Heavy legs. Suggestions?

[James79]

It's an idea

And my ideas are always worth what you paid for them! Lol

Respectfully,

James

 

[Fishyhead]

You can try making or buying something like this to try before fiixing to your jacket

CLIP-ON SEABAGS Lead Weight Diving Bags

 

[DiveClimbRide]

Hi,
I'm relatively new to scuba, collecting dives one after another, having fun But I'm totally unhappy with my trim. I tend to have heavy legs, I can't stay horizontal _and_ steady in any way. I keep turning head up and feet down whenever I stop moving :-(
Any suggestion?

This is my setup:
- I'm 1.85cm, 82Kg
- I swim in salt water
- Seac Masterdry 7mm suit
- (1) 5Kg on my belt
- 15l steel bottle
- Mares jacket BCD
- (2) Scubapro Jetfin (each one weighs 1.6kg)

A few notes about that, so you know why I struggle and what I already did to compensate.
(1) + (2): this combination offers me neutral buoyancy at 0m and 5m. Less then 5Kg on the waist makes me too positive and I can't stay put at 5m safety stop at the end of the dive :-(
I know I could go for less then 5Kg (I manage with 4Kg but it's critical), many already told me to try, and I did, but when I do, I can't stay at 5m without finning downward or grabbing at something to stay down (and I really try! emptying lungs, pushing out every air bubble outside my jacket and the suit ... you name it, I did it).

(1) + (2) I swapped the Jetfins with a pair of Cressi Pro Light (each one weighs 1kg, very light in comparison) and moved 1Kg to the belt (now it's 6Kg on the waist). I think I will come back to the Jetfins when I buy me a drysuit, not before.
That helped a lot with the trim, staying horizontal is now easyer but still not perfect. I can comfortably swim feet up, but as soon as I stop the rotation starts again, slower then before but still ...

(2) I will try a pair of Apeks RK3 (not the HD ones) in the next future because I like the way that kind of fin performs and because the Cressi are sooooo long! The RK3 are not so heavy as the Jetfins, but not so light as the Cressi. Will let you know what happens.

I tried to move the bottle a bit upward, so that its weight position counterbalances that on the belt. But I think I reached the max, I start touching the first stage with my head when I tilt it up/back... that's not good.

I guess I have to move some more weight up .. but how? I'm not too keen on moving and anchoring some weight to the top of the bottle, or should I really opt for that?

I'm open for suggestions and will try everything that makes sense ;-)

I'm very similar to you. 1.83m, 80kg, 8mm wetsuit, 5kg weight with 12l steel in salt. Jacket bcd and a very foot heavy trim. How I fixed it was by moving 3kg (1.5 on each side) to my shoulders. I just bungeed them so that I can remove them after each dive. I have the remaining 2kg in trim pockets on my bcd. This means I have no dumpable weight but I have the bare minimum weight so I'm fine with it.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

This may sound weird but it helped my trim. I was foot heavy until I moved my tank down as far as it would go and it brought my feet up.

 

[NorCalDM]

This may sound weird but it helped my trim. I was foot heavy until I moved my tank down as far as it would go and it brought my feet up.

This works for a standard aluminum tank as they are butt light but I think he is using a steel.

 

[Roberto Inzerillo]

... but I think he is using a steel.

Yes, we mostly use single 15l steel in Italy.

 

[ginti]

Hi @Roberto Inzerillo! Always nice to meet people from my amazing homeland (even if I call them arancini )

Disclaimer: I am NOT an instructor, so take what I write with the right precautions

In the picture you posted you look more than reasonable, but yes, you were swimming.

I don't see a huge amount of space between your head and the tank: if you get 100% horizontal, you will need to move a bit up your head, and it will get closer to the tanks. However, there is actually a bit of space, and you can try to move up the tanks.

Consider that your problem may be the opposite: too much weight in the upper body. When you have too much weight in the upper body, you need to reduce the mechanical momentum to avoid rotating towards a head-down position. How to do it? Instinctively, you go to a slight head-up position, because this position reduces the mechanical momentum. Usually, this is not enough to completely counterbalance the momentum, so you also need to use your fins a bit. I have seen this only once actually. But it means that, even if it is rare, it can happen.

If you have not tried yet, you may want to do this exercise in shallow water:
1) go close to a reference point - for instance, the bottom
2) stabilize, that is, get neutrally buoyant and go to a horizontal position - if it's hard, use your fins or any other external help to position yourself
3) do not move a single muscle
You will rotate if your trim is not perfect 100%. Check if you are rotating towards a head-up or a head-down position: this will tell you how to move your weights.

Did you speak with any instructor about this issue? I may suggest you a very keen one in Sicily if you are interested in it, but it's on the other side of the island (Siracusa area)

 

[Roberto Inzerillo]

Consider that your problem may be the opposite: too much weghts in the upper body.

Talking with friends I started considering this possibility too.

If you have not tried yet, you may want to do this exercise in shallow water:
1) go close to a reference point - for instance, the bottom
2) stabilize, that is, get neutrally buoyant and go to a horizontal position - if it's hard, use your fins or any other external help to position yourself
3) do not move a single muscle
You will rotate if your trim is not perfect 100%. Check if you are rotating towards a head-up or a head-down position: this will tell you how to move your weights.

I already did something like that, more then once; alone, with a friend and with the instructor. I get into an horizontal position, try to hold my position but stop moving every muscle. Result: I tilt head up and feet down ... every time! :-(

Did you speak with any instructor about this issue?

yes, but ... let's just say it did help a bit but not much.

I may suggest you a very keen one in Sicily if you are interested in it, but it's on the other side of the island (Siracusa area)

Please do, it's always nice to come in touch with new people, especially the good ones

 

[ginti]

Please do, it's always nice to come in touch with new people, especially the good ones

Check Capo Murro Diving Center on google

 

[Roberto Inzerillo]

Check Capo Murro Diving Center on google

Cool