Charlie99
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The key to buoyancy control in low viz is to have already developed good buoyancy control in good viz. If you are in the habit of going around negatively buoyant, finning at a slight angle to maintain depth, then you will have a very difficult time in low viz.
If you can just hang in mid water, do nothing, no finning, no hand waving, then you will find staying at a constant depth in low viz much easier. At ANY point in your dive, you should be able to stop finning and stay pretty much right at the depth you are at. If you haven't achieved this skill yet, then buoyancy in low viz will be very challenging.
You need to pay attention to the little cues you body gives you .... the feeling in your ears, and the feeling of water movement on your face or hands.
Another key is that, although you cannot see the bottom or the surface, you probably can see little tiny particles of gunk in the water. These give you an instant, realtime feedback on your vertical movement. Upcurrents/downcurrents could be moving the particles though, so for longer term feedback, look at your depth gauge.
When doing an ascent in low viz, it can be easier to change the ascent to a series of 10' moves and stops, rather than trying to do a very slow ascent. Just make it so that you take at least 30 seconds total time before moving up to the next 10' stop.
If you can just hang in mid water, do nothing, no finning, no hand waving, then you will find staying at a constant depth in low viz much easier. At ANY point in your dive, you should be able to stop finning and stay pretty much right at the depth you are at. If you haven't achieved this skill yet, then buoyancy in low viz will be very challenging.
You need to pay attention to the little cues you body gives you .... the feeling in your ears, and the feeling of water movement on your face or hands.
Another key is that, although you cannot see the bottom or the surface, you probably can see little tiny particles of gunk in the water. These give you an instant, realtime feedback on your vertical movement. Upcurrents/downcurrents could be moving the particles though, so for longer term feedback, look at your depth gauge.
When doing an ascent in low viz, it can be easier to change the ascent to a series of 10' moves and stops, rather than trying to do a very slow ascent. Just make it so that you take at least 30 seconds total time before moving up to the next 10' stop.
