Ascent/Descent Techniques

[soltari675]

Interesting poll. I never really thought about it before. I tend to start descending feet first, and after about 15 feet or so I get horizontal. For ascending, horizontal until I am clear of silt, reef, etc and then vertical the rest of the way.

 

[Divedoggie]

I chose "other." Because in practice, its a combo of all of the choices and more. It depends if I'm diving wet or diving dry.
I usually start head up, then move to a horizontal position.
I've bailed with an empty BC from a moving boat in high seas over a target, hit the water and immediately started swimming down head first.
I've descended with a group of students on a line in a feet first, verticle position, with my head on a swivel in order to keep track of students around me and above me.
Ascents have been belly up, belly down and verticle depending on circumstances. I don't usually attempt verticle/feet up ascents, although I'm pretty sure cave divers do.

 

[vladimir]

I've bailed with an empty BC from a moving boat in high seas over a target, hit the water and immediately started swimming down head first.

Seal Team VI, right? Great movie! IMDb says it was "inspired by actual events," so I guess that was you.

 

[Divedoggie]

Seal Team VI, right? Great movie! IMDb says it was "inspired by actual events," so I guess that was you.

Haha! No... I'm going to have to check "Seal Team VI" out, though!

 

[vladimir]

Haha! No... I'm going to have to check "Seal Team VI" out, though!

Okay, but don't do it on my recommendation--I haven't actually watched it. If I had to guess, though, I wouldn't expect any Oscar-worthy performances. Hot entries? Probably.

 

[Sat Diver]

Ascend and descend however works best for the situation you are in. There is no right or wrong way.

 

[herbdb]

Agree that you adapt to the circumstances, but in general I like to scan where I am going. I usually descend horizontal watching below. On the way up, I am usually vertical, and turning slowly to lookout for obstacles at the surface.

 

[Searcaigh]

It all depends, good viz, bad viz, easy equalization, going down backwards taking photographs of divers above, slow freefall in great viz on to a wreck or off a ledge .... no two dives are the same.

 

[Akimbo]

I can’t remember ever making a feet first descent except in surface supplied deep sea gear with lead shoes or on a stage lowered by a winch. I always descent head-first in Scuba or surface supplied in a lightweight hat. I have trouble imagining any reason not to.

In a wetsuit I am usually weighted to be neutral at 10’ at 200 PSI and neutral at any depth a 200 in a drysuit at minimal squeeze. It would take forever to descent 100’ without swimming.

 

[Charlie99]

I can’t remember ever making a feet first descent except in surface supplied deep sea gear with lead shoes or on a stage lowered by a winch. I always descent head-first in Scuba or surface supplied in a lightweight hat. I have trouble imagining any reason not to.

Some people find it easier to equalize when vertical. Not everyone is in a rush to get to the bottom. I'll look around and get a feel for the area around the anchor/mooring pin while descending slowly while horizontal.

There are lots of reasons to do descents other than head down swimming descents.

The only time I choose that method is when I'm in a rush to get to the bottom for some reason, such as current. And even in currents, descending on the line is often a better choice.