Buoyancy Proficiency

[rongoodman]

An alternative would be to just duck into a head down position as you descend, leveling out when you near the bottom. That also has the advantage of putting that extra air in your BC right under the rear dump, minimizing the chance of it being trapped and keeping you on the surface.

 

[Tigerpaw]

An alternative would be to just duck into a head down position as you descend, leveling out when you near the bottom. That also has the advantage of putting that extra air in your BC right under the rear dump, minimizing the chance of it being trapped and keeping you on the surface.

At this point I'll try anything. I've decided to get in as many dives ass possible to get my buoyancy issues resolved before I get any more certifications. I forgot to mention that I am diving with all brand new gear so that could be an issue as well. Thanks again.

 

[BlueTrin]

At this point I'll try anything. I've decided to get in as many dives ass possible to get my buoyancy issues resolved before I get any more certifications. I forgot to mention that I am diving with all brand new gear so that could be an issue as well. Thanks again.

If you don’t want to invert yourself, normally the way to do it, is to always pull the deflator high up (but gently) while pressing the button and being vertical.

If you do this the hose connection to the BCD will be the highest point of the bcd and all the gas will be released.

You can ask your buddy to check you while you do a training dive and tell him to check if you look like you will release all air while doing this.

You said that you go horizontal in the water: if you use a wing or backinflate and fully inflate your jacket that is normal. What you should do is to try to lean backwards when you deflate it, you should be able to keep vertical while starting to descend.

Can you post the model of the BCD you are using?

 

[EFX]

Another issue as to why you want to immediately go horizontal at the surface is the position of the weights in the weight pockets. If the weights have moved forward in the pockets they will cause you to rotate forward. Try this: lean back, grab your weight pockets and lift them up which should force the weights to slide to the back of the weight pocket. I had this problem when I was diving with a ScubaPro Nighthawk BCD. The weight pockets were large and the weights could shift inside the pockets.

 

[Tigerpaw]

If you don’t want to invert yourself, normally the way to do it, is to always pull the deflator high up (but gently) while pressing the button and being vertical.

If you do this the hose connection to the BCD will be the highest point of the bcd and all the gas will be released.

You can ask your buddy to check you while you do a training dive and tell him to check if you look like you will release all air while doing this.

You said that you go horizontal in the water: if you use a wing or backinflate and fully inflate your jacket that is normal. What you should do is to try to lean backwards when you deflate it, you should be able to keep vertical while starting to descend.

Can you post the model of the BCD you are using?

I will give that a try as well. My BCD is a Cressi Carbon.

 

[Tournesol2000]

I noticed in my first dives after COVID restrictions that I have a tendency to breath in when I start to decend. I have few dives compared to most on this site and don’t get the opportunity to dive often, but once I identified this, I adjusted and my lungs were no longer full of air. This helped be decend. Something to think about.

 

[lowwall]

THANKS everyone for your replies. Whenever I get in the water, boat or shore dive, my body naturally goes horizontal. I have to struggle and have to grab someone by the forearms then force my legs down to be completely vertical for a descent down.

There is nothing wrong with descending horizontally. If you naturally go into that position, then it means you are trimmed correctly.

Initial problems geting under are often related to air trapped in the wetsuit or not venting your wing completely. Make sure you fully dump your wing at the surface, get horizontal and then swim down a bit if necessary. Any trapped air will get compressed and/or make its way out pretty quickly.

 

[scoobert]

I took my open water at the end of December and as of today, I logged in my 12 dive! While I'm still getting used to diving I get the most frustrated with my buoyancy. Once I'm underwater I'm fine but I'm having issues getting in. I've been told that this just takes time and practice to get it right. Is that pretty much the case? I may be hard on myself, I understand the concepts but I'm going up and down so much, it's frustrating.

Set your BC, adjust you buoyancy with your breaths. Deeper breaths, you go up....

 

[BlueTrin]

@Tigerpaw I am not familiar with your BCD and googled it

ScubaPro KnightHawk BCD

OVERVIEW Built for serious back-flotation divers looking for a rugged yet bulk-free BCD, the KNIGHTHAWK delivers excellent freedom of movement in a streamlined design well-suited to both recreational and technical diving. Strategically placed padding, an adjustable cummerbund and quick-release...

www.beachcitiesscuba.com

From the description and looks I think your BCD is a back inflate (this means the pocket of air is in your back).

Back inflate and wings will push you forward at the surface if you fully inflate them, because the air pocket is in your back.

The trick, at the surface, is to inflate them well so your face is well out of the water (so you are safe in choppy waters) but not fully so you can lean backwards against the BCD air pocket to stay a bit vertical.

Try that next time you will practice …

 

[Ayisha]

Back inflate and wings will push you forward at the surface if you fully inflate them, because the air pocket is in your back.

If a fully inflated back-inflate or wing is pitching someone forward, it indicates that their weights are too far forward.

Some of their weight needs to be moved to the sides or towards the back.