New to BP-wing: upside-down

[Dani_diving]

Hi there,

I recently switched from a bcd to a BP-wing setup (single 35 lb golem rig with SS plate). I dive wet (long john 5 mm) with a 95 steel, and carry 12 lb weight in my belt. My buoyancy and trim have improved significantly since I switched and I am satisfied with the change. However, the other day I realized that, if I stop completely in the water, after some seconds I turn until I am upside down (face up - bottle down). My buoyancy does not change, but it is weird!

Is this normal? How can I avoid it?

Thanks

 

[theskull]

To fix this problem you must go back to diving with a BC.

theskull

(only joking , that is normal for diving with the weight of tank and BP behind you, shouldn't happen, though, if you remain perfectly horizontal with all the weight on top of you -- you will adapt pretty quickly to knowing how much you can tilt without rolling, and swimming face up once in a while is a very enjoyable experience too)

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

It sounds like you need to look at where you're positioning your weights

 

[abitton]

I'll chime in with Rapidiver...

You mention it happens when you stop completely: this may (I emphasize may) be because you are subconsciously compensating with a weight imbalance with your finning... Does this make sense?

Good luck!!

Alex

 

[Dani_diving]

Well, about weight placement:

Most of the weight is of course the bottle + 6 lb plate. In the belt, I have 10 lb on the front and 2 lb on the back. I could change 2 lb to the front also, would this help? Or should I change to an al backplate? I guess with steel doubles the problem needs to be there wherever you put the weighbelt and whatever plate you wear.

It is more a curiosity than an inconvenience. Should I just stop worrying?

 

[CIBDiving]

Well, about weight placement:
It is more a curiosity than an inconvenience. Should I just stop worrying?

No, your problem is called "trim", you can (probably) fix it.
Search for "trim" on this board thre are hundreds if not thousands of posts.

Basic problem is you have too much weight to high on your body, that is away from your waist. see how far down you can slide the bottle ( not so far you can't reach the valve underwater ). adust the harness to put the plate lower on your back. get the lead in front a little lower ( below your waist) ect.

 

[Charlie99]

if I stop completely in the water, after some seconds I turn until I am upside down (face up - bottle down).

Is this normal? How can I avoid it?

I had that problem the first time I tried a BP/W (Thanks, Kidspot!).

I ended up having to overweight a bit and have it all on the front. Were I to get a plate, it would have to be aluminum so that I could move enough to the front to keep from getting flipped when shallow and little or no air in the wing.

 

[abitton]

Should I just stop worrying?

Everything else being equal, yes.

Enjoy diving. Don't sweat the small stuff.

A.

 

[H2Andy]

yes, another vote for trim as the issue here

you need to rethink your weight/item placement until you can stop and remain
in the same attitude, without rolling or pitching over

it's a fun process... in the end, you'll feel a lot more at ease in the water

one question: do you find that you are "paddling" with your hands a lot? if so,
that's because you're probably compensating for your off trim.

a great benefit of getting your trim right is that the need to "paddle" goes away
real fast.

 

[Dani_diving]

Many thanks for all your responses. I believe the problem is the trim. I was using a short 12 liter faber that is quite short, therefore all the weight was on the upper part of the body. I did not have to "paddle" at all with my hands, but still I would like to improve it. Guess it's time to buy a bottle, since the rental ones are all the short, fat type.