Bouyancy class

[mccabejc]

For those who say that you'll find you drop more weight with experience, I've never understood what specifically changes in the way you dive to warrant the drop? I mean you've got a certain basic need for weight based on the buoyancy of your equipment, and your lungs can vary that by 4-6 lbs (or whatever) as you inhale and exhale. So I would think that if you can do a 15 ft safety stop, and can get to eye level at the surface with 500psi, and empty BC and full lungs, then you're pretty much there, no?

 

[eod]

I took the PADI peak performance bouyancy class just a few dives after getting certed. At that time it gave me very much. Just laying in the pool and trying to hold different depths without using the inflator gave me very much in terms of boyancy control.

 

[theskull]

For those who say that you'll find you drop more weight with experience, I've never understood what specifically changes in the way you dive to warrant the drop? I mean you've got a certain basic need for weight based on the buoyancy of your equipment, and your lungs can vary that by 4-6 lbs (or whatever) as you inhale and exhale. So I would think that if you can do a 15 ft safety stop, and can get to eye level at the surface with 500psi, and empty BC and full lungs, then you're pretty much there, no?

Several things change, but mainly your ability to descend with less weight. This is because you learn to relax, to empty your lungs and not inhale until you have descended several feet, and to be streamlined and not kick while descending.

The other main thing is you learn to control your buoyancy with your lung volume and can stay down on that 15 ft. safety stop even with a near-empty tank with barely enough weight.

theskull

 

[eponym]

For those who say that you'll find you drop more weight with experience, I've never understood what specifically changes in the way you dive to warrant the drop? I mean you've got a certain basic need for weight based on the buoyancy of your equipment, and your lungs can vary that by 4-6 lbs (or whatever) as you inhale and exhale. So I would think that if you can do a 15 ft safety stop, and can get to eye level at the surface with 500psi, and empty BC and full lungs, then you're pretty much there, no?

I second Skull, especially on the relaxation. It can be instructive to actually grab and hold your fins (or straps) while you hover, to see whether or not your legs are finning without your permission.

Speaking of buoyancy, I had an odd thing happen near the end of a dive yesterday, before we started to surface. A portion of my BC wasn't venting. My buddy wrestled around with it and got the bubble out. I'll ask about this on a separate "equipment" thread.

Fin on,
Bryan

 

[JRScuba]

I had a bouyancy problem in the begining and it was resolved by PRACTICE.
Go to the site below and on the drop down bar click on Training.
There is a wealth of information there for any possible question you might have.
It is one of the sites I read often.

http://www.scubadiving.com/

Dive safely
Joe

 

[Morpheus]

Fortunatly the Dive Instructors at this particular dive shop take the sport very seriously VERY! No messing around with these guys,hardcore! They wont pass a student unles THEY feel all the rules are met, so they pretty much guarantee that youll hover like a chopper when the 3 pool dives and classrooms are done,if you do not they will help you till you do,that alone makes it seem worthwhile.

 

[MikeFerrara]

For those who say that you'll find you drop more weight with experience, I've never understood what specifically changes in the way you dive to warrant the drop? I mean you've got a certain basic need for weight based on the buoyancy of your equipment, and your lungs can vary that by 4-6 lbs (or whatever) as you inhale and exhale. So I would think that if you can do a 15 ft safety stop, and can get to eye level at the surface with 500psi, and empty BC and full lungs, then you're pretty much there, no?

The almost universaly accepted fact that divers drop weight over time is one of those things that I call BS on. Not that it isn't true but because it shouldn't be.

Instructors in a hury often let students dive overweighted to make up for the lack of technique that they aren't teaching.

PADI standards for instance require the amount of weight worn to be determined by a weight check and not by the amount of weight it takes to plaster a student to the bottom so they can clear a mask while hyperventelating. In practice though it's actually the later thats often used to determine weighting.

A class that teaches trim, controled descents and skills midwater will leave a student diving with an amount of weight very close to what they actually need.

 

[Paul Evans]

PADI standards for instance require the amount of weight worn to be determined by a weight check and not by the amount of weight it takes to plaster a student to the bottom so they can clear a mask while hyperventelating. In practice though it's actually the later thats often used to determine weighting.

ROTFLOL....... Sad but true

 

[saltywater]

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 .

The buoyancy class that Ed (Your instructor) teaches was probably the best class I ever took. The ability to be aware of your position in the water column and to control your buoyancy under ALL circumstances is very important and can make your diving safer and far more enjoyable.



Mike

 

[jbd]

The ability to be aware of your position in the water column and to control your buoyancy under ALL circumstances is very important and can make your diving safer and far more enjoyable.

Mike

I agree with this 100% but feel it should have been taught during the OW class. Its the basis or foundation of good diving and shouldn't require an extra class.