peak performance buoyancy course w/ bp&w

[Trumptone]

I dive a back plate & wing and drysuit. I had a runaway ascent during my deep dive for PADI AOW. I'm thinking a peak performance buoyancy course would help, but am wondering if I should find an instructor for this course that actually uses a bp&w themselves. What do you guys think?

Thanks.

 

[decompression]

I teach a bouyancy course for several agencies and if I may, this one packs the absolute best bang for your buck.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

It really doesn't matter. The BC is a tool. A good instructor could teach buoyancy control using any BC and apply that knowledge to your use of a BPW. Buoyancy control is buoyancy control no matter what BC you use.

What I want to ask is did you take a good drysuit course before AOW?
How many dives did you have in before you signed up for AOW?
Were there any proficiency requirements of basic skills prior to being allowed to take the class?

Before I even accept a student for AOW I do a skills assessment in the pool and maybe even OW. I want to see good buoyancy and trim before you start the AOW class. Those are OW skills that you should have down first. If not then I require students to do a non certification workshop with me that is tailored to your needs.

 

[Trumptone]

It really doesn't matter. The BC is a tool. A good instructor could teach buoyancy control using any BC and apply that knowledge to your use of a BPW. Buoyancy control is buoyancy control no matter what BC you use.

What I want to ask is did you take a good drysuit course before AOW? I completed a padi drysuit course.
How many dives did you have in before you signed up for AOW? 8 total, and have only used this drysuit before in the drysuit course.
Were there any proficiency requirements of basic skills prior to being allowed to take the class? I took OW with the same instructor less than a year ago and I did a fun dive (used the drysuit) with them before starting the AOW training.

Before I even accept a student for AOW I do a skills assessment in the pool and maybe even OW. I want to see good buoyancy and trim before you start the AOW class. Those are OW skills that you should have down first. If not then I require students to do a non certification workshop with me that is tailored to your needs.

 

[Diver0001]

I dive a back plate & wing and drysuit. I had a runaway ascent during my deep dive for PADI AOW. I'm thinking a peak performance buoyancy course would help, but am wondering if I should find an instructor for this course that actually uses a bp&w themselves. What do you guys think?

Thanks.

The type of BCD you're using isn't going to be the issue.

However, there are vast ... and I mean ... VAST differences in the skills of individual instructors and nowhere does it show up as acutely as it does with the PPB specialty.

What you need to look for is (a) someone who has a LOT of diving experience. I don't think they necessarily need to be technical divers. I know some rec instructors with EPIC buoyancy control, but it takes a LOT of diving to get there and (b) someone who LIKES to teach this specific specialty.

Not the.... "oh HELL yeah... I LIKE that... I'll like WHATEVER you wanna do".

You want the instructor who says, "I LOVE this specialty because I get results that makes me feel good about being an instructor and makes my students "level up"".

Personally I really like running PPB. I have literally never met a diver I couldn't push and challenge in this course. No matter who you are coming in, you're going to feel more sorted at the end of it. Last year a student of mine wrote an email to the shop saying that I had literally transformed him from "someone who dives" into "a diver". I loved hearing that and every time a student says something like that it motivates me to go again and do it even better than the last time!

But I digress. Yes, you can have a lot of benefit from it but you need the right instructor.

Question: why did you have the runaway ascent? What happend? What was the trigger? Why couldn't you stop it?

gr,
R..

 

[Trumptone]

I don't why why it happened. It started around 55 feet and I didn't get it stopped until about 15 feet. It bugs the hell out of me that I don't know what started it.


I was thinking that someone with experience with bp&w would be better to help with different weight distribution techniques. I also have an issue with simply floating on the surface, the bp&w wants to push me forward. I read that switching weight to the tank will help, but want personal instruction with that.

 

[Diver0001]

T..

What were you doing immediately preceding and in the minutes before the event? Like a lot of things in life the seeds of failure were planted long before the event. If you think back from the point in time where you realized that you were no longer in control, what "chain of events" do you see?

As for your second comment. In the case of surface issues, it shouldn't be an issue. That's one of those things that's solved with one comment and one "oh yeah" moment. Again, the instructor will make the difference.

R..

 

[Marie13]

I also have an issue with simply floating on the surface, the bp&w wants to push me forward. I read that switching weight to the tank will help, but want personal instruction with that.

I got my BP/W the day between my two OW sessions. The second day is when I had my BP/W. Instructor (who uses one himself) told me to lean back and tread water with my legs. Made all the difference.

 

[Trumptone]

I got my BP/W the day between my two OW sessions. The second day is when I had my BP/W. Instructor (who uses one himself) told me to lean back and tread water with my legs. Made all the difference.

I tried this, but I kept moving and running into people. I was also being tilted to the left. I assume that was from slinging my pony on that side. I didn't tilt left under water though.

 

[gcarter]

I have no issue leaning back on my BP/W without having to kick / fin / whatever - so long as I do not put too much air into it. Try it with less air. You really don't need much.