Descending Vertically Vs Horizontally

[Ronniemu]

I am a recently certified diver. During my training, weighting and trim was not of great importance at the group class. I was dropping like a rock or unable to decend. Practicing in my pool has paid off. Everything has improved, including achieving neutral bouyance. During confined water dives in the pool we were only permitted to decend feet first. Now I want to learn to descend horizontal so I have an option. When I decended feet first I was able to prevent decending too fast by using my fins if necessary. Because of my practicing in my pool I now descend feet first by letting all the air out of my BCD with the dumb valve located at the shoulder and controlling the amount of air in my lungs to make a slow decend. My question is this:

If I am properly weighted will the horizontal descend be the same except I would use the dumb valve near the waist on my BCD? If I was too heavy, what is the best way to clow the decend? What procedure do you follow when decending horizontal. Any information on this and your preferences would be appreciated.


Regards, Ronnie

 

[spectrum]

With 11 dives I'm playing aroud with horizontal decent too. I'm using the botom dump, take it slow and try not to overdump. Drop your lung volume with a deep exhale to reduce the dumping needed. By definition you will become negative as you go down, then it's time for short bursts ito your BC. Remeber that bouyancy changes require time to overcome inertia.

I like the skydiving sensation.

Pete

I am a recently certified diver. During my training, weighting and trim was not of great importance at the group class. I was dropping like a rock or unable to decend. Practicing in my pool has paid off. Everything has improved, including achieving neutral bouyance. During confined water dives in the pool we were only permitted to decend feet first. Now I want to learn to descend horizontal so I have an option. When I decended feet first I was able to prevent decending too fast by using my fins if necessary. Because of my practicing in my pool I now descend feet first by letting all the air out of my BCD with the dumb valve located at the shoulder and controlling the amount of air in my lungs to make a slow decend. My question is this:

If I am properly weighted will the horizontal descend be the same except I would use the dumb valve near the waist on my BCD? If I was too heavy, what is the best way to clow the decend? What procedure do you follow when decending horizontal. Any information on this and your preferences would be appreciated.


Regards, Ronnie

 

[Uncle Pug]

I prefer horizontal descents (h. ascents too) but sometimes I like to do the initial part of the descent supine to keep an eye on my buddy if he is descending slower. Of course it's best to roll over and stop the descent before you get to the bottom.

To start the descent from the surface however we usually have done a bubble check, made sure everyone has their gas on and the rigs are all squared way. When we OK the descent we are vertical feet down and just hold the inflator up and push the dump button to let ALL the gas out of the wing (BC bladder) and start down. I don't have to fiddle with my rear dump on descent since there isn't a need to get rid of more gas... what I need to do is use my inflator to slow my descent as I approach the bottom.

 

[Xanthro]

If I am properly weighted will the horizontal descend be the same except I would use the dumb valve near the waist on my BCD? If I was too heavy, what is the best way to clow the decend? What procedure do you follow when decending horizontal. Any information on this and your preferences would be appreciated.

I'm a bit confused as to your question. You should have all the air out of your BCD at the surface, so there is no need to release more to descend, no matter what orientation you use.

Start feet down, dump all your air, exhale completely, exhale some more, when you get to about 10 feet, roll to horizontal, then add air to your BCD to slow your descent. You shouldn't be taking any breaths in until your are a few feet down, otherwise you'll require too much weight to descend.

 

[Tanked Monkey]

I second UP's approach. When I'm on the surface, I'm vertical. To descend horizontally, I use my inflator to get the gas out of my wing, then get down 2-3 feet. Then I move horizontal and stay that way for the rest of the dive. Once I'm down 20 feet or so (and my wetsuit has completely compressed), I start adding small bursts of gas into my wing to slow the descent until I'm just negative enough to keep descending. When I'm about 5 feet from my target depth, I'll add a bit more gas to my wing and take a big breath to stop the descent, and get neutral.

If I ever need to dump gas after the descent, I prefer the rear dump, 'cause it's so much easier than the inflator when I'm horizontal.

Going up is the same in reverse, except I use breath control to ascend. And slowly let (expanding) gas out of my wing as I rise.

Properly nailing a horizontal descent requires finesse and practice.
Mike

 

[Web Monkey]

I now descend feet first by letting all the air out of my BCD with the dumb valve located at the shoulder and controlling the amount

Everybody has done a great job with your question, however I just wanted to mention that it's a "dump" valve not a "dumb" valve, unless the humor was intentional, in which case you can ignore this.

Terry

 

[Sean C]

One thing that I have noticed is that ear equalization is much easier in the vertical head up position as opposed to the horizontal. Just my experience.

Sean

 

[Wijbrandus]

One thing that I have noticed is that ear equalization is much easier in the vertical head up position as opposed to the horizontal. Just my experience.

Sean

I've found just the opposite. I descend most often head first, feet towards the sky, finning down. I equalize best in this position, and descend the fastest. I don't recommend this for everyone as an uncontrolled descent will be harder to stop.

When diving with my wife, who usually descends slower, I'll usually fall supine, so I can observe her descent. If she's moving along ok, I skydive down. Cool feeling, sure, but I'd rather get to the bottom faster.

 

[Sean C]

I've found just the opposite. I descend most often head first, feet towards the sky, finning down. I equalize best in this position, and descend the fastest.

I wish, head down is a no go for me. Horizontal is relatively easy and a head up orientation provides me with the best equalization. I wonder how many other divers find that orientation better for the ears?

 

[ScubaTwo]

I'm a bit confused as to your question. You should have all the air out of your BCD at the surface, so there is no need to release more to descend, no matter what orientation you use.

I must be very confused. I keep air in my BCD at the surface. It helps me not sink till Im ready.