Info How descend properly?

[johndiver999]

how fast?

 

[Boarderguy]

how fast?

Ricky Bobby fast

 

[RobPNW]

Ricky Bobby fast

If you ain't first, you're last.

 

[Joneill]

how fast?

Fast enough to hit where I needed to be and not get blown off - I don’t time my descents like you seem to?

 

[Celt]

Getting underwater is the first thing I learned, and I practice it every time.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Start equalizing before you go to bed at night and first thing upon awaking, on your way to the dive site and just before you roll, then, of course, early and often upon descent.

 

[clownfishsydney]

I must say, in almost 5,000 dives, I have always descended head first and have never seen a buddy descend feet first.

 

[rongoodman]

The problem with descending feet first is that any inadvertent movement of your feet is going to be pushing you right back up toward the surface.

 

[johndiver999]

Fast enough to hit where I needed to be and not get blown off - I don’t time my descents like you seem to?

Thanks, I have noted the time for descents in some videos, since I was curious. I honestly prefer to casually sink, after several kicks to get the descent started. If there is a small and defined target, that needs to be hit, then I can descend at over 100 fpm without trying too hard.

Relying on carrying excess lead to allow yourself to sink very rapidly in a feet first position, (as you seem to do) presents it's own set of consequences (that can be avoided if kicking straight down is not used). Of course, the most important issue is to not harm your ears, so safe equalization should be the prime consideration not speed. Never the less, head first descents are going to be faster, require less effort and are used by many experienced divers.

Also, it should be mentioned that I think it is easier to descend in a more vertically direction when head down than it is to sink feet first, because you can often see a target on the bottom and the ability to streamline yourself. Being able to descend vertically and directly and rapidly is a very important skill that takes time and practice for freedivers to develop and this skill transfers over to accomplished scuba divers pretty directly.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I must say, in almost 5,000 dives, I have always descended head first and have never seen a buddy descend feet first.

Interesting

Never?

I too descend head first but most others I see descend feet first, initially.