press the deflator before I start up?

Also, about how many times will I have to deflate? Will all my air be out of my BCD before I reach the top?

 

[Ishie]

Didn't know that on the computers!!! No wonder mine is such a PITA!

 

[CIBDiving]

Thanks!

Also, should I press the deflator before I start up?

Also, about how many times will I have to deflate? Will all my air be out of my BCD before I reach the top?

If you are nuetral when you start up, than No, just swim up, but be aware of when the lift of the bc takes over. When that is is going to vary depending a number of factors ( the primaries being how much air is in the BC and how deep you are), it's another one of those 'Practice' things.

Can't say! there are too many variables, but any time you start moving more than
1 1/2 ft/sec, tap the release, You need to stay on top of dumping the air. If you dump to much air, you will have to get close nuetral and start over, that can be difficult to do with no references except the computer readout ( ie a blue water hang , that's why tek diver use a lift bag ), but it can be done with practice - use those ity bity bubbles.

IF are you properly weighted at the start of the dive and have used All the air in the bottle ( or to your minimum pressure) than yes there should be Very little or no air in the bc upon surfacing.

 

[RICHinNC]

I personally like to keep myself negitive enough so that I must fin slightly to ascend. For me, I find it easier to manage the air expansion in my wing using that method.

It hasnt been mentioned either in the question or in a response... but be sure to start your ascent with ENOUGH air in your tank. If you are new and looking at a red gauge air reading....it will make you tend to ascend faster than you should.

Just take your time and enjoy the ascent as much as you did the dive. Practice being neutral at diff depths as you go up. Make the ascent a learning time too.

Take care...rich

 

[scubafool]

Try leaving the inlate/deflate buttons alone to start your ascent. Take a deeper breath than is normal for you, & let it out slower than normal. This should start your ascent. Have your power inflator in hand & raised, ready to dump air just as soon as your ascent starts to speed up.

I have never had much luck using my gauges to "gauge" my ascent speed. As others have mentioned, I tend to use visual cues. "Stuff" in the water, watching an anchor line, & so forth. The tiny bubble idea works well also.

How much & how often? Generally, very small amounts very often, but if you find yourself rocketing to the surface, a lot continuosly till you stop. Once you get better at using your lungs via your breathing pattern to control your bouyancy, though, you will be surprised at how much of a depth change you can tolerate without dumping or adding air.

Very good question. Uncontrolled ascents generally start out as rapid ascents, and are rather dangerous. So keep your ascent speed slow, and you should have plenty of time to keep things in check.

 

[Gryz]

Do you usually have to "kick" to get up to the surface, or just let your lungs do the work?

 

[fmw625]

I generally just inhale deeply to start my ascents. Vent BCD on the way up. I usually ascend very slowly, slower than necessary from about 40 ffw to safety stop depth. Then slowly again until I surface. On the surface I add air to my BCD to establish positive bouyancy. Either wait to be picked up, swim to boat or shore depending on the dive. I know that I'm not that experianced, but coming up has never been a problem. Wish I could say the same for going down.

 

[Blackwood]

I'd say to be fully deflated AND to keep your hose venting when you ascend.