How do you descend/ head up or down?

[ScubaTexas]

Now I am thinking of going to dive in Cozumel and at least one dive company I have spoken with says they don't use decsent lines.

In regard to Cozumel, there are currents and you will be drift diving. The strength of the currents vary from site to site. My limited experiences have been that in Cozumel everyone rolls off the boat at the same time and the goal is to get down as quick as safely possible to avoid the current causing you to overshoot the dive site. Everyone approaches the decent a little different but if free falling (rather than finning down - head first) the best approach is to reduce drag as much as possible by let all air out of your BC and bending your knees and tucking your feet/fins up behind you....essentially going knees first to cut the water and reduce drag caused by your fins. If you have trouble equalizing your ears, then this quick, low drag approach may not work well for you. The same goes for head down, finning technique; some people find it more difficult to equalize in a head down position. You might tell the DM about your slow equalization and then he can direct the captain to select a drop site a little further up current from the target site on the bottom/depth level so that your slow decent will put the group where the DM wants to be when you get down.

 

[DI_Guy]

So far, everywhere I dive there is a stiff current, so I get horizontal as soon as possible. ( Maybe feet first for the first 10' ). I am looking forward to a dive with no current (lol)

 

[jbd]

I descend in a horizontal position and taught my students to do the same. Visibility and familiarity with the site determine my personal rate of descent although it will mostly be based on who I am diving with as to the actual rate.

A lot of the diving in Cozumel is drift diving so you will amke a "free" descent to a prescribed depth and then let the current carry you along.

IMHO the nice thing about the horizontal position for descents is that it is much easier to see the bottom or the object you are looking for if you are wreck diving.

 

[scubaculture]

For me it depends on the conditions, often on the Shoal there is a stiff current so we all do a negative entry and descend as quick as possible.

I find that going down heads first is not uncomfortable and I have no equalising problems so I have no problems doing it.

I do prefer the horizontal descent though if conditions allow. I also descend feet first if I have students in the water.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

I go head-down for the first 10 or so feet till wetsuit compression makes me non-neutral (?) then I go to horizontal position with my knees bent up.

 

[Azotomix]

If already in the water I do the first meter down with feet, than I flip and go down with the head for a couple of meter then horizontal…

If from boat, like done during cruise in the Brother’s island (Red Sea), in order to fight easier the currents directly from boat down with the head till the reef.

 

[Rick Murchison]

what is the best way to descent(sic)

"The safest and easiest" descent is the best descent. Some folks find it easier to descend feet first for ear clearing purposes; some like to descend horizontally, drifting down like a leaf. Many spearos use a swimming descent, head first.
In Cozumel, I've been known to drift down upside down & backwards, just for fun and entertainment for the group.
Bottom line... don't get wrapped around the axle over the specifics of your descent method. Use what works.
That said, I'd try the horizontal descent first, as it gives the best overall combination of ear clearing posture, visibility below and rate control for most folks, and it looks "professional" too!
Rick

 

[DORSETBOY]

head up when teaching as it's easier to equalize and that's what you want your students to take esp care with!

When diving in strong currents I dive head first, also have done this when fun diving with a busy dive shop to get down first and avoid the crowds

 

[MikeFerrara]

Depends:

When I am instructing I will descend head up kicking slightly to "swim" down in control for the benefits of the students so they can see proper descent technique to control their ascents and prevent ear squeeze.

But when I am diving for myself it is more of a skydiver free fall position, but my rate of descent is still slow and controlled.

If you think that the first descent that you described is proper, why don't you use it when you're without students. Who says it's proper?

On the other hand, if you find that a horizontal (skydiver position) makes for a better descent why not teach it?

A horizontal descent/ascent put you in the best position to control movement in all directions making it much easier to maintain distance from your buddy or get to him if you need to.

 

[wstein]

I usually go down feet first. My left ear is usually slow to equalize, so I take it so and easy going down watching my gauges.

Paul