Before and after - trim weights and Peak Performance Buoyancy class.

[DukeAMO]

I just wanted to show you a couple of "before and after" videos from our AOW and PPB class.

In the beginning, my center of gravity was too low, so every time I stopped finning I would end up feet down. That's me right at the beginning of both videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oRp0B18-QSc
AOW 1205 Platform 5.MP4 - YouTube

By the middle of PPB dive 2, things were looking much better. We added ankle weights to the top of my tank (the black things near the tank valve), added trim weights to the pockets on the tank bands, and removed weight from the hip pockets. Bill (the instructor) is going to see what we can do to make the yellow octo hoses stay out of the way too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iy2TqCutR0k
AOW 1205 Neutral bouyancy 4.MOV - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=O-J9icACrVE

 

[Hawkwood]

Is that you all through the second video? Nicely done.

 

[DukeAMO]

Yeah. I had to double check - weights on the tank valve, blue fins, clear snorkel. Yep that's me. ;-) And thanks. I may not be the best at some things, but I'm rather proud of my new hovering and breath control skillz!

Bill, Arturo, and the DMCs from Down Under Surf & Scuba did a nice job with the class, so props to them.

This also shows how AOW can be very helpful early on. The first dive videos were from our sixth OW dive (PPB dive 1), and the last one was the twelfth (PPB dive 2). We did seven dives that weekend. It's nice to get an instructor (and videos) to help correct your bad habits early, and then you have a better foundation for improvement in the dives after that. Plus, I needed someone with experience correcting weighting issues to help me fix that glitch. They're helping us make our gear more streamlined too (after class). And perhaps most importantly, I learned how to *relax* and feel more comfortable under water.

Now I'm sure some instructors will have to chime in and say that *their* students have perfect buoyancy control and trim when they finish their OW certs anyway. ;-)

 

[Karibelle]

I'm glad you found the video useful. I've started using that with students... it seems difficult for some people to get over the "I can't do it" feeling - and despite me telling them YOU ARE DOING IT they still disagree. Until I show them the photos or the video, of them doing it.

And yay for you; congrats on improving your skills!

 

[TSandM]

Sounds like you have a great instructor! Not only are you much more stable in the second video, you've got a nice little modified flutter kick going, too.

Your octo hose doesn't bother me, but the whole console hanging down below you does!

 

[SnorkelLA]

The second guy in the last video has a messed up technique for kicking

 

[Doomnova]

I can attest to a well run PPB course. mine got my trim and weighting under control and now its soo much easier to move around. Also knowing I can just hover and know I'm not going to roll upside down now that my weight is in balance. congrats. The nice thing about my initial issues is the day i decide to head DM and up I will make sure my students do not go through what i went through with inappropriate weighting/weight balance.

 

[DukeAMO]

The second guy in the last video has a messed up technique for kicking

Do you mean the bicycling or something else?

DH is usually a much more efficient swimmer than me, actually. He can leave me in the dust without trying. But both of us will need more practice with finning, for sure. We didn't learn the frog kick until PPB dive 1. I have a tendency to get more power out of one fin than the other, which leads to me making extra half-kicks to correct. He's having problems with one side of his BC inflating more than the other, which makes him unstable, which makes him fin more just to stay level. Actually, the BC issue is a good topic for another thread.

Good point about the console dangling. I like the yo-yo clip for convenience, but I'm going to play around with that setup too.

Turns out we had longer-than-standard octo hoses, so that's an easy fix. Just get the shorter ones.

 

[BluewaterSail]

Well done! You should be proud of your progress. Seems like you found a good instructor.