Ok, so far I can, Ber Rabbit spoke of my secret, the principal of leverage vs brute force. The concentrated weight imbalance in diving is different than other heavy weight management Ive done and Im still figuring out how to keep my back from suffering. Dry isnt much of a problem, I move very slowly and deliberately. But wet it doesnt take much of an angle for a tank to take me down with it so the fluidity and power of the ocean have commanded far greater respect as a diver. My greatest concern is in the initial surf zone too shallow to float and slippery as the dickens so I scuttle around often on my okole.
What physical strength (Gluteus, stomach and back muscles) does is power the skeletal leverage to compensate balance shifts. Im no longer allowed to use my strength as I did. (I had to promise to abide severe physical restrictions to get repairs - paying the price of being ridden hard and put up wet for 30 very enjoyable years.) I plan how to not need to.
I look ahead and evaluate the options, stopping at a point of concern and backing up if necessary until Ive worked out Plan A, Plan B and how Im going to ditch if the feces hits the fan. If Im really concerned I mentally rehearse each one before moving on. Each step, wave timing, and possible hand holds looking for all possible options to maintain 3 point contact. (2 hands, 2 feet = 4 contact points, move one point at a time keeping 3 solid learned that rock climbing.) Because I spend so much time thinking about how Im going to move and moving so slowly in challenging situations I think people view it as fear or hesitation when it is just very consciously. Im always surprised when someone anxiously asks if Im ok when things are under control. Too many high speed crashes have turned me into a snail and Im just waiting for the wave timing or finding the spot I can feel my boot grip.
I avoid turtleing like the plague on anything solid. Its not the ugly struggle back to upright (I felt I had to be able to in order to dive at all and worked out how at home with quite similar hilarity you entertained us with Lynn describing getting trapped in your BP/W.) but Im afraid the crash will be deafening. Midnight Star pretty much described what works for me.
I too religiously retain my regulator no matter how silly it feels. The knowledge I can ditch and breathe prevents foolish unplanned actions I can no longer recover from by strength.
Now doubles Lynn, I just dunno. Im considering pairing my AL50s, maybe just get a steel 100. I felt comfortable enough to solo shore dive with a AL100 but it really pushed the limits of doctors orders and exiting was as close to turtle recovery as I ever want to get.
On a couple of rough surf breaking over difficult shore when deep enough to stand I couldnt walk and close enough to walk I couldnt stand fast or long enough to walk, I did the remove and drag behind using the water to do the lifting and either crawling or crabbing backwards. One reason I went to steel tanks, an AL 80 is just too unwieldy for my stature, the balance margin is teensy.
