Class in buoyancy control?

[alan_lee]

I learnt a great deal from my GUE Fundies about my buoyancy control and trim, and I reckons it boils down to 2 important factors: a good instructor and video feedback. While the first one is a given, video feedback is such an invaluable tool with teach. It's like with golf, swinging in front of the mirror. It provides you with instant info on whether you're doing it correctly, and it helps build the necessary internal feedback. If you have a kind friend with a camera, you could have your friend help video you and then review the clip to see if you're doing the right stuff.

Good luck!

 

[John_B]

The hula hoops are not the problem, per se. What's at issue is how they are used. If you learn to flutter kick through them, what you are learning is how to control your trajectory. Not necessarily a bad thing, but that's a whole 'nother thing than buoyancy control. What would really be valuable is if you could swim to the hoop and stop halfway in without finning or sculling with your hands. Frankly you could do this as well with just a downline instead of the hoops.

The trick is getting horizontal in the water and getting your hands and feet totally quiet. To start, touch the tips of your fins together to prevent unconsciously finning. You might even (gasp!) emulate tech divers who clasp their hands straight out in front of them (remember to get horizontal). If you are like I was, once you do this the first time you'll sink like a stone. Its easy to dive overweighted, or even properly weighted overall but still too heavy as opposed to actually having neutral buoyancy. The reason to have your hands and feet totally quiet is to get a feel for hovering vs. finning or sculling to maintain a constant depth. As others have already said on this thread, you are already on the right path. Best of luck!

HTH

John