Crush
Contributor
I am not sure where to post this, but the Beginner Forum seems a bad place.
I just got back from some fun dives in non-challenging conditions. The catch is that I forgot to re-attach my drysuit inflator hose and no one had a spare. I decided to dive anyway (50 ft max depth in a lake w/20 ft vis) and, luckily, my wing inflater mated with my drysuit valve. To my surprise I didn't have to orally inflate my wing underwater - at depth a very small amount of extra air in my suit (which caused a small bubble of air to roll about between my shoulders) gave me all the extra lift I needed. Attention to my trim prevented a feet-first ascent.
Interesting note: in a horizontal position I had more lift than when vertical at the surface since the loft in my drysuit undergarment was compressed at my feet, venting air through my dump valve and causing me to not float high enough. I learned (at the surface) to close off my drysuit valve and inflate it, orally inflate my wing, and keep my reg handy in case my face fell below the surface.
Summary: it was a calm but instructive dive. I invite you to try something similar.
I just got back from some fun dives in non-challenging conditions. The catch is that I forgot to re-attach my drysuit inflator hose and no one had a spare. I decided to dive anyway (50 ft max depth in a lake w/20 ft vis) and, luckily, my wing inflater mated with my drysuit valve. To my surprise I didn't have to orally inflate my wing underwater - at depth a very small amount of extra air in my suit (which caused a small bubble of air to roll about between my shoulders) gave me all the extra lift I needed. Attention to my trim prevented a feet-first ascent.
Interesting note: in a horizontal position I had more lift than when vertical at the surface since the loft in my drysuit undergarment was compressed at my feet, venting air through my dump valve and causing me to not float high enough. I learned (at the surface) to close off my drysuit valve and inflate it, orally inflate my wing, and keep my reg handy in case my face fell below the surface.
Summary: it was a calm but instructive dive. I invite you to try something similar.