DevonDiver
N/A
1. Fine-tune & confirm your max weighting requirements. Any surplus weight will mean there is air in your BCD. As you attempt to hold trim, this air can migrate in the BCD and cause havoc with your trim. Jacket BCDs tend to exacerbate this, compared with BP&W designs, but the root problem is always the volume of air in the BCD. Be aware of how much air is actually in your BCD and where that air is resting. If you go 'head-down' then the air will migrate to the bottom (highest point) of your BCD. You'll need to move it, if you are to re-gain horizontal trim. The less air, the less dramatic this issue is.
2. Cylinder positioning makes a big difference. Experiment with fitting the cylinder higher/lower within the cam band. Be aware that this positioning will need to be changed, if different cylinders are used.
3. Re-consider the use of heavy trim weights in the upper pockets of the BCD. These trim pockets help bring your head down. If you are too much head down, then you may have too much weight in the pockets.
4. Fit a second (lower) cam-band to the BCD, if you can. This will help control the effect of a buoyant AL cylinder. Many BCDs have the option to fit a second band, but don't come with one as standard.
5. Fit add-on trim weight pockets to that lower cam-band. You can buy pockets that fit onto the band with a loop. These bring weight marginally below your 'balance point', without the excessive re-distribution caused by using ankle weights.
6. Be aware of problems caused using integrated weight systems. On jacket BCDs these tend to hold the weights further from your torso and there can be a lot of movement/swing in the weights. Weight belts offer a more snug storage, directly against your torso without 'swing'.
7. Practice your body position for effective trim/hover. The shoulders, hips and knees should all be on the same level - requiring a back-arch (akin to 'freefall parachutists' posture). Typically, weakness in the stomach/hips tends to unravel this posture - leading to an 'arse-up/knees-down' body position that makes hovering much more problematic. It can take a while (multiple dives) for this position to start to feel natural - and to develop the muscles needed to hold it in a relaxed manner.
8. Consider your head and arm position when hovering. The body tends to follow the head, with respect to orientation. When horizontal you need to look forwards (bent neck), otherwise if you are looking down, then your body will go head-down. Likewise, extending your arms forwards, or pulling them back, will impact upon your overall trim.
9. If your shoulder-hip-knee positioning is stable, then the position of your lower-legs/fins allows you to fine-tune your balance. However, there's no point getting focused on this aspect until your basic positioning is perfected.
10. Be aware that proper horizontal trim can actually feel like you are a little bit 'head-down'. Most divers get very used to being, more or less, head-up - so proper horizontal positioning can feel quite alien at first. You should be able to tuck your chin and see behind/below you - that's a weird sensation for many novice divers.
2. Cylinder positioning makes a big difference. Experiment with fitting the cylinder higher/lower within the cam band. Be aware that this positioning will need to be changed, if different cylinders are used.
3. Re-consider the use of heavy trim weights in the upper pockets of the BCD. These trim pockets help bring your head down. If you are too much head down, then you may have too much weight in the pockets.
4. Fit a second (lower) cam-band to the BCD, if you can. This will help control the effect of a buoyant AL cylinder. Many BCDs have the option to fit a second band, but don't come with one as standard.
5. Fit add-on trim weight pockets to that lower cam-band. You can buy pockets that fit onto the band with a loop. These bring weight marginally below your 'balance point', without the excessive re-distribution caused by using ankle weights.
6. Be aware of problems caused using integrated weight systems. On jacket BCDs these tend to hold the weights further from your torso and there can be a lot of movement/swing in the weights. Weight belts offer a more snug storage, directly against your torso without 'swing'.
7. Practice your body position for effective trim/hover. The shoulders, hips and knees should all be on the same level - requiring a back-arch (akin to 'freefall parachutists' posture). Typically, weakness in the stomach/hips tends to unravel this posture - leading to an 'arse-up/knees-down' body position that makes hovering much more problematic. It can take a while (multiple dives) for this position to start to feel natural - and to develop the muscles needed to hold it in a relaxed manner.
8. Consider your head and arm position when hovering. The body tends to follow the head, with respect to orientation. When horizontal you need to look forwards (bent neck), otherwise if you are looking down, then your body will go head-down. Likewise, extending your arms forwards, or pulling them back, will impact upon your overall trim.
9. If your shoulder-hip-knee positioning is stable, then the position of your lower-legs/fins allows you to fine-tune your balance. However, there's no point getting focused on this aspect until your basic positioning is perfected.
10. Be aware that proper horizontal trim can actually feel like you are a little bit 'head-down'. Most divers get very used to being, more or less, head-up - so proper horizontal positioning can feel quite alien at first. You should be able to tuck your chin and see behind/below you - that's a weird sensation for many novice divers.
