horizontal ascent...

[Thalassamania]

Yes, the open inflator technique does depend on the design and attitude of the BCs’ bags. It works best on a BCD or on a smaller donut BP/W and does not work well on a large capacity set of wings that tends to trap some air along the it’s edge.

 

[Soggy]

Why are you venting with the inflator hose?

Let's not get into that here.

Some people have found it better to vent from the rear dump, some from the inflator. Personally, I use the rear dump when I'm on the bottom, but with a set of doubles and a horseshoe wing, when I'm getting light, the gas just doesn't make it over to the left side, so I generally vent with the inflator during ascent. With a single donut, I don't have that problem...heck, with a single I almost don't need my wing at all. Perhaps when I have $380 to spend on an Evolve wing my perspective will change.

 

[JeffG]

but with a set of doubles and a horseshoe wing, when I'm getting light, the gas just doesn't make it over to the left side, so I generally vent with the inflator during ascent.

Ditto...plus, since I have a cuff dump (oh the horrors), it allows me to move air and dump the DS at the same time.

 

[PerroneFord]

Fair enough.

I tend to use the read dump on all my wings, including the horseshoe doubles, but it's just what I got comfy with. Though if it was having a problem such that I could not hold trim, and vent, I'd explore different options.

 

[Bismark]

PerroneFord,

I think you might have taken my comment a bit out of context. I meant that in order to move air from around from where I usually dump it out of the rear I would have to adopt a head up trim position to get air to move so it could be dumped from the inflator hose. Personally, I don't like to change my trim position and prefer a controlled horizontal slightly head down ascent. However, I am intrigued by what Thalass....... is talking about. I find it a heck of a lot easier to dump from the rear in warm water with a singles wing than with my drysuit and gloves and doubles in cold water. But then we aren't just in this because it is easy are we

 

[Soggy]

Fair enough.

I tend to use the read dump on all my wings, including the horseshoe doubles, but it's just what I got comfy with. Though if it was having a problem such that I could not hold trim, and vent, I'd explore different options.

Frankly, it's just not a problem. You're ascending, so there's nothing below you to silt out, so dropping your legs 30 degrees or so just doesn't cause any problems. I'm not sure if you dive dry or not, but drysuit diving requires you to adjust your trim to move gas out of your legs and feet anyhow.

 

[PerroneFord]

I'm not sure if you dive dry or not, but drysuit diving requires you to adjust your trim to move gas out of your legs and feet anyhow.

My first drysuit was delivered over the weekend. I start with it this coming weekend. I am sure I'll learn all kinds of new things and ways to adapt.

 

[TSandM]

The idea that dropping your legs to clear the air in your feet doesn't matter, because you're on ascent, is a great one in open water. But I learned this last week that it may be a little more problematic in a cave. Yes, if the cave is ascending, there's a slope that should allow you to drop your feet a little, but it may not be much, particularly if you're doing a slow, sloping ascent. I was watching Danny (Riordan) managing his buoyancy, and I never did figure out what he was doing about his feet. I saw him do the quick "duck butt" thing to vent his wing from the rear dump, and I saw him roll a shoulder up to vent the suit, but he never, ever changed the position of his knees and feet. 'Tis a mystery . . .

 

[Soggy]

The idea that dropping your legs to clear the air in your feet doesn't matter, because you're on ascent, is a great one in open water. But I learned this last week that it may be a little more problematic in a cave. Yes, if the cave is ascending, there's a slope that should allow you to drop your feet a little, but it may not be much, particularly if you're doing a slow, sloping ascent.

The difference is that in a cave you are slow and gradual and don't ever have to manage a larger bubble of gas. You just kind of keep your feet extended and the gas migrates its way or you wait until you are in a better place to vent. In practice, it's just not a problem.

This is one of those topics that is being way over-thunk

 

[Bismark]

Nice to know that I'm not the only one who does the "duck butt thing" on occasion. Can be "interesting" if you don't stay on top of it and you are ascending as you "duck butt" and then go faster as the bubble gets bigger, making you go faster.............. help.................