How to tell ascent rate without a dive computer or watch?

[fisherdvm]

I heard someone said something about watching bubbles? I count in my head and watch my depth gauge. As long as my ascent is not any faster than 1/2 of my count, I consider myself safe. One thousand one, one thousand two... etc.

 

[3-Ring Octopus]

You shouldn't be diving without a dive watch or computer...you need some device to time your bottom time, etc.

However, I was always taught that if you ascend no faster than your smallest bubbles, you'll be within 1'/second (even though the newer recommendation is 1'/2 secs...).

Cheers,
Austin

 

[fisherdvm]

Thanks, that's the answer I wanted to hear. When it is dark, you've got a dive light in one hand, a gauge in another, a dive watch is a little hard to track.... I am usually so conservative, that I am ascending much less than 30 fpm. Now I've got a dive computer, life is simpler.

 

[RICHinNC]

Just dont forget bubbles expand and accelerate. Saw a guy forget that one day and dang near jump out of the water.

I would say....watch the smallest bubbles from EACH breath and the newbies would have a better idea.

But then those that really know me know I am weird.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

I've always gone slower than my smallest bubbles.

 

[DennisW]

Rich, very good catch. You always go slower (much slower) than your smallest bubbles on each breath. That means the little teenie bubbles folks. That was the best measure we had in the days before dive computers. Well, except for timing your ascent. Hard to do with a camera, a light, a SPG, etc, etc, at night.

 

[ClayJar]

There's also the "shoot a bag and wind yourself in" method. I even have the line marked at safety stop depth. (I used a set of three small figure-eight knots, as even if the line somehow gets a tangle in it, it won't get three tangles with one-inch spacing.)

 

[jeckyll]

If you don't have a bag you can shoot, you can always watch the small particulate matter in the water for a visual reference.

For I generally do way less than 30 fpm once I get above 60 feet. Sometimes I take a minute just to get from 10 feet to 5 feet...

 

[GA Under Water]

Do you have a Depth guage? I would think that is a nessesity if you don't have a Computer. You need something to tell you how deep you are yes? That is what I watched before I got my comp.

 

[Charlie99]

Particles in the water are good for immediate feedback and controlling the instantaneous rate. If you are ascending as fast as bubbles, then you are going faster than optimum. If you routinely watch the junk in the water, you should find it pretty easy to hit 20-30fpm if you ascend horizontally using your lung buoyancy to control the ascent rate.

Depth/time waypoints are good for controlling the overall shape of ascent. If you're shooting for 30fpm and you've gone up 30', but a full minute hasn't gone by yet, then come to a halt until it does. Even easier when you slow to 10fpm or start doing stops --- just hang out at each 10' increment until the timer rolls over to the next minute.