Balance Venting

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C

CobaltWave

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Lexington, KY
I've recently started diving with the SeaQuest Balance. I have 2lbs in ea. trim pouch and 4lbs. in each of the side dump pockets. My problem is that when I try to release some air from the BC to maintain trim I have to either twist my right shoulder up, flipping almost on my back or stop and assume a vertical position to vent. In either case I end up either releasing too much air or take on to much water.

I don't have the LP hose attach to my BC so I know I'm getting it high enough, but I have to wonder if it just me and my inexperience with a back inflate, because I never had an issue with a jacket, or is my BC defective?

I have been given some advice such as an alternate technique to vent and to use the butt dump valve on the rear of the BC. I'm planning to try it on my next dive, but I'm looking for some more advice.

If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate it.
 
I have the same problem when there is very little air in the BC. I don't think this problem is limited to the Balance.
 
That's what I use when BC less than half full. If it's inflated -doesn't matter.

P.S. Mine is not a Balance.
 
I do have the Balance (which I think is a great BC) and I have had the same issue. I have experimented with using the posterior dump valve as a venting control while horizontal. It is clumsy and not very "controlled" at best. I probably could get used to it and do it well with alot of practice, but I did get a chance to ask my instructor about this and he laughed when he remarked that he would never use it [the dump] in that situation. He rolls so his left shoulder is high and uses the inflator control to vent. This is an easy manuver and should give you the control you want (albeit you seem to have some diffaculty in the control of the venting part).
Now considering some of the "talk" on the board regarding instructors and their having to wear what they sell, I'd have to also add that he does indeed wear this BC on his personal trips (he also has a Halcyon BP/Wing that he uses only for caves) and he has thousands of dives on his. This is the BC he personally prefers and he certainly has access to anything he wants at little or no cost. My point is that I think he (like others have mentioned here) recognizes that most BCs are a pain when they are already very low on air and you want to vent a slight amount.
PS - why would you NOT have the LP hose attached to the inflator mechanism?
 
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