Buoyancy control and trim

[haumana ronin]

Question for new divers with, say... less than 20 dives:
How good is your buoyancy control and trim? I mean really? And I guess by extension, your weighting too. Is it second nature?

Sure I can hover, and adjust my BC only once or twice during a dive, and I am relatively level, but I need a visual reference and it takes concentration, a lot of it. Once while hovering I closed my eyes for about half a minute, and I was much higher and a bit more head-up than I started. And once while head down about 30 degrees, I did a roll to keep watching a turtle swim across, behind, and above me, losing my visual reference and concentration, and I rose about 10 feet by the time i had rolled all the way over.

And a question for experienced divers:
How do I make hovering at any arbitrary angle and roll, maybe without visual reference, second nature? Are there specific things I should do or think about? I would like to just move in any direction and not have to worry about thinks like stability and whatnot.

:zen:

 

[xyrandomyx]

I've done about twenty dives. I'd say my buoyancy control is probably similar to yours: it's not bad IF I'm concentrating.

My guess as to what the experienced divers will say: make sure your weighting's right and practice.

 

[Ste Wart]

You can't hover with you eyes closed, simple as that. You need a visual reference and constant concentration for buoyancy, not heavy, just constant.
Sounds to me like you're doing fine with your buoyancy. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[TartanFrog]

As a new diver I have struggled with this too. I recently took a peak performance bouyancy course and it helped a bunch. The instructor helped me find a good mix of trim weight distribution and weights in the weight pockets. We also worked on breath control which helped a bunch. However, his biggest tip, and the same advice i have gotten from friends that have been diving for years is, practice, practice, practice. The more we are in the water the more comfortable we become and the more experience we get which leads to better control.

 

[Dirty-Dog]

Since the sea is not a static environment, I don't think it would be possible to hover without a visual reference of some sort. You're essentially weightless, but there are still currents acting on you. There are small changes from respiration. You're going to make tiny movements. Add in the disorientation from sensory deprivation and I think it's inevitable that you're going to tumble.

 

[fjpatrum]

Question for new divers with, say... less than 20 dives:
How good is your buoyancy control and trim? I mean really? And I guess by extension, your weighting too. Is it second nature?

Sure I can hover, and adjust my BC only once or twice during a dive, and I am relatively level, but I need a visual reference and it takes concentration, a lot of it. Once while hovering I closed my eyes for about half a minute, and I was much higher and a bit more head-up than I started. And once while head down about 30 degrees, I did a roll to keep watching a turtle swim across, behind, and above me, losing my visual reference and concentration, and I rose about 10 feet by the time i had rolled all the way over.

And a question for experienced divers:
How do I make hovering at any arbitrary angle and roll, maybe without visual reference, second nature? Are there specific things I should do or think about? I would like to just move in any direction and not have to worry about thinks like stability and whatnot.

:zen:

Try closing your eyes while standing on one foot some time and see how well that works out. Most people need a visual reference for stability, even on land.

That said, I have 12 dives and am fairly comfortable. I have some work still to maintain constant trim but when I roll over I pretty much stay in one place in the column. I seem to do this a lot to see buddies who like to dive above and behind me for some reason. Plus I want to see EVERYTHING all the time. That's why I'm diving, after all.


My weight is getting pretty well dialed in for a couple of different configurations but I think I dive a little light, to be honest. I'm still trying to get the magic number but I'm pretty close at this point.

Practice practice practice.

 

[elan]

Question for new divers with, say... less than 20 dives:
How good is your buoyancy control and trim? I mean really? And I guess by extension, your weighting too. Is it second nature?

Sure I can hover, and adjust my BC only once or twice during a dive, and I am relatively level, but I need a visual reference and it takes concentration, a lot of it. Once while hovering I closed my eyes for about half a minute, and I was much higher and a bit more head-up than I started. And once while head down about 30 degrees, I did a roll to keep watching a turtle swim across, behind, and above me, losing my visual reference and concentration, and I rose about 10 feet by the time i had rolled all the way over.

And a question for experienced divers:
How do I make hovering at any arbitrary angle and roll, maybe without visual reference, second nature? Are there specific things I should do or think about? I would like to just move in any direction and not have to worry about thinks like stability and whatnot.

:zen:

There is one specific thing you should do - dive, then dive, then dive a bit more

I found GUE-F class was really a big help in getting good understanding of buoyancy and trim. My buoyancy still suck after 180 dives. It's far from being the second nature.

Pay attention to your lungs, particles in the water and other cues. Diving in dry suit also gives another sensor - the level of squeeze.

 

[Sharkygill]

My wife and I are at 34 dives, and loving it. Julie has struggled with buoyancy, from 2 CESA assents during training, to constantly kicking to stay off the reef during our first dive trip to Belize. She would hover ten feet above the reef to keep from accidentally bumping and damaging things. Folks offered lots of suggestions, but what really made a difference was getting her own equipment.

I bought a back inflate Libra BCD for her on Valentines Day. Her own computer, regs, and wetsuit... so no more rental gear that handles differently. We were able to dial in her weight during our trip to Cozumel this spring, so now each dive she does not have variables to work out, so she can concentrate on BCD inflation level and breath control. Her trim leveled out with the adjustment of weights, and she was looking like an experienced diver with the swim throughs and C-53 wreck dive. I was very proud of her.

I realize she may change her tastes and want to try other equipment, and that's alright with me. If she is comfortable, then she is having fun and will continue to dive. For us the improvement in her dive experience is worth the cost of the equipment, even if we buy something else in a few years.

 

[dkktsunami]

Hovering with eyes closed would be damn near impossible for anyone.

 

[cocoajoe]

Rolling, eyes closed, no viz reference. Sounds like you're training to be a Jedi Knight. Just joking, if you can hover, you're doing great at 20 dives. Took me about 25. BTW, I do rolls just to practice regaining oreintation.