Bouyancy class

[Morpheus]

Im curious to see if how many people have taken an extra bouyancy class and how important they thought it was.Im thinking about taking one form my LDS but havent decided if i should. I realize that anytime you get in the water you learn. But i dont want to waste my money either .

 

[Far_X]

I would recommend that as you know the theory behind buoyancy, then the best thing to do right now is to practice, practice and more practice. If you are planning on doing AOW, then there is a chapter in there on buoyancy control but beyond that, I do not know what else there is to learn about this skill that cannot be got from practice. Of course, as I am still a newbie, there will be others on here that know more than me and will chip in and may even contradict me.

 

[ShakaZulu]

No info on your dive history in profile. AOW though PADI offer a class, but your best bet would be a DIR F class (if you want to hover like a chopper under water). They actually video tape you and critique your technique. I'm not DIR, so ask the DIR dewds.

 

[mccabejc]

Coincidentally, just before reading your post I had sent an email to my OW instructor asking him about doing a private lesson just for buoyancy. After 10 dives I think I'm 90% there, but I still need to get my trim straightened out and dial in the right weight. I can hover like a pro, but descend slower than everyone else, even while remaining still and exhaling completely. And in the back of my mind I keep hearing people say that most divers are heavily overweighted. So I've go this nagging doubt that my 24lbs (7mm wetsuit and Al80) is too much.

Anyway, since it's such an important part of diving, I'm going to spend some extra time to make sure I'm groovy. Without input from someone with experience you can think you're okay and be way off. For example, I thought I could hover fine in my swimming pool with 20 lbs, and figured that was my perfect weight. Later an instructor suggested trying 16lbs, and that worked even better. Without that input I never would have gone that low. I also think there's something I'm not doing to get my trim right, and with an integrated weight BC there doesn't seem to much room for adjustment.

 

[diverbob]

you will also notice that you will drop weight as you get more experienced too. You will also need less weight as you dive deeper. The drawback there is you might need to stage weight at safety stops since you will be more buoyant due to the empty tank on your back.

 

[theskull]

you will also notice that you will drop weight as you get more experienced too. You will also need less weight as you dive deeper. The drawback there is you might need to stage weight at safety stops since you will be more buoyant due to the empty tank on your back.

Staging weight at safety stops is an incredibly bad idea. If you do actually need this extra weight, what happens if you don't manage to return via the same route?? The same is true for deco bottles--in open water they should be carried rather than staged. Cave divers do this, but they pretty much always return via the same route since that is where the exit is.

theskull

 

[theskull]

Im curious to see if how many people have taken an extra bouyancy class and how important they thought it was.Im thinking about taking one form my LDS but havent decided if i should. I realize that anytime you get in the water you learn. But i dont want to waste my money either .

There is no such thing as too much coaching/training/practice as far as buoyancy goes. If you want to pay an instructor for some valuable time spent on this skill it is money well spent. You could also accomplish your goal without the fee IF you have some very good dive buddies to dive with. Either way, do practice the skill!

Happy diving,
theskull

 

[diverbob]

Staging weight at safety stops is an incredibly bad idea. If you do actually need this extra weight, what happens if you don't manage to return via the same route?? The same is true for deco bottles--in open water they should be carried rather than staged. Cave divers do this, but they pretty much always return via the same route since that is where the exit is.

theskull

I learned this when I did my deep diving certification. I took off the 4 pounds, and got down, but was pretty light when I reached my final safety stop at 17 foot. I was diving at table rock, and I just picked up a rock that would hold me in place keeping me neutral.

I dont have any experience at cave diving, so I cant comment on that part of it. But if I plan my dive to come back to the line I went down on, then I will dive that plan and come back to where I left the wieghts clipped off. I am sure something like this is all a matter of preference. I know you have a lot more experience than I have.

 

[theskull]

I learned this when I did my deep diving certification. I took off the 4 pounds, and got down, but was pretty light when I reached my final safety stop at 17 foot. I was diving at table rock, and I just picked up a rock that would hold me in place keeping me neutral.

I dont have any experience at cave diving, so I cant comment on that part of it. But if I plan my dive to come back to the line I went down on, then I will dive that plan and come back to where I left the wieghts clipped off. I am sure something like this is all a matter of preference. I know you have a lot more experience than I have.

Hey Bob,

Diving underweighted (by accident or misjudgment) and grabbing a rock when you need it is an excellent example of level-headed diving and problem solving, also of preventing a problem before it happens. It is not, however, an example of staged weighting. I can think of dozens of reasons that would prevent you from returning to your ascent line as originally planned, from poor viz and a missed compass reading to an OOG emergency with your buddy. The weight swing from a full to an empty tank is only 3-5 lbs., so there is no reason to stage a 4-lb. weight for later use--you won't even notice the difference--dive with it.

theskull

 

[yknot]

Im curious to see if how many people have taken an extra bouyancy class and how important they thought it was.Im thinking about taking one form my LDS but havent decided if i should. I realize that anytime you get in the water you learn. But i dont want to waste my money either .

What specifically is the dive shop going to cover in the class? That, along with the cost will determine whether it's a waste of money. One LDS I know of teaches their bouyancy class in the pool. No open water required, swim thru a hoola-hoop to pass. Not what I'd call a value but YMMV. Incidently, I've never taken a single class that I didn't learn at least one new thing from but sometimes that one thing wasn't worth the cost.