Lake Rawlings

[cellmer@cox.net]

I have completed 3 of my 4 required dives for my ow certification. We had a group of 15-16 people including our instructors travel to Lake Rawlings for the day on October 10. Our instructors took us on 3 seperate dives and we had to perform certain skills on each dive. The water temp was 73 and visability was good. I have one open water dive left to complete for my ow certificate, but admit i still have alot to learn. I only have a problem with one skill and have practiced this over and over in the pool. I know this skill is easier when in deeper water, but when i try to remove my bc under water and put the bc back on i have one heck of a time staying down. I have a Scuba Pro Knighthawk bc with integrated weight system and when i take it off i start rising in the water. I can do the skill but it is just difficult because i loose my weight. Please help if you have any suggestions. I use 14 pounds of weight in my bc, 4 pounds is non-ditchable.

 

[Missdirected]

Heya and welcome to the board.

Your question would be better suited for the basic scuba forum - plus you'll get a lot more answers there. I'll ask a mod to move your thread for you

 

[Cave Diver]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Question moved to Basic Scuba

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[Cave Diver]

I know this skill is easier when in deeper water, but when i try to remove my bc under water and put the bc back on i have one heck of a time staying down. I have a Scuba Pro Knighthawk bc with integrated weight system and when i take it off i start rising in the water. I can do the skill but it is just difficult because i loose my weight. Please help if you have any suggestions. I use 14 pounds of weight in my bc, 4 pounds is non-ditchable.

It's reasons like this that many people choose to split their weight up between integrated and non integrated weights. You may wish to consider adding some of your weight to a weight belt to combat this issue.

Here is a thread dealing with this situation: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bu...eight-between-dumpable-fixed.html#post3083171

 

[it_mike]

Welcome Cellmer!

As was stated, your problem is because all of the lead you're wearing to offset the buoyancy of your wetsuit is in your BC. Take the BC off and...

Put on a weight belt, with say half your lead and your problem will go away.

Welcome to the sport, your next Lake Rawlings dive will be significantly colder. See you there!

BTW, I'll be there Oct. 24/25

 

[dkktsunami]

Welcome Cellmer!

As was stated, your problem is because all of the lead you're wearing to offset the buoyancy of your wetsuit is in your BC. Take the BC off and...

Put on a weight belt, with say half your lead and your problem will go away.

Welcome to the sport, your next Lake Rawlings dive will be significantly colder. See you there!

BTW, I'll be there Oct. 24/25

This technique will work but I would only wear the belt for certification then shift weight back. Another method would be to pull the bc, once removed, tight against your chest (with arms through the shoulder straps in reverse direction and around the tank). You would have to be hovering or swimming slowly to do this but this method will work. With a little practice you can remove bc while swimming, pull it around underneath you, keep swimming, then reverse the procedure. This could be done in a tight circle over a submerged dive platform. Good luck - just need a little practice.

 

[cellmer@cox.net]

Thanks for the thread. I read it and will give some of it a try in the pool.