Can't get horizontal in the water??

[Tigerman]

If I was to hire a priave instructor to help me sort out my trim, I would also seriously consider just doing the peak performance bouyancy course while at it

 

[p1p]

When I hired my private instructor, I laid out everything I wanted to go over. (Grateful Diver).. Bob also suggested a few other things. Gear check, gear fitment, buoyancy, trim, don.doff tricks, many others.

Was the best money in diving I've ever spent, and was worth well over 10 dives at least in advancement. Probably well beyond that. I'd say at 30 dives now, I'm probably at par now with folks twice that. I'll be doing it again springtime.

 

[DiveMaven]

Since you're a vacation diver who only dives 3 weeks a year on Maui, I'd strongly suggest you walk into Maui Dreams in Kihei and discuss your problems (air and bouyancy) with the folks there. At the minimum, hire an instructor to take you on a private dive to work on your trim. Even better would be to take a Peak Performance Bouyancy class.

 

[mathauck0814]

If I was to hire a priave instructor to help me sort out my trim, I would also seriously consider just doing the peak performance bouyancy course while at it

Well.... yes, but you'd want to know that the instructor had demonstrable buoyancy as well... which most PADI instructors (imo) don't

 

[kneptoon]

I over cooked the rice tonight. would BP w/wings have prevented this. Just asking it seems the solution for everything with water.

 

[TT_Vert]

to change the subject a tad, anyone know what the most positively buoyant fins are? I had an issue w/ my legs sinking when not in motion.

Thanks
Dave

 

[danvolker]

to change the subject a tad, anyone know what the most positively buoyant fins are? I had an issue w/ my legs sinking when not in motion.

Thanks
Dave

I would be inclined to try more bouyant wetsuit bottoms or a drysuit....that is if you like your fins.

Before this though, I would move weight up toward the tank valve, particulalry getting rid of the weight belt, as they drive your feet down.

 

[TT_Vert]

I have a SS DSS BP (Don't wear a weight belt) and played w/ weight distribution. I put 2lbs on either side of my top cam strap in tank strap pouches and it didn't help my foot dropping issue. I do wear a 3mm shorty and would like to retain it as well as 3mm boot. I did consider a 5mm boot but I'm unsure of the signifigance that'd make. I may need to shift my tank up a bit but if 4 lbs on the top strap don't help I don't think moving the tank will. I also played w/ tank placement in the cam bands.

Dave

 

[danvolker]

I have a SS DSS BP (Don't wear a weight belt) and played w/ weight distribution. I put 2lbs on either side of my top cam strap in tank strap pouches and it didn't help my foot dropping issue. I do wear a 3mm shorty and would like to retain it as well as 3mm boot. I did consider a 5mm boot but I'm unsure of the signifigance that'd make. I may need to shift my tank up a bit but if 4 lbs on the top strap don't help I don't think moving the tank will. I also played w/ tank placement in the cam bands.

Dave

Hi David,
With the shorty, you are getting no significant bouyancy from your legs. It really is amazing what the full length wetsuit pants could do....and if you were wearing a dry suit, I can almost guarantee you your issue would be how you could make your feet "heavier"

Can you borrow some 5 mil wetsuit pants to see how this effects the bouyancy of your feet? Also, if you are wearing full length wet suit arms, then with hands in front of you in superman position...GUE diver standard position, then the arms are holding your head up, which means as you dump air from your wing, the feet should become heavier, relative to your head. Also, you would then experiment on the effects of bending your knees to 90 degrees, with fins flat horizontal like your body....and keeping them from 90 degrees to straightened out, depending on the amount of bouyancy you want for your legs--to keep body in flat horizontal. See photo

and http://youtu.be/BtzhHgXJhRE?hd=1 video of a bunch of divers that just went through GUE Fundies....Several could have had your issue prior to using this concept.

 

[TT_Vert]

I have short arms also. I have played w/ my arms out and that does seem to make the most signifigant difference in my attitude in the water but I still slowly sink if I do not fin. I don't have any I can borrow unfortunately maybe I'll just buy something.

Dave