Buoyancy and floaty feet

[Jax]

And don't forget to put a heavy pencil mark at the top of the camband once you have it in place!

 

[tddfleming]

@tddfleming: I think you just solved your problem. Before, you had sinky feet. After changing the tank position, you're now doing a perpetual headstand. It's clear what needs to be changed. Pay attention to exactly how you have the tank mounted. An AL80 tank is long enough and your torso is probably short enough (you're 5'4", right?) so that moving the tank down/up an inch can make a substantial difference in your trim.

For future reference, your head/arm/body/leg positioning can make a significant difference in horizontal trim. Experienced divers can compensate for suboptimal weight placement on their rigs by paying attention to body positioning. With time and practice, you'll figure out how to do this, too.

For now, don't bother with ankle weights, different fins, or moving any weight around at all. Figure out the proper position for the tank...and you're home free.

Thank you! it is a fine line to moving my tank, I either hit my head on the 1st stage or the tank hits behind my knee caps. I remember when I went to sign up for my class and I was told that diving is easy. I think I have been lied to. It has been anything but easy. Sinky feet, floaty feet, turtle postion, too much weight, not enough weight.

 

[idocsteve]

Yes, last time I had sinky feet.

Try using foot powder or one of those deodarant sprays.

Oh wait you said "sinky" not "stinky"

Never mind

 

[tddfleming]

Try using foot powder or one of those deodarant sprays.

Oh wait you said "sinky" not "stinky"

Never mind

Funny Steve, I almost put that in one of my posts above sinky feet. If looks like we may think alot a like. Which is not good.

 

[merxlin]

Funny Steve, I almost put that in one of my posts above sinky feet. If looks like we may think alot a like. Which is not good.

:shocked2: You have no idea! :shocked2:

 

[paddler3d]

I use the Hera for my volunteer gig. Not a bad BC. Throw 6#'s into the trim pockets and the rest up front. Move your tank up and down as suggested. Don't get the ankle weights. Think about it, you are adding weight to the end of something long that you have to move. Look at fins that may be a bit more negative. I'll venture to say, except for the split fins, your fins are fine.

You're just learning. Don't change too many things at once. Change one thing at a time and understand how that change affects you.

Also, get some video or photos of yourself. You may be not oriented in the position you think you are.

A buddy of mine complains about his floaty feet and how he needs ankle weights, so on so forth. He swears he is horizontal when in reality he is inclined 35-40 degrees!

I can tell if I'm head forward because I can feel my air bubbles running along my back between the BC and my body.

When I look up and hit my head on my manifolds or valves, I know my tank is close to being correct.

Play with moving your tank up and down and have someone else observe or video you.

 

[idocsteve]

If looks like we may think alot a like. Which is not good.

How so?

 

[TSandM]

Well, the good news is that, if you dive the same configuration all the time, you have this period of experimentation until you figure out how to balance everything, and then, once you have it down, you don't have to change anything.

I will once again emphasize that body posture is the core of this -- if your head is down, your arms are moving, and your legs are bent at the hips, you do not have a stable platform from which to measure the effect of your gear changes. Check out the essays on horizontal trim on THIS site for more information!

 

[aquaregia]

If my feet get floaty, it's usually because I brought my feet too close in to my body and my platform got stupid unstable. I find extending my feet backwards further helps. YMMV.

 

[tddfleming]

How so?

Some of your smartass comments. I either get a chuckle out of them or thinking he beat me to the punch.

Either way, I did not take your roll off the boat comment serious. However, I will keep that in my hat for the future when I want to really impress the people on a boat.

Just as I will keep working on my awsome floating head stand to try to impress future instructors.

All joking aside, thanks to everyone for allowing me to think out loud and throwing ideas my way.