Buoyancy and floaty feet

[tddfleming]

I know this has been posted many times in the past, and trust me I read every one of them. Before the dive season ended here, I was working on buoyancy in the quarry, over the past couple of months I have been going to the pool with a LDS to practice with my family. After the last pool session, I had come to the conclusion that I needed to push my tank up higher in the strap. Which I did yesterday. I then got in the water and tried to just float, no movement to see where my body would go. Everytime, I would float feet straight up and head down. Verticle just in a head stand. I would stay still to see where else I ended up and I will slighty turn to the right, but still in the head stand. Of course my daughter thought this was funny all sorts of bubble were coming from her reg, husband thought I was just screwing around. I had husband push tank lower, but still did the same thing, head stand. As long as I was swimming I was fine, it was just when I would hold still. As many of you know this will create problems if I ever need to just hover, take a picture, what have you, it is not every day your dive buddy is in a head stand.

Had on 5mm full wetsuit, 12# weights, all in front pockets- no weights in trim pockets, split fins (I know, I know), 5 mm booties, Hera BCD, 80 al tank. I am 5'4" tall.

 

[muddiver]

You probably need to move you lead lower on your body or go to some ankle weights. I use ankle weights when I dive a lot of weight, like when using a dry suit, and floaty fins.

To moe yuor lead you might have to go to a weight belt or even a weight system like the DUI weight system. I like my DUI system because I can lengthen the sholder straps and move the belt down to my hips insted of at my waist.

And it's more comfy than a triditional weight belt.

 

[Karibelle]

Try some ankle weights. They come in a variety of weights; I'd try 1 lb. Floaty feet aren't uncommon, particularly when you're wearing 5mm booties, and your fins may also be positively buoyant.

I'd also try putting some weight in the trim pockets; I find weights there have the least effect on my attitude in the water. Then the rest in your pockets as you already have them.

Good luck!

 

[TSandM]

Well, assuming you began your experiment from a good, horizontal position with your head back, it sounds as though you have too much weight up top. Options to solve this include dropping the tank (limited by the fact that you really should be able to reach the valve while diving), or changing tanks -- what tanks are you diving? Super short ones like HP80s put all the weight up on your shoulders; longer tanks will decrease that effect. You can go to negative fins like ScubaPro Jets, ankle weights, or a weight belt or harness to move weight down. If you are like me, though, a weight belt may still put your weight at or above your center of gravity, so it may not help much.

I have seen the floaty leg problem with people in thick wetsuits before. Again assuming good beginning posture, the only solution is to move weight around until you balance.

 

[merxlin]

Why not move your tank back down? You never mentioned why you needed to move it up in the first place, and how much you moved it. Were you leg heavy before?

 

[tddfleming]

Well, assuming you began your experiment from a good, horizontal position with your head back, it sounds as though you have too much weight up top. Options to solve this include dropping the tank (limited by the fact that you really should be able to reach the valve while diving), or changing tanks -- what tanks are you diving? Super short ones like HP80s put all the weight up on your shoulders; longer tanks will decrease that effect. You can go to negative fins like ScubaPro Jets, ankle weights, or a weight belt or harness to move weight down. If you are like me, though, a weight belt may still put your weight at or above your center of gravity, so it may not help much.

I have seen the floaty leg problem with people in thick wetsuits before. Again assuming good beginning posture, the only solution is to move weight around until you balance.

I use an 80 al. I have a pair of OMS fins, I will take those next time. I am consider getting an HP steel next time around when we buy tanks. Tank was up too high, kept hitting head on it, had to keep looking down. I will try these for next round and see where I end up in the water.

 

[tddfleming]

Well, assuming you began your experiment from a good, horizontal position with your head back, it sounds as though you have too much weight up top. Options to solve this include dropping the tank (limited by the fact that you really should be able to reach the valve while diving), or changing tanks -- what tanks are you diving? Super short ones like HP80s put all the weight up on your shoulders; longer tanks will decrease that effect. You can go to negative fins like ScubaPro Jets, ankle weights, or a weight belt or harness to move weight down. If you are like me, though, a weight belt may still put your weight at or above your center of gravity, so it may not help much.

I have seen the floaty leg problem with people in thick wetsuits before. Again assuming good beginning posture, the only solution is to move weight around until you balance.

Why not move your tank back down? You never mentioned why you needed to move it up in the first place, and how much you moved it. Were you leg heavy before?

Yes, last time I had sinky feet. I only moved things around a few inches or so. I guess I need to be more accurate with the movement of the tank. Do you all measure where your band goes. We all had on the same thing, 5 mm, the same split fins, al 80 tanks, daughter is taller than me and I was the only one floating upside down.

 

[idocsteve]

Why not move your tank back down? You never mentioned why you needed to move it up in the first place, and how much you moved it. Were you leg heavy before?

^ This.

Moving the tank only an inch or two can make a big difference. And it gets that valvue away from the back of your head. I'd try that before adding ankle weights. Make sure there aren't any weights in your BCD shoulder pockets that might have been forgotten about.

It happens.

 

[merxlin]

A few inches is a lot. Also, the tank's weight changes as you consume air, so the center of gravity changes with it. Were the tanks at about the same pressure?

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Yes, last time I had sinky feet. I only moved things around a few inches or so. I guess I need to be more accurate with the movement of the tank. Do you all measure where your band goes. We all had on the same thing, 5 mm, the same split fins, al 80 tanks, daughter is taller than me and I was the only one floating upside down.

@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.