sambolino44
Contributor
My buddy is under the impression that it's possible to set up your rig (by rig I mean the whole kit of dive gear including BC, weight belt, everything) so that your trim is completely neutral. What I mean by neutral trim is that there is no particular orientation that is predominate; in other words, whatever position you get into, it takes no effort to maintain that position - you don't have to resist flipping over.
I would love it if I could get there, but haven't been able to.
Not that I think it's impossible, just that I've never been able to attain it. I've tried several different ways of distributing my weights, including backplate weight plates, ankle weights, weights on the tank straps and around the valve, even small weights on the front of my shoulders.
It seems to me, that, with one of the most dense things (the steel cylinder) on your back, above everything else, the only way to "neutralize" your trim would be to put compensating weights equidistant from your Center of Gravity (CG), which would mean on your chest or belly.
Even then, the bubble (I wear a drysuit) is closer to your CG than your ballast is, and that can't be good.
A couple of years ago I really struggled with this; it seemed like I always had to fight to keep from flipping over on my back. I talked to people, adjusted my gear, etc. but basically ended up just resigning myself to the fact that I will have to expend a certain amount of effort (not much, but more than none) to maintain a nice, horizontal, face down trim. If I totally relax, I'll flip over onto my back.
In my previous quest for knowledge I learned that many people think their trim is neutral, but when I questioned them a bit further, most people revealed that they do, in fact, have to expend a certain amount of effort to keep from flipping over. I think it's similar to how people often don't realize they are finning; it's not much effort, and they've gotten so used to doing it they don't realize they're doing it.
We dive in cold water, with drysuits (wet hoods and dry gloves), steel backplates, weight belts, and steel cylinders. Our Force Fins are slightly negative, and I wear ankle weights.
Here's what I'd like to know from you guys:
1. Do you have neutral trim? If so, do you dive in cold water?
2. Do you wear weights that are located at the bottom when you are in your normal diving position?
3. How much effort does it take you to return to face-down, horizontal trim if you have gotten onto your back?
4. How much room to maneuver do you need to get back to face-down position? (I ask this because I only ever get discombobulated when I'm in a tight space, and have to try not to knock into everything getting back to trim)
I would love it if I could get there, but haven't been able to.
Not that I think it's impossible, just that I've never been able to attain it. I've tried several different ways of distributing my weights, including backplate weight plates, ankle weights, weights on the tank straps and around the valve, even small weights on the front of my shoulders.
It seems to me, that, with one of the most dense things (the steel cylinder) on your back, above everything else, the only way to "neutralize" your trim would be to put compensating weights equidistant from your Center of Gravity (CG), which would mean on your chest or belly.
Even then, the bubble (I wear a drysuit) is closer to your CG than your ballast is, and that can't be good.
A couple of years ago I really struggled with this; it seemed like I always had to fight to keep from flipping over on my back. I talked to people, adjusted my gear, etc. but basically ended up just resigning myself to the fact that I will have to expend a certain amount of effort (not much, but more than none) to maintain a nice, horizontal, face down trim. If I totally relax, I'll flip over onto my back.
In my previous quest for knowledge I learned that many people think their trim is neutral, but when I questioned them a bit further, most people revealed that they do, in fact, have to expend a certain amount of effort to keep from flipping over. I think it's similar to how people often don't realize they are finning; it's not much effort, and they've gotten so used to doing it they don't realize they're doing it.
We dive in cold water, with drysuits (wet hoods and dry gloves), steel backplates, weight belts, and steel cylinders. Our Force Fins are slightly negative, and I wear ankle weights.
Here's what I'd like to know from you guys:
1. Do you have neutral trim? If so, do you dive in cold water?
2. Do you wear weights that are located at the bottom when you are in your normal diving position?
3. How much effort does it take you to return to face-down, horizontal trim if you have gotten onto your back?
4. How much room to maneuver do you need to get back to face-down position? (I ask this because I only ever get discombobulated when I'm in a tight space, and have to try not to knock into everything getting back to trim)