Descending Vertically Vs Horizontally

[Firefyter]

If you need to let ALL of the air out of your BC to start your descent, then you need more weight.<snip>

Anyhow, just about the only time I dump ALL of the air out is the last 3 or 4 feet of my ascent when I am diving single tank & I have spent a lot of time shallow breathing the tank down to 300-400 PSI.

This was my contention....

 

[ScubaTwo]

If you need to let ALL of the air out of your BC to start your descent, then you need more weight

So even if Im neutral through out the dive and can do the safety stops with no problem I need to add weight if I let all the air out of my bcd? I will give it a try.

 

[Firefyter]

So even if Im neutral through out the dive and can do the safety stops with no problem I need to add weight if I let all the air out of my bcd? I will give it a try.

I don't think that's what he's saying...I know it's not my point that you need to add weight. You might be perfectly weighted, you may just need to master your breathing techniques in order to descend easier. You might try leaving your weight alone, dumping a little air at a time instead of all of it, and trying to exhale fully to start the descent. I would definitely try it that way before I added more weight.

 

[scubafool]

So even if Im neutral through out the dive and can do the safety stops with no problem I need to add weight if I let all the air out of my bcd? I will give it a try.

Have you tried holding a stop in, say, 2' of water with, say, 200 PSI in your tank? If you can do that, than you are not underweighted.

If you decide to dump all of the air out of your BC to descend, that is one thing. If you HAVE to let all of the air out of your BC to descend, than either you are underweighted or you are holding a lot of air in your lungs when you are trying to descend

 

[ScubaTwo]

Have you tried holding a stop in, say, 2' of water with, say, 200 PSI in your tank? If you can do that, than you are not underweighted.

If you decide to dump all of the air out of your BC to descend, that is one thing. If you HAVE to let all of the air out of your BC to descend, than either you are underweighted or you are holding a lot of air in your lungs when you are trying to descend

I can hold it 5' with a near empty tank, havent tried 2' tho. And yes I need to vent all air in order to descend. My instructor also thinks Im holding alot of air in my lungs. I keep practicing Its more excuses to dive..must practice!

 

[davsholm423]

What type of equipment are you using? It's common for someone in a jacket bcd to think they let all the air out of their bcd, but they really have some trapped inside.

 

[ScubaTwo]

What type of equipment are you using? It's common for someone in a jacket bcd to think they let all the air out of their bcd, but they really have some trapped inside.

Funny you mention that. I do currently have a jacket bcd and recently found if I kinda rolled to the right it let out some trapped air. But according to some folks I shouldnt be letting out all the air anyway.

 

[ScubaTwo]

I dont hit the bottom, I can stop my descent and control my bouyancy with breathing so for now I think I will continue letting all the air out of my bcd rather then add weight.

 

[scubafool]

I can hold it 5' with a near empty tank, havent tried 2' tho. And yes I need to vent all air in order to descend. My instructor also thinks Im holding alot of air in my lungs. I keep practicing Its more excuses to dive..must practice!

Yup, sometimes I amaze myself as to how many bubbles I can "bubble" AFTER I think my lungs are way empty, lol. If that is what you need to do now, no biggy, just as long as you can stop your ascent whenever you want to. Being able to stop your ascent is the key here.

 

[ScubaTwo]

Yup, sometimes I amaze myself as to how many bubbles I can "bubble" AFTER I think my lungs are way empty, lol. If that is what you need to do now, no biggy, just as long as you can stop your ascent whenever you want to. Being able to stop your ascent is the key here.

That is weird how much more we have in our lungs then we think we have.