No air left. Unable to do controlled ascent!

[Thalassamania]

I agree with you Bob, I further believe that training should include items like how to properly conduct a buoyant ascent so that you're not trying it blind.

 

[scubette]

Think the smartest thing you did was 'fess up and ask for advice on this - you sure got it! I learned a lot reading rather than living the experiences of others as I'm sure we all did. Thanks for your post.

You're welcome. I purposely posted it because I am not afraid of or shy away from being critiqued. I made my post for that reason. And while I am receptive to the constructive feedback, I am also glad to hear all of the positive comments as well.

 

[Lj82]

I agree with you Bob, I further believe that training should include items like how to properly conduct a buoyant ascent so that you're not trying it blind.

We did this in our NAUI advance scuba diver class, was it not part of the syllabus? I am not sure if our instructor added this skill to teach us or if it is part of the syllabus.

He made us use our BCD to initiate an ascent and flaring open to slow down the ascent. Is this the "bouyant ascent" you are talking about?

 

[Thalassamania]

I mean full, flat out, drop of weight belt while wearing either a full wet suit or a dry suit.

 

[Lj82]

I mean full, flat out, drop of weight belt while wearing either a full wet suit or a dry suit.

Ok, we didn't drop the weight belt. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Buzoferoz]

Does your instructor facilitate a manual for that course??

 

[edm81363]

If you do end up having your computer tested for accuracy, make sure they check it at both 3000psi and 500psi. I'm much more interested in having my gauge read correctly at the end of a dive...

 

[AbyssalPlains]

My instructor taught us to use the drysuit for buoyancy control, not the BCD. That's probably why my buoyancy was out of control and used up alot of air.

Basic misunderstanding here. For your buoyancy, it doesn't matter whether the air you are using to increase your volume underwater is in your BC or in your drysuit. Therefore, whether you use your suit or your BC for buoyancy control, the amount of air you spend on that is exactly the same.

Second, while some people (including me) believe in using the drysuit as the sole means of buoyancy control and the BC for backup only, that does not mean you CAN'T use your BC AND your drysuit if that works better for you.

Third, if your buoyancy was out of control when using the drysuit for buoyancy control and not the BC, you were most likely overweighted. When weighted right, adjusting your buoyancy should feel the same regardless of whether you are using your drysuit or your BC.

 

[AfterDark]

Buddy Breathing was dropped. With an octopus (alternate air source) you might perform a alternate air source ascent, which the OP accomplished in fine fashon. If PADI were to drop the requirement for an alternate air source, then they would have to start teaching buddy breathing. Just sayin'.

OK I guess a few of us didn't read or retain all of what was in her postings. Here's is what I was responding to concerning buddy breathing and octp.:
SCUBETTE wrote in her original post: Didn't know what to do. My gut took over and I made a last ditch effort and swam down about 8ft to my buddy and grabbed his alternate air. I know I wasn't suppose to swim back down, but I had to, to essentially save my own life.
She didn't buddy breathe
In another post she wrote: I've read all the replies about what my instructor has said to me. His reasoning why is that PADI has done away with "buddy breathing" and he told me that since I swam back down to get air, I had put my buddy at risk and in harms way and I shouldn't have done that. I beg to differ as I needed air because I had no air to exhale while ascending and he had enough air for the both of us. I know when we made it to the surface, my buddy attempted to inflate my bcd by way of my octo but there was nothing left in the tank.

So if her PADI instructor told her PADI dropped buddy breathing and she was breathing from her buddies ocpt. I put 2 + 2 together and surmised that
PADI must consider using your buddies octp "buddy breathing". Hence, I asked if PADI was going to drop the octp requirement. I know what buddy breathing is I've done it for real once in a OOA situation. I said it mostly tongue in cheek and to show that her instructor probably doesn't know what he's talking about, but I guess it was too subtle. Just thought I'd clear that up.
One more thought alternate air supply the way I understand the word alternate would be another tank and reg. An octp. is a alternate 2nd stage.

 

[Wookie]

OK I guess a few of us didn't read or retain all of what was in her postings. Here's is what I was responding to concerning buddy breathing and octp.:
SCUBETTE wrote in her original post: Didn't know what to do. My gut took over and I made a last ditch effort and swam down about 8ft to my buddy and grabbed his alternate air. I know I wasn't suppose to swim back down, but I had to, to essentially save my own life.
She didn't buddy breathe
In another post she wrote: I've read all the replies about what my instructor has said to me. His reasoning why is that PADI has done away with "buddy breathing" and he told me that since I swam back down to get air, I had put my buddy at risk and in harms way and I shouldn't have done that. I beg to differ as I needed air because I had no air to exhale while ascending and he had enough air for the both of us. I know when we made it to the surface, my buddy attempted to inflate my bcd by way of my octo but there was nothing left in the tank.

So if her PADI instructor told her PADI dropped buddy breathing and she was breathing from her buddies ocpt. I put 2 + 2 together and surmised that
PADI must consider using your buddies octp "buddy breathing". Hence, I asked if PADI was going to drop the octp requirement. I know what buddy breathing is I've done it for real once in a OOA situation. I said it mostly tongue in cheek and to show that her instructor probably doesn't know what he's talking about, but I guess it was too subtle. Just thought I'd clear that up.
One more thought alternate air supply the way I understand the word alternate would be another tank and reg. An octp. is a alternate 2nd stage.

I've found that on website chatboards, communication is very limited because tone, emphasis, and inflection of voice are missing. Emoticons can help with that. Bost board members know that if you are being sarcastic, a wink ( ) works well to convey the sarcasm, a grin ( ) when you aren't really conveying that you think the poster is stupid, and raised eyebrows ( ) for conveying tongue-in-cheek statements. Sorry for assuming you didn't know what a BB ascent was.

Frank