I keep tipping

[scuba_frog]

Also you can see if your BC can accomodate trim pockets. These attach to your BC alonside the outside of your tank. My pockets can hold up to 5 lb per side. Add a little weight there if your CG is off front to back. That might just do the trick. Just be sure to account for this weight when you load up your integrated system. You don't want to be a rock in the water.

 

[RBachman]

It sounds like your weight is off and/or you haven't developed a comfort level yet. More often than not novice divers will use too much weight. This combined with an over-inflated BC (and/or improperly sized BC) to compensate will aggravate the trim problems you're describing. Work with your instructor. He/she should be able to assist you in proper weighting, proper placement of weights and BC selection. Also, with practice you'll gain more and more control and comfort.

 

[Sue-ba]

I had problems with tipping a couple of times during my certification and then again when I got my new BC. Always, it is a poor weight distribution problem. With a belt, it is easy to figure out that if all the weights are in one place, you are going to list that direction. Integrated weights on my BC took a little longer to figure out. Definitely, putting weight in the back pockets is a good idea in a back float BC.
Good luck getting it worked out.

 

[Seabear70]

How much weight are you using?

I ask this because when I first started diving, I had trouble maintaining any kind of stability. what I eventually found out was that this was due to carrying too much weight.

Think of it like this. Your BCD is just a bubble that you are carrying. Due to the way it is built and the natural physics of diving, it is going to rise to the highest point it can find. As you move, that bubble will shift and resist movement. As you get past that point of resistance, the air can suddenly shift causing you to overcompensate. In a wrap arround bladder, a jacket BCD, this is worse due to the shape of the bladder.

When I finally got my weighting figured out, I was using less, or no air at all in my BC, and so that instability problem lessened to the point where my skills could develop to correct for the problem.

I now use a back inflate unit, Not a backplate wing, but the next best thing, and I have no problems maintaining stability, but that is likely due to the design of the BCD and the proper weighting.

Anyway, that's my 2psi on the subject.

 

[H2Andy]

absolutely.

the less weight you carry, the easier it will be on your trim.

also, the less drag you will have, so you'll spend less energy and waste less gas.

less weight = more wholesome goodness

 

[Xanthro]

Just did my first confined water, and tipping was the only problem I had.

Seems my feet wanted to float upwards at all times. I could usually keep them under me, but past a certain point, and I'll roll. Was actually kind of fun, but wasn't what I was working on.

Xanthro

 

[H2Andy]

xanthro, you've been giving me grief and you haven't even finished your training?



i see a bright future for you on this board

actually, your problem might be that you have too much
weight up top, or it could be that your fins are too bouyant
(some are). you might try some negatively bouyant fins and
see if that helps.

resist ankle weights like the plague.

 

[Xanthro]

xanthro, you've been giving me grief and you haven't even finished your training?



i see a bright future for you on this board

actually, your problem might be that you have too much
weight up top, or it could be that your fins are too bouyant
(some are). you might try some negatively bouyant fins and
see if that helps.

resist ankle weights like the plague.

I only give grief on physics questions. :10:

At first, I had too much weight, but we fixed that. I think you may be right about the fins. I have pretty small feet, but the medim fin was just a bit too small, so they suggested the large. I think I may need the medium.

Either that, or my head has grown in weight.

Xanthro