BP&W Surface Swim to Vertical

[TheBullfrog]

Greetings!

So...I've moved to a BP&W, which I love by the way, but I have a newbie question. When surface swimming, once you get to where you're going, how to do maneuver to a vertical position without breaking your back? With a vest, you kind of just pop up into a vertical position. However, of course, the design of the wing does not facilitate this move very well. I find myself rolling on my back, and then ab muscling it vertical. It works, but I feel ridiculous.

Is there a trick to this move with a BP&W?

Thank everyone!

 

[Pearlman]

What brand of BP/W? I moved to one 4 years back and have had zero issues around having to do any extra exertion to pop up vertical. I use an XDeep Zen FWIW…

 

[TheBullfrog]

What brand of BP/W? I moved to one 4 years back and have had zero issues around having to do any extra exertion to pop up vertical. I use an XDeep Zen FWIW…

That's awesome that you have no trouble. However, my donut is great for horizontal trim underwater, however, that doesn't make it very good at vertical on top. It's a Hollis.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Some questions:
1. What water temp and suit?
2. What type of tank?
3. What is the plate, aluminum or stainless?
4. How are you weighted, and where are your weights?

 

[Wreck(ed)Diver]

Greetings!

So...I've moved to a BP&W, which I love by the way, but I have a newbie question. When surface swimming, once you get to where you're going, how to do maneuver to a vertical position without breaking your back? With a vest, you kind of just pop up into a vertical position. However, of course, the design of the wing does not facilitate this move very well. I find myself rolling on my back, and then ab muscling it vertical. It works, but I feel ridiculous.

Is there a trick to this move with a BP&W?

Thank everyone!

One of the main things with a BP/W that I was told when I got one is to not inflate it fully on the surface. You want just enough air to keep you above water and that should keep it from trying to face plant you. That may also depend on the brand through. I have a Subgravity wing and I haven't had an issue.

As for getting more upright from face down, just roll over onto your back. Then your wing can help lift you vertical as well a little fin kick.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

@TheBullfrog I see you're in San Jose.
Are you diving locally in Monterey?
And I'm guessing a 7mm wetsuit, correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyhow, around here with BP/W most people will use a steel tank, like an HP-80 thru HP-120 - 130
that will put more negative weight behind you which will help pry you more vertical at the surface.
Aluminum tanks locally do not work well around here, they end up too light.
The other thing is, how are you weighted?
If you're diving with so much weight that you're required to have a bunch of air in your wing to stay afloat, especially at the end if a dive, then you are over weighted. Check your buoyancy and you should be able to hold your final 15' stop at the end of your dive on reserve air with no air in your wing. If you can do this then at the surface you should easily be positive and at most you can put just a huff of air in the wing but not enough to pitch you forward. Getting pitched forward happens when you have way too much extra ballast plus an aluminum tank just adds insult to injury in that case by having an air balloon strapped to your back which will want to pry you face down. Combine all these ills together and you have face plant city.
Also keep in mind that you will not be able to float vertically on the surface as high as a jacket allows chest high, with BP/W it's more like chin high and you just have to get used to that.

 

[TheBullfrog]

Some questions:
1. What water temp and suit?
2. What type of tank?
3. What is the plate, aluminum or stainless?
4. How are you weighted, and where are your weights?

One of the main things with a BP/W that I was told when I got one is to not inflate it fully on the surface. You want just enough air to keep you above water and that should keep it from trying to face plant you. That may also depend on the brand through. I have a Subgravity wing and I haven't had an issue.

As for getting more upright from face down, just roll over onto your back. Then your wing can help lift you vertical as well a little fin kick.

Some questions:
1. What water temp and suit?
2. What type of tank?
3. What is the plate, aluminum or stainless?
4. How are you weighted, and where are your weights?

Cold water ~50°F
Steel 80
SS Plate (6.5 lbs) - full to empty is about -6lbs, so I compensate with 4 added pounds on my lower tank band
I have weights:
-DUI Harness (14 lbs)
-Lower tank band, 2 weight pockets 3lbs ea
- Total 26.5 lbs
I weight about 167.5 lbs

 

[TheBullfrog]

@TheBullfrog I see you're in San Jose.
Are you diving locally in Monterey?
And I'm guessing a 7mm wetsuit, correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyhow, around here with BP/W most people will use a steel tank, like an HP-80 thru HP-120 - 130
that will put more negative weight behind you which will help pry you more vertical at the surface.
Aluminum tanks locally do not work well around here, they end up too light.
The other thing is, how are you weighted?
If you're diving with so much weight that you're required to have a bunch of air in your wing to stay afloat, especially at the end if a dive, then you are over weighted. Check your buoyancy and you should be able to hold your final 15' stop at the end of your dive on reserve air with no air in your wing. If you can do this then at the surface you should easily be positive and at most you can put just a huff of air in the wing but not enough to pitch you forward. Getting pitched forward happens when you have way too much extra ballast plus an aluminum tank just adds insult to injury in that case by having an air balloon strapped to your back which will want to pry you face down. Combine all these ills together and you have face plant city.
Also keep in mind that you will not be able to float vertically on the surface as high as a jacket allows chest high, with BP/W it's more like chin high and you just have to get used to that.

Thank you for the response!
I dive dry, with a steel 80. Once I'm vertical, there are no issues. It's very stable. It's just the move from horizontal to vertical (smoothly) that's eluding me.

 

[TheBullfrog]

One of the main things with a BP/W that I was told when I got one is to not inflate it fully on the surface. You want just enough air to keep you above water and that should keep it from trying to face plant you. That may also depend on the brand through. I have a Subgravity wing and I haven't had an issue.

As for getting more upright from face down, just roll over onto your back. Then your wing can help lift you vertical as well a little fin kick.

Yup, a roll on my back with a little fin kick does it for sure. Was just wondering if there was a more direct route. But if that's the way, that's the way. Thank you for your response.

 

[inquis]

I just straighten my legs, stop kicking, and let gravity rotate me head up. Alternatively, with one leg (or 2 if you need) pointed vertically down for leverage and hinged at the waist, just contract the glutes & lower back muscles to straighten. I wonder if you have excessive air in the wing?