Floating away

[HPT3]

I've only completed 2 ocean dives and a few quarry dives. I'm really trying hard to work on my bouyancy. On each dive I seem to be negative and I'm told that control will come in time. I'm a bit nervous about adding to much air into my BC. It almost feels like I'm going to ascent. Is this proper bouyancy? I'm only adding air in short bursts and then waiting for a change. Still, I seem to remain negative most of the time. I should say, "not hovering."

 

[MechDiver]

HPT3 once bubbled...
I'm a bit nervous about adding to much air into my BC. It almost feels like I'm going to ascent.

If you are "almost" ascending, but you aren't, then you're neutral. Which is where you want to be. If you keep sinking then you need to get over the fear of putting air in the BC. What goes in, comes out. If you put in a little too much, then vent a little.

As you've already apparently been told, it will happen. Buoyancy control takes time, practice and patience. Zen helps a little too

MD

 

[detroit diver]

HPT3 once bubbled...
I've only completed 2 ocean dives and a few quarry dives. I'm really trying hard to work on my bouyancy. On each dive I seem to be negative and I'm told that control will come in time. I'm a bit nervous about adding to much air into my BC. It almost feels like I'm going to ascent. Is this proper bouyancy? I'm only adding air in short bursts and then waiting for a change. Still, I seem to remain negative most of the time. I should say, "not hovering."

Have you ever done a bouyancy check using the equipment that you dive with? That would be the first step to seeing if you are indeed overweighted. Most people are at the beginning of their dive career. I was 25lbs overweighted!

 

[Arnaud]

HPT3, the first step is to make sure that you're properly weighted.

Always add small bursts of air to your BC if you're at shallow depth and you shouldn't rocket to the surface.

Best way to practice is the pool or a shallow area in an ow environment.

 

[Uncle Pug]

You can change your buoyancy considerably just by breathing.

The difference between almost empty and almost full lungs (vital capacity) is significant.

So.... when you weight yourself... you should be trying to achieve neutral buoyancy with half of your vital capacity... ie. half a breath.

That way when you exhale you will sink and when you inhale you will rise. With normal breathing this will cancel out and you will remain relatively neutral.

However by altering your breathing and going from half full breath to full breath or from empty breath to half full breath during your breathing cycles you can be positive or negative.

 

[scubasean]

Uncle Pug once bubbled...
You can change your buoyancy considerably just by breathing.

The difference between almost empty and almost full lungs (vital capacity) is significant.

So.... when you weight yourself... you should be trying to achieve neutral buoyancy with half of your vital capacity... ie. half a breath.

Yep...What he said...

When you are adding or removing air from your b/c, do it really slowly, in tiny bursts....

 

[ssdiver2003]

try to control your bouancy via your breathing pattern...do the fin pivot, short bursts until your upper body comes of the ground...then another short burst and a deep inhale...and there you go.
Try that a few times in the pool or so, dont worry peak bouancy will take time...took me about 20 dives and now finaly i can manage it...so it will take time and practice.
Another important factor of course is the propper weighing, try this...
BODYWEIGHT IN LBS , DIVIDED BY 10, PLUS 6 POUNDS...that should give you an aprox safe number for the weights for you...

take care

 

[detroit diver]

ssdiver2003 once bubbled...
...............
Another important factor of course is the propper weighing, try this...
BODYWEIGHT IN LBS , DIVIDED BY 10, PLUS 6 POUNDS...that should give you an aprox safe number for the weights for you...

take care

Using what kind of exposure protection??

I use 6 lb in a shorty. That must make me weigh zero!

 

[Big-t-2538]

ssdiver2003 once bubbled...

Another important factor of course is the propper weighing, try this...
BODYWEIGHT IN LBS , DIVIDED BY 10, PLUS 6 POUNDS...that should give you an aprox safe number for the weights for you...

To me that seems like a lot depending on what exposure protection & configuration you're diving....

if you're in a 2-piece 7 mil farmer john and an AL80...yeah, that's probably a number that he can take away from....but not if he's diving with a steel tank.

if he's diving a full 3-mil or something....that is WAY too much weight....


As for the original question....if you feel like you are constantly having to add air...you're probably a little overweighted to begin with. Try doing a bouyancy check at 10 to 15 feet and very light tanks (say 500 to 700 psi) with a small breath and no air in your BC. It is at this point, you know the maximum amount of weight you'll ever need. If you sink...you can shed a few pounds.

 

[ssdiver2003]

of course...i forgot the most important part. This rough figuration is used for a 7mm 2 piece suit...and infact, i use a steel tank with it and an alumin. dont make much difference to me...HOW COULD I FORGET TO MENTION THAT ???