Hello all just got My wife and I just got certified 2 days ago and are off to Cancun this next weekend. I actually just had a couple of questions, First when we did our open water dives they were at a quarry that is 15-19ft deep max and of course it has platforms for training and stuff like that. When we would practice Buoyancy we would either try to hover on the platform or do fin pivots. My question is is out in the ocean how do I get my buoyancy down without crashing into coral, other divers, or the sea floor and take a chance on stepping on a ray. I mean as I am descending do I want to slowly add air to my BC or what?? any help would be very helpful thank you look forward to making many friends on here.
Getting In Control
- Thread starter Bflem55
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Bobby_M
Contributor
Yes, slowly add BC air if necessary to maintain a nice controlled descent. You shouldn't be sinking like a rock anyway and if you do, you're overweighted in the first place. Try to keep a little distance from the bottom until you get the hang of hovering.
Bobby
Bobby
nolatom
Contributor
You'll actually find buoyancy is easier to control when you're deeper. At 19', if you rise or sink a couple of feet, the pressure changes a lot, and so does your buoyancy, since 4' is about a fifth of your depth. At 60 feet, it's only a fifteenth, so getting neutral is easier to obtain, and maintain. So if you could do it in shallow water, you can do it more easily in deeper water.
Yes, as you get down towards your descent destination, you'll add a couple of shots to your BC to slow your descent and stop yourself into a neutral-buoyancy status just before you hit bottom, so you don't hit it. Takes a little experimentation and fine-tuning as you add a little air if you're too heave and dump a little if you're too light. Once you're neutral a given depth, you can use your breathing as a fine-tune, inhale to gently rise over an object, exhale to descend back down a little.
All this is easier to actually do than it is to explain it. It'll actually be easier than it was in the pool, or in the shallow part of the quarry.
Yes, as you get down towards your descent destination, you'll add a couple of shots to your BC to slow your descent and stop yourself into a neutral-buoyancy status just before you hit bottom, so you don't hit it. Takes a little experimentation and fine-tuning as you add a little air if you're too heave and dump a little if you're too light. Once you're neutral a given depth, you can use your breathing as a fine-tune, inhale to gently rise over an object, exhale to descend back down a little.
All this is easier to actually do than it is to explain it. It'll actually be easier than it was in the pool, or in the shallow part of the quarry.
Bflem55:
You're kidding? You got certified to dive without going past 20 feet deep?
Bflem55:
Congrats on the cert ... hopefully you will have some decent weather in Cancun ... I believe the huricanes are out of the way for a while. While you are there, make sure you check out Senior Frogs ... ok to your question...
1. Bouyancy is one of the most important things in diving. As you correctly pointed, it is also important from an ecological stand point ... ie. dont crash into the coral ... please. There are several things that are important from a bouyancy stand point ... and they should have at least gone over it in the ow class ... weighting is important ... if you have less weight, then you need less air ... Breathing is also important ... deep regular breath ... you should slightly rise with a deep breath and slightly sink on exhaulation ... if you are netural which is your goal. Weight distribution ... form in the water ... you should glide like superman ...
2. Realize that all changes take just a little time... so add a little air, and wait a few seconds to see how if affects you...
3. Do a bouyancy check at the surface ... Most of the dive boats down there will have dive masters and instructors hanging around ... ask one of them to help you do a weight check ... and see if you can shed a few pounds... this will also help you... When I completed my OW class, I was diving with 28 lbs of lead ... now I use only 8 ...
sasscuba
Contributor
TheRedHead:
My wife was just certiifed through SSI and she only went to 26 feet.....One reason her first ocean dives will be with me and shore dives gradually doing deeper dives. Start with a comfortable 30 fsw and go from there.
sasscuba
Contributor
Bflem55:
Yes. I have yet to see a DM that will not accommodate a new diver..it's a good idea if you make sure to tell them first before you get on the boat.
sasscuba:
That seems unbelievable to me. And my OW cert was through SSI in a quarry with the tour portion over 50 feet deep. It made diving in Belize at 70 feet seem very easy.
sasscuba
Contributor
TheRedHead:
Mine was in a quarry in Wisconsin through Padi in 1984 and I only did 35 feet.
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