my bouyancy sucks, going to take a private session, HELP!

[smokin3000gt]

It's not the OP's fault if he was certified without having met standards. When I finished my OW class, I had never successfully executed a descent without hanging onto something -- either a line, or my instructor. I got certified anyway. I didn't know the standards required that I do a descent without tactile reference, and I didn't know it was dangerous not to be able to do it, because honestly, I just hadn't given such things a great deal of thought. I had confidence that my instructor felt that my performance was good enough for an entry level diver and probably figured things would improve with time.

He's here asking questions and asking for advice (and apparently appreciating it), so rather than beat on him some more, why don't we all just keep helping? Maybe the textbooks aren't as appealing or accessible to him as the little tips on line. Who knows? At least he's looking to improve, and we should not discourage that.

I agree he's been whipped enough behind the shed, he gets it but let's not make excuses for the guy. It wasn't his fault? It's as much his fault as anyone's. If he is that far off on buoyancy, descending, and understanding then he should have brought it up and talked to the instructor before wrapping up class. I'm sure they would have worked more with him. Text books aren't appealing to most anyone, and if he had one in his hands then it was just as accessible to him as anyone else.

Mango, a lot of great advice above. First thing is get your weight right and dialed in. Once you get there, pay attention on your next dive(s) whether you're diving with a heads up or feet up attitude. If you're not horizontal then move weight around (depending on your BC). If you still can't get trim then try moving the air tank up or down. Try tweaking your rig a little bit each dive until it's 'just right'. One bit of advice given to me during my OW class was to fill out your log book. Not so much for the stamps, but more importantly keep notes of your gear, how much weight you dove with, where you had it, and how it felt. If you shave some weight and you felt 'light' at the end of the dive make sure you note that. Then you'll know next time to definitely don't remove anymore weight and maybe even add a pound. Check your weight at the end of the dive and see how the weight feels. If it's good then note in your log that you added however much and how it felt. It's so nice to be able to look at your log book before loading up for a dive and knowing how much weight is the perfect weight.

Once you get those two things squared away you won't believe how much easier it is to dive, ascend, descend, and be neutral. Then be careful because if you think you like diving now, you'll absolutely love it when you get the hang of it. In the mean time, read everything in the books (which I'm sure you've done by now) then come back to scuba board and search "buoyancy" and "trim" and a ton of great threads will come up. Read everything you can get your hands on then when you do your class you will most likely take more away from it and be a better diver all around.

Sorry you got kicked around a little bit but only because buoyancy is so important and no one wants to see you get hurt or bent. Good luck with class and please be sure to come back and let us know how it went! I have a feeling you'll have your "AH HA!" moment and have it figured out in the next few dives. Have fun and be safe!

 

[mangoconchile]

Glad you are here asking questions but you're still just looking for the cheat sheet which ain't good in a life threatening sport like this.

Its not really a cheat sheet, just a few things to remember and go over with the instructor.

 

[UrbanJungle1966]

I'm only a 35 logged dive diver and a 20 ish playing around but I have my PADI Rescue certification. Scary really when you think about it . Buoyancy is a bit of a b%tch when you are first starting especially when you don't have all your own gear. I just finished a dive trip over to Bali and using different tanks at each place made for some interesting first dives . Took me two dives to get the tank in the right place so I didn't go feet down when resting in a hover.

All I can add or reiterate to all the above posts is to get out there and dive. Doing 2 - 3 dives a day for a week really accelerates things so maybe if you can try to get in at least a couple of dives every week and if possible find a nice sandy spot around the 3 - 5 metre mark and just play around.

I know this is a bit wrong but figured I am an accomplished swimmer and snorkeller and not an idiot, ok and I was bored so when I was in Bali I went out by myself in 3 meters of water twice and just went through all skills over and over again until I was happy with them. Things like taking off my bcd, moving weights around until I was happy with the placement, dropping weights etc. I got a lot out of doing that plus it was fun. Even doing stupid things like summersaults and trying to stay at the same depth, swimming backward with fins only, swimming upside down etc all the time trying to stay withing a 1 metre range.

I also used a digital hand scale to make sure my weights were what they say they are. They were quite a bit off so I moved things around to make them as even as possible. I am getting there but have a long way to go before I will be accomplished enough to do what I really want to do and dive by myself.

 

[Frosty]

It's not the OP's fault if he was certified without having met standards.
He's here asking questions and asking for advice (and apparently appreciating it), so rather than beat on him some more, why don't we all just keep helping? Maybe the textbooks aren't as appealing or accessible to him as the little tips on line. Who knows? At least he's looking to improve, and we should not discourage that.

Hey TS and M It isn't very often I disagree with you but I do on this subject. I genuinely feel that the OP needs to start again with the basic books.
It comes across (perhaps incorrectly) He has missed not only the how to but also the why to (or not to) do some basic skills.
Allocating blame isn't important.Its not about beating up on the OP and or -"looking down on high"
Getting the OP able to dive as safely as possible surely is.
What genuinely concerns me is that there are holes in the OP's basic dive knowledge they are now aware of. Its the holes in their knowledge they AREN'T aware of that are the big danger.
So I stand by my advice to the OP 100% .Go back to the books and reread them.
Incidently. I bet that in rereading having been in the water the information is going to make a heck of a lot more sense to the OP.