First dive in 20 years with BCD and weight belt

[MacDuyver]

A diver on my recent trip was vertical in the water, kicking up the sand beneath her, so I tapped her on the shoulder and pointed down. Afterwards she came up to me and said "Was I kicking up the sand?" She had no clue.

I’ve got a newer diver in my dive group who looks like a cork in the water.

We’ve been moving his tank around, trim weights, the like and he just will not go flat.

Eventually it’s a personal discomfort in the water thing.

I’ll say the unexpected benefit has been that silted out night macro pictures have a cool sci-fi look to them.

He’s a great dude to hang out with, and loves being in the water, so I’m not giving up hope w him.

 

[MB NZ]

An anecdote . Once upon a time I decided to setup a twinset with 10L steel cylinders which are short and top heavy. I was advised against it, but I knew best and didn't listen. They were almost impossible to trim. Every time I relaxed in the water , I ended up in a perfect head down, vertical position. After messing around with tail weights and strapping weights to cylinders, I just about made it work. Our relationship was short-lived!

Sometimes the kit just isn't right.

 

[pauldw]

Jackets have cummerbunds. Wings don't. You'll always look more gentlemanly in a jacket BCD.

 

[happy-diver]

I have spent the first 25 yrs wearing a jacket and weight belt, and the second 25 yrs with a plate
with a combination, of most sorts of other different gear, both before and after, and in between

so I say do posture first after you have adjusted your gear for a few dives before adjusting again

More weight is safer than less, less adjusting before you have become accustomed to it, is more

Jacket bc

Jacket bc

Jacket bc

Two Jackets bc

and this guy one of the best of the best, Jacket bc

I don't see many sloppy divers they must all go out and parade around in front of other ScubaBoardians

Thing is, when divers unsure of themselves, or questioning their various techniques, ask me what I think

I say

"You've jumped off a boat survived underwater for an hour and climbed all that heavy gear up a ladder!"

"You are a magnificent diver!"


Did I tell you about the diver, that was nervous about doing a dive to 20m, as he had only been to 10m

 

[Mr_D]

Do new divers think about trim?

When I was a new diver the only thing I thought about was Air. Just saying.

 

[KeelsonGraham]

I’m a returning diver after a 37 year break. Did my PADI OW in May using a rental BCD. No mention of trim, other than saying that its good to be horizontal! After 25 more dives (now with a Hydros Pro) I’m slowly working it out by shifting weights around. I probably should have started by experimenting with tank position. The trouble is, guided dives off a boat, don’t give time for experimentation. Maybe I’ll get the opportunity during AOW, coming up next.

 

[Allen-1]

If you're reading this thread, and going to CocoView, Patty, (PADI dive shop owner), gives an excellent Buoyancy class every single week. It's free of charge, and timed to not interfere with dive boat operations.

 

[lowwall]

If you spent 20 years with a jacket weight belt, you might have felt awkward in a BP/w.

I only had 2 years in a jacket from when I started diving, but the first time I tried a BP/W felt absolutely amazing.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Any of the foreign operators interested in preserving the integrity of their money maker would best be served by offering buoyancy and trim classes to those that desperately need it. Preferably BEFORE taking them to the most beautiful and sensitive reefs.