floating feet

[irishreefer]

Sounds silly, but I cant keep my feet and fins down. It goes so far as to tip me upside down. Do I just need more weight? I have started classes, and this was in the first deep end session. The instructor had to grab my ankle and pull my feet down toward the deep end so I could start down the slope. I just cant keep my feet below my head....lol.. I must look awfully silly. Tina

 

[markfm]

Ankle weights, God's gift to newbies (I'm one, been there, done that) They can be really handy right at first, though with luck aren't needed fairly quickly. My instructor let me borrow some for a couple of classes, I then picked up a pair and used them for a handful of dives, until that part of my trim got straightened out.
Good luck -- have fun!

 

[Doppler]

Sounds silly, but I cant keep my feet and fins down. It goes so far as to tip me upside down. Do I just need more weight? I have started classes, and this was in the first deep end session. The instructor had to grab my ankle and pull my feet down toward the deep end so I could start down the slope. I just cant keep my feet below my head....lol.. I must look awfully silly. Tina

It's likley that your suit does not fit and you have too much room in your legs and feet and / or that you are putting too much air in the suit. The cheap answer to issue one is gaitors.

 

[irishreefer]

Good Idea didnt think about that. Thanks....Tina

 

[irishreefer]

What is gaitors? Tina

 

[diver_paula]

Make sure you don't have fins that float. Once I switched to fins that didn't float I could actually control where my feet went!

& to answer your question regarding what are gaitors - they are like a corset for your legs. You strap one on each leg and it keeps extra air from entering the leg portion of your drysuit.

BTW - you didn't say, are you diving in a wetsuit or a drysuit?

Paula

 

[irishreefer]

I'm using a 3ml wetsuit, fits pretty snuggly. I have to peel it off. I bought the fins from the dive shop. You would think he would sell me the appropriate stuff, hopefully. Tina

 

[SDAnderson]

The causes can be many but ultimately it boils down to a case of bad trim. It's not uncommon for gals to have floaty leg problems - nature designed you with a little bit of extra buoyancy around your legs and bum, in comparison to my fat gut. You'll need to work on redistributing some weight from higher to lower on your body. Ankle weights will work, but they mean that swimming is a lot more work, too - bad for air consumption. If you're not using a weight belt, try removing some of your weights from your BC and putting them on a belt. Adjust the position of your BC on your tank. Your instructor should be able to help, get him involved in the process.

Gators are something drysuit divers wear to restrict the air volume and movement inside the legs of their suits. They look similar to spats and aren't relevant to wetsuit divers.

 

[irishreefer]

Hey!!! whatcha trying to say?? :hurt: just kidding....I understand that my legs will need some more muscle tone. I will work with the instructor on Tuesday and try to get my bum in check..... Thanks for all the help....Tina

 

[H2Andy]

tina, gaiters (gators) are like "leggings" that you were over your shins. people use
them to keep the air from sloshing about in dry suits

i would suggest, as reefraff pointed out, to work on your trim. you "think" your
feet are light, but probably you are head-heavy

try moving your bc up on your tank, this will put more weight aft of your center
of gravity, thus "pushing" your legs down.

also, personally, i would stay away from ankle weights. you're just making yourself
work harder with every kick = more tired = more air used = not as relaxed = not
as efficient = not as effective = not as much fun