Newbie question???

[blueflipper]

I have a strange problem.

I noticed that there are a few divers who have problems getting their buoyancy right on their legs (feet) and their upper bodies. I seem to have the exact opposite problem from most of them, where if I am in shallow water my feet tend to shoot up to the surface, whilts I am fine with keeping my upper body under water.

What a sight this must be

I have thought of ankle weights, but I am worried that this would be uncomfortable and make my legs tired whilts swimming.

I have a TUSA selene BC with back pockets, each with one weight - use bright weights on belt as well as tank weights.

What am I doing wrong?

Help

Blueflipper
:huh:

 

[RJP]

Strange as it may seem, you may be OVERweighted. Or at a minimum, MISweighted.

I would not suggest ankle weights, as they merely treat the symptom, while the problem rolls merrily along.

Proper bouyancy and trim are essential for diving, but they are not instant skills. Take some time with it. You may try a few things designed to elminate some of the weight you have as well as shift it a bit.

- lower your tank in your BC, shifting your overall weight lower/towards your feet.
- if the weight on your tank is on the valve, ditch it or move it further south
- consider heavier fins, Jets or Turtles
- consider thinner/lower cut booties

I struggled with floaty feet when I first started, but was quickly able to overcome the problem with the above strategies.

Ray

 

[simbrooks]

I agree with the above suggestions regarding weight placement, it might also be nice to do this on a practice dive with your buddy (if they are more experienced and well trimmed then all the better) where you do nothing but play with weighting. I have had some of my more comical dives in up to 12 feet of water trying to move weights around so i wouldnt go head over heels or roll one way or the other depending on where the weights were. I am sure it was fun to watch too Just descend, get neutral, dont move, just breath and see where you go, adjust and try again. After you burn a bit of your tank you can always play around in the same area or just scratch that tank, grab another and head off for the next dive well-trimmed and hopefully more satisfying dive!!

BTW what kind of suit are you wearing in SA?

 

[blueflipper]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

I will definitely try all the options and see what happens. This is something I need to get right before I attempt doing my DM and Instructors courses.

Simon - I dive with a ZERO 5mm long and 5mm short over it in SA. Our water temp is +/- 10 to 14 degrees at best on the Indian Ocean side and drops to 3 degrees on the Atlantic side.

No your typical tropical paradise, but truly unique and beautifull to see and experience.

Thanks a mil.

 

[DandyDon]

Howdy and welcome to SB!

Good to have you here. Click here to PM me if I can help you get started in our various forums.

:cowboy2: don

 

[simbrooks]

I will definitely try all the options and see what happens. This is something I need to get right before I attempt doing my DM and Instructors courses.

Simon - I dive with a ZERO 5mm long and 5mm short over it in SA. Our water temp is +/- 10 to 14 degrees at best on the Indian Ocean side and drops to 3 degrees on the Atlantic side.

No your typical tropical paradise, but truly unique and beautifull to see and experience.

Well with that config of suit i would think you wouldnt be too foot floaty. Not being one to wear that kind of config, i wouldnt be able to give you an idea of what i would wear, but just play with it a bit. Its best to get this down now rather than keep struggling with it!! Also just take some time to enjoy diving before doing professional courses, while you'll learn a lot, you may not get all of it out that you might like to if you are still doing things like playing with your buoyancy.

 

[ChrisA]

IS the problem greater of wrost near the end of the dive? an AL80 tank will change it's weight by about 5 pounds as you breath the air down and the effect of trim would be as if you removed a 5 pound weight fromthe tank's center.

One thing I've seen that is a sure cure is to stuff a weight inside the tank boot. This puts the weight as far aft as it will go. One other thing is to switch to heavy fins like Jets. If you have an integrated weight BC maybe put some of that weight into a weight belt.

But moving the undichable weight from the BC's pckets to the tank boot should make for a drastic rim change

 

[blueflipper]

Thanks once again Simon & Chris,

Chris you have a point - I always struggle with this more at the end of my dives.

Will look into both of your suggestion and keep you posted.

Regards

Blueflipper

 

[tstormdiver]

Wow! some good ideas. I tend to have "floaty feet" also. I thought (there I go thinking again) that it was because of the 7mm boots I wear, but I'm beginning to understand that it may be the way my weight is distributed. I do mostly quarry diving, so thick boots are a must for warmth, until the day I win the lottery & can afford a good dry suit. For diving below 40', the temperature is 38- 45 degrees year round, so I use a 2pc. 6.5mm suit with hood & gloves to match. I typically have to wear about 30# of weight just to be able to submerge (& that is with either pulling myself down or having to swim downwards until the air squeezes out of the suit. I have an integrated weight system and tend to put the alotted 14# in the front pockets, 10# in the non ditchable pockets, 4# in the regualr BC pockets & 2# ankle weights. It looks like I should lighten up the non- ditchable weight on my back (high up near shoulders) and start using a weight belt again (the only problem is that my body really compresses at depth & I've had a couple of bad situations with the belts either trying to go around my ankles or the belt spinning around backwards on me) to take the heavier weights & put them in my weight belt towards the front (buckle) & forgo the ankle weights. I may try it this weekend. Thanks for the suggestions. Now I won't look so silly with those bright yellow ankle weights.

 

[scubaaaronh]

My wife had the same problem, were told by a couple diff shops that she would need ankle weights, that women typically have this problem(don't know if its true), One shop siad its the BC and he would sell us a new BC and steel tanks(trying to make a sale i think, her bc had three dives on it) put 1.5 lb ankle weights on and no problem. she can now achieve prefect bouyancy, and knocked three pounds off her bc. When we did AOW this last weekend another woman was complaining about the same problem and the instructor said typically women have this problem and need ankle weight. Don't konw if its true but thats what i had overheard in thier conversation.

If its at the end of your dives redo your weight check with a tank near 500 psi