Bouyancy Issues - New diver

[fedexman]

I am having great difficulty masteringbouyancy. (Heck, I'd settle for just being able to sink, the heck with mastering it.) I dive in a 7MM full suit, hood, gloves etc. I am 6' and wiegh about 210. I tried diving this weekend and could not sink even though I was wearing 46 pounds of lead. (yes, I do mean 46 pound) I am about ready to give up on this cold water routine and stick to the tropics, but I have family that want me to keep at it. Any advice??? Thanks!!

 

[dmdoss]

Are you sure your getting the air out of your bc? 46 lbs should sink ya.

 

[Ice9]

ya 46 lbs is pretty heavy! I just can't see why it would take that much weight!

Unless, maybe you are subconsciously finning up when trying to sink? Lot of people do that and don't even realize it. Have you tried crossing your fins when sinking?

 

[Ann Marie]

I am having great difficulty masteringbouyancy. (Heck, I'd settle for just being able to sink, the heck with mastering it.) I dive in a 7MM full suit, hood, gloves etc. I am 6' and wiegh about 210. I tried diving this weekend and could not sink even though I was wearing 46 pounds of lead. (yes, I do mean 46 pound) I am about ready to give up on this cold water routine and stick to the tropics, but I have family that want me to keep at it. Any advice??? Thanks!!

Hi! Are you sure that you've dumped all of the air out of your BC? Forty-six pounts is a lot of weight!

How long have you been diving? Where are you located?

Make sure that when you are descending you are exhaling (completly!) and are not sculling your hands or kicking your feet. I have seen so many people say or think that they need more weight to be able to descend when all they really need to do is just stop moving and exhale.

 

[creamofwheat]

I had problems sinking when I first started diving too. I am literally half your size and needed about 40lbs to get me down in a drysuit, and I had to cross my fins as I descended for the first while too, because I was finning up as I was trying to go down, which obviously doesn't help. All it takes is a bit of practice....it does get easier, I promise. Try crossing your fins, and make sure you have emptied out ALL the air in your BCD. But just keep at it, you'll get it eventually.

 

[fedexman]

I am pretty sure I am venting it all out. Lifting it up over my head. All the stuff you learn in the OW class. Someone suggested pulling myself down the first 5-6 feet. Is this a good idea? How much weight would be reasonable?

 

[Ann Marie]

When I started typing a reply, no one else had posted yet. LOL! That's what happens when you watch TV and mess around with ScubaBoard! Oops!

 

[fedexman]

I like the fin crossing idea. Had not heard that one before. I bet I was finning. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[JodiBB]

You may also want to try using your dump valve at the base of your Low pressure inflator hose. Rather than holding it up over you head (or once you've done this), you can give a slight tug on your LPI hose and even the dump valve at the bottom of your BC to make sure it's completely depleted of air.

I used to have a hard time sinking as well, but I started doing this as well as pointing my fins straight down, both of which has helped immensely.

 

[fedexman]

Thanks JodiBB. I'll try both of those ideas