Critique A Beginners Dive Profile

[Skeptic14]

I bought some gear after renting for my first dozen or so dives after certification. One thing I was excited about with getting my own gear was being able to download the logs from my computer afterward to analyze the profile and just be able to take a more technical overall look at things.

Yesterday I did my first dives with my gear and tested out the log downloading etc. The Mares tool to download the logs is pretty cool and gives a decent amount of dive information.

As a beginner nothing obvious jumps out regarding my dive profile/info (other than a bad SAC) but it would be nice to have more experienced divers point out anything they notice.

Thanks

https://en.divelogs.de/svg/1721530

https://en.divelogs.de/svg/1721529

 

[RandomGuy1]

Looks like during your safety top you maybe got a little buoyant and floated up to 13ft and then realized it and drooped back to 19ft. Holding those stops become easier with practice. Although without knowing where you were diving, that may have just been a bottom feature you had to swim up and over on a shore dive? Either way, nothing in particular jumped out at me, but I am still relatively new myself.

 

[Jax]

You seem to be coming up very fast.

You also have spikes in what looks like your safety stop. Congrats on getting back down; that is the most important time to have your buoyancy totally under control.

EDIT - Richie beat me to it.

 

[Jax]

If that 13' spike is you swimming over a bottom feature, try staying at that 13' depth for another minute or so, assuming you did your safety stop at 20'. To add some conservatism to the dive.

 

[Skeptic14]

Yes, buoyancy is definitely a work in progress. The first dive definitely floated up a bit during it, the second dive we were doing drills at the end and I think during mask clear that happened.

 

[Skeptic14]

Regarding ascent rate, first dive max rate was 39 ft/min and second dive max rate was 42 ft/min, what is the target? I was under the impression between 30-60 ft/min?

Thanks

 

[RandomGuy1]

Yes, buoyancy is definitely a work in progress. The first dive definitely floated up a bit during it, the second dive we were doing drills at the end and I think during mask clear that happened.

One thing I learned / used when doing mask off drills durring my fundies class was as you are taking your mask off, have your buddy right there within arms reach. Have them put a hand lightly on your elbow and use touch to tell you if you are ascending or descending, and adjust your buoyancy appropriately. Also, make sure your buoyancy is spot on before starting the drill.

This is much easier if your weighting is spot on and you have very little air in your BC at the end of the dive.

 

[Jax]

Regarding ascent rate, first dive max rate was 39 ft/min and second dive max rate was 42 ft/min, what is the target? I was under the impression between 30-60 ft/min?

Thanks

Pardon a lengthy description.

When you go from 33 feet to 16 feet, your pressure changes from 2 ATM to 1.5 ATM, a 25% change.

When you go from 15-16 feet to the surface, your pressure is changing from 1.5 ATM to 1 ATM, a 33% change. So you see, the shallower you get, the greater the pressure differential.

A target for the last 30 feet is no more than 10 feet per minute.

 

[Jax]

Yes, buoyancy is definitely a work in progress. The first dive definitely floated up a bit during it, the second dive we were doing drills at the end and I think during mask clear that happened.

Good for you for doing drills!!! I applaud you!

One way to do mask drill and buoyancy:

1- Check and hold position.
2- Remove mask, check and hold position
3- Place mask on forehead, check and hold position
4- Clear mask, check and hold position

If you have your buddy monitor you, the buddy should tap the top of your head as a cue. Rely on *yourself* to hold position and have your buddy grab ONLY in emergency.

 

[Skeptic14]

After taking a second look, the second dive was ~30 sec for last 19ft and first dive was ~80 sec from 21 ft. So yeah, second dive was definitely a noticeably quicker ascent.

Will try and slow that down some more.

Thanks


edit

I remember watching my computer on ascents and I kept the ascent rate meter "happy", I suppose slower can't hurt though. Will look to see if there is a setting that can be configured for the ascent rate meter/alarm.