Floating Feet

[artist]

I recently got OW certified. I have read on several threads discussions about floating feet. Is this a common newbie problem or for some people more than others.

I had problems decending without having my feet float up. My instructor just kept telling me to push my feet down. That was until we did the neutral bouyancy test where you float with arms and legs crossed in the middle of the water. When I assumed this pose I immediately went upside down. I did not float or sink but I did complete this exercise with my feet facing the sky and my head to the bottom of the pool.

When we went to the ocean they decided I should wear 2lb ankle weights. This solved my floating feet problem and was comfortable in water, although a pain on land.

Is this a factor of having extra boyant fins, air in by booties, weak leg muscles... Inquiring minds want to know.

-julie

 

[diver_paula]

Hi Julie.

My feet did float a bit when I used fins that floated. Loved the fins - they'd sit on the surface while I was getting the other one off. It didn't bother me that they floated as I wanted to keep them up and off the shipwrecks.

Now I'm in a drysuit with fins that don't float but am using ankle weights.

Still I've never run across anyone who flipped over because of their fins. Are you sure it's your fins that are causing this? Maybe your BC? Or the placement of your tank in your BC?

Paula

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

This was just one of many "problems" I had when I was first certified. I thought it was me. I was looking into ankle weights when my LDS threw my fins in the water and they floated! New fins, problem pretty much solved. I got full foot fins so I didn't have to worry about air in booties either.
I am learning that what works for one person, or even swears by might not work for me. I no longer look at brand names. My custom mask with perscription lenses by major manufacturor leaked like crazy. LDS had cheapo mask that the lense fit. Almost no leaking now. Same scenerio for my first BC. Name brand, used, didn't fit right. STill with a major brand, but fits and tailored more for my curvey frame.
so, i guess what I am saying, is look to your equipment first. See if the fins float, try different styles, you might be surprised at how different they can be. The equipment I got when I first got certified is now in somebody elses basement, and have replaced almost all. (I also purchased second hand, which you may or may not want to do. My instructor also repaired equipment and was able to help me with choosing decent stuff)
Good luck and congratulations on taking the plunge!

 

[Doc Intrepid]

...to discover how little gas you really need inside that suit.

Artist,

This problem is often experienced by new divers, or by divers new to drysuits. It is usually, (but not always - see 'floating fins', above) caused by one general tendency: new divers and divers new to drysuits tend to put too much gas inside the drysuit. They reason "If a little gas makes me warm and comfortable, then more gas will make me even warmer and more comfortable". This gas shifts around inside the drysuit as the diver's attitude or 'trim' changes. The moving air feels like gerbils running around inside your suit, and makes attaining proper neutral bouyancy and trim very difficult. Every time the diver changes their position in the water, the gas in the suit moves to the highest point. If the highest point happens to be the feet, ...you get the point.

The solution is to put as little air or argon inside your suit as possible. Just enough to reduce the squeeze as you descend.

Your undergarment is what keeps you warm. You only need a tiny bit of gas inside the suit - it should feel slightly tight or compressed on you. Not so tight that it hinders movement, but understand that there is a trade-off. The more gas you put in your suit, the more 'comfortable' it may feel - but the more difficult it will be to dive! Not only will it be more challenging to attain proper bouyancy and trim at any given depth, but upon ascending the gas in your drysuit will expand, simultaneously with the gas in your bouyancy compensator. You will be trying to dump excess gas from both suit and BC at the same time, adding to the challenges of a smooth and controlled ascent.

Rather than investing in ankle weights, try diving with very little gas inside your suit. Use your BC to achieve and maintain neutral bouyancy. If you practice diving with a bare minimum of gas inside your drysuit, you will find that your 'floaty feet' problem will largely go away.

Regards,

Doc

 

[diver_paula]

Hello again Julie.

You said booties and that you are recently certified. This made me think you are in a wet suit. Is that correct?

If so and you are concerned it is air in your booties make sure the boots are outside the wetsuit leg. Not tucked inside.

If you are dry - Doc Intrepid is right on the mark with his answer.

Paula

 

[Dee]

ARE you using a dry suit? Maybe I missed something but I didn't see a reference to a dry or wet suit.

I agree floaty fins can contribute to this problem but it's a fact that some people just have floaty legs and feet, women especially. I have the same problem. In just my swim suit, if I let my feet get above my knees I'll be flipped upside down the same way. My booties don't hold enough air to account for the problem. Negative fins help but ankle weights are the only thing that has completely solved my problem. However the 1 and 2 pounder are way too heavy. It's a fine balance to find what will keep your feet down yet not add enough weight that it effects your air consumption, leg strength, and trim in the water.

It took me several hours one day but I took a pair of 1# ankle weights, slit the neoprene and removed half of the beads inside. Cover the small slit with duct tape. Back in the water to test it out. Back to the table to add or subtract more beads. I finally ended up with ankle weights with about 12oz of weight in each one. It doesn't sound like alot but it makes each leg/foot perfectly neutral. Since these were adjusted for freshwater, since I dive locally alot, when I dive in saltwater, I use weights of 1# each to allow for the extra bouyancy of salt water.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

oops.

 

[artist]

sorry, yep I am still in a wet suit. Although thoughts of dry are always nice.

I have been putting the wet suit over the top of my boots to seal out that cold Monterey water. I have extra space inside my 5mm boots. I am currently wearing sock liners inside the boots to help take up the space. Unfortunately these are the smallest boots I could find in a xxsm. Can you say very small feet.

I just looked up my fins. They are Black scubapro twin jets that are slightly negatively buoyant so I don't think it is really the fins that are causing the problem.

I just bought some 1# ankle weights to try on my next dives and will also try putting the boots outside of the wetsuit. I have a trip planned for the end of the month in warmer water. Glad to know it isn't just me.

 

[Wild Woman]

I did my first diving this July in Cozumel and am in the process of becoming certified. At first I had a terrible case of the floating legs curse. I nicknamed myself corky. As I learn, I find that it's a combination of lots of things but the first thing I realized is that the thickness of the bootie sole is really important to the buoyancy of the bootie. My originals had very thick soles and a thick heel with a heel ridge to hold the fin strap in place. In Cozumel, I replaced the booties with something that had a thin sole and there was a big difference--even before adding leg weights. For warm water diving, all you need is protection from the fins and coral--the thinner the better. It's great to be a girl, huh?????

 

[Aquacatfighter]

Sounds like your booties have some air in them or your fins are to light. My girlfriend had a problem like that, she got rid of the booties and bought a pair of Aqualung jet fins. Problem solve!