Ascent Rates

[hopeitsapar]

As a fairly new diver, the biggest issue that I have found is controlling my ascent rate. I feel that I am hardly moving, sometimes descending slightly, and my computer is chirping at me telling me to slow down. I do not add any air during the ascent, and only kick to get started up.

Any advice to fix this would be appreciated.

 

[The Kraken]

You may feel that you are descending because you're referencing your vertical movement to your exhaust bubbles.

One thing many new divers fail to do is hold the B/C deflator high enough to vent, effectively, the expanding air in B/C. Many seem to want to keep the deflator button at, or slightly below, shoulder level - this prevents proper venting of the B/C and can cause problems during the ascent.

It sounds as if you're making free ascents, that is, ascents made without use of a line or some other type of reference/control mechanism. They can be tough to do.

the K

 

[Kim]

Are you waving your arms around? Sometimes that action will make your computer think you are going up too fast even if you are actually stationary.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

We usually have shadow boxing matches during our safety stops. It drives our computers crazy. LOL

 

[uglyredshoes]

We usually have shadow boxing matches during our safety stops. It drives our computers crazy. LOL

It does??? haha this i gotta try this wkend!

 

[hopeitsapar]

You may feel that you are descending because you're referencing your vertical movement to your exhaust bubbles.

One thing many new divers fail to do is hold the B/C deflator high enough to vent, effectively, the expanding air in B/C. Many seem to want to keep the deflator button at, or slightly below, shoulder level - this prevents proper venting of the B/C and can cause problems during the ascent.

It sounds as if you're making free ascents, that is, ascents made without use of a line or some other type of reference/control mechanism. They can be tough to do.

the K

OP here,

Yes I am doing free ascents, mostly in quarries. Additionally, the descent is not by reference but computer, as I release expanding air from BC.

Thanks for your insight

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Well, bobbing, ducking, and weaving, the computer doesn't know WHAT we're doing. It gets very agitated. LOL

 

[hopeitsapar]

Well, bobbing, ducking, and weaving, the computer doesn't know WHAT we're doing. It gets very agitated. LOL

Bet it does confuse the computer, thats why we wear them and not the other way around

 

[The Kraken]

A 30'/min ascent rate is a whooooolllllle lot slower than most people realize.

the K

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I've found it's easier to control my ascent if I dump the bc before beginning to ascend and gently kick to ascend. I hold my arm in front of me in a position where I can see the computer without moving my arm as I ascend.
Ber :lilbunny: