How was your transition from jacket to BP?
- Thread starter Skinsfan1311
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dumpsterDiver
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I was out diving again with my new BP/W (30 lb lift from dive rite) using a 5mm wetsuit. I was comercial diving for Florida lobsters, carrying a slightly negative scooter, a gun, a pole spear and hand net and also a bag with a dozen or so (somewhat negative) bugs and a few bleeding fish). I was doing my deco stop and thinking hard about a friend who (only a few days before) had to literally beat a hammerhead with his gun half a dozen times before it left him and his fish alone. I know that the tech guys say its best to hang horizontal while on the stops, but I'm finding it pretty uncomfortable.
I have no problem diving perfectly horizontal on the bottom, but when doing the solo deco stop with bleeding fish, I like to keep an eye out for the tax collector. With my new wing, I really had to fight to keep my head up to see what was around me in the water column. This caused a significant neck stain after a few minutes. I never realized that having a BC put you face down makes this so difficult. If I maintain a more vertical attitude I can see much more of the water column and certainly can rotate around easily if need be. I could force my body into a vertical position with the BP/W , but this required a constant gentle finning which was not fun, as soon as I stop..I'm comfortably hanging face down again (with my head in the sand, so to speak). Very few shark encounters for me occur when the shark comes up vertically in the water column. They like to come in behind you at the same depth is seems. Hanging vertical allows me to spin nearly instantaneously 180 degrees to watch my back, being horizontal doesn't.
Anyone feel the same? You may well see a nearly new diverite BP harness and wing for sale soon.
I have no problem diving perfectly horizontal on the bottom, but when doing the solo deco stop with bleeding fish, I like to keep an eye out for the tax collector. With my new wing, I really had to fight to keep my head up to see what was around me in the water column. This caused a significant neck stain after a few minutes. I never realized that having a BC put you face down makes this so difficult. If I maintain a more vertical attitude I can see much more of the water column and certainly can rotate around easily if need be. I could force my body into a vertical position with the BP/W , but this required a constant gentle finning which was not fun, as soon as I stop..I'm comfortably hanging face down again (with my head in the sand, so to speak). Very few shark encounters for me occur when the shark comes up vertically in the water column. They like to come in behind you at the same depth is seems. Hanging vertical allows me to spin nearly instantaneously 180 degrees to watch my back, being horizontal doesn't.
Anyone feel the same? You may well see a nearly new diverite BP harness and wing for sale soon.
MSilvia
Contributor
When I want to stay vertical in the water column, I straighten my legs as much as possible to act as a downward lever against the fulcrum of bouyancy that is my plate, tank, wing, and lungs. Try it out and see if that helps.dumpsterDiver:
That notwithstanding, when I'm horizontal and want to look behind me, I often find it easiest to look down between my legs instead of up over my shoulder. I can quickly get a view of everything behind and below me, but looking behind and above often finds me having to turn or roll slightly.
dumpsterDiver, I also dive the Dive Rite SS plate - with a RecWing - and didn't have any problems with about the same thermal protection and 4 lbs on the weight belt. Didn't have a scooter or goodie bag. It felt perfect from the first dive and I'm very surprised anything would work so well from the get-go. I can hang vertically anytime I wish with no problem. I don't care for the RecWing as I had to become vertical and roll to get the last bit of air out of it. I'm going to try it with the Venture Wing soon. What wing did you use: Venture or Travel?
MSilvia
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Great post Diver0001!Diver0001:
*Floater*
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dumpsterDiver:
My gf had a similar problem with a jacket bcd when wearing positively buoyant fins.
If you get your weighting right so that your hips are your center of gravity, then pushing your legs out and inhaling should take you to the vertical position. Of course it help to have heavy, negatively buoyant fins or ankle weights.
dumpsterDiver
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I have the new 30-lb venture wing and use aluminum and steel tanks. I wore 8 lbs lead for both the Al 100 and a 108 and 121 LP steel tanks the other day. I use an Aliminum plate; not SS because in warm water I will need no lead with the steels and don't want to be excessively heavy. I could have used less weight with the Al tank, but didn't feel like messing with the belt during the day. Also when diving in currents over 2 kts, it is somewhat beneficial to be heavy so you can work on the bottom without getting blown away.
I was wearing large freedive fins, which are much more efficient for swimming than my SP XL jet fins. I won't use ankle weights except for stationary work on the bottom.
Thanks for the suggestions.
I was wearing large freedive fins, which are much more efficient for swimming than my SP XL jet fins. I won't use ankle weights except for stationary work on the bottom.
Thanks for the suggestions.
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