position of the tank

[k374]

I watched this video of youtube and read some of the comments:

YouTube - How NOT to get into water from Boat

Now, I feel the position of the tank is way too low and incorrect as I was told in my course that the top of the tank should align with the top of the BCD. I usually put it just a slight bit lower so that I don't hit the back of my head against the tank. But a whole foot lower seems off to me, yet some of the comments seem to indicate there is no hard and fast rule about this.

What do you guys think?

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

What in life has a hard a fast rule, and if you come up with something is it really anything like "how should you position your tank?"

 

[Scubagolf]

If you don't bang the back of your head on the first stage and the tank stays in the tank strap you're OK.

 

[RJP]

What do you guys think?

The only "hard and fast" rule about tank position is that thinking there is only one proper tank position is a bad idea.

Fact of the matter is, altering tank position is often one of the best ways to optimize your trim in the water. It's a simple teeter-totter fulcrum idea. Feet dropping down? Slide the tank up towards your head a bit. Tend to go head down a bit while diving? Lower the tank towards your feet a little. Play with tank position and weight placement until you can effortlessly maintain a nice horizontal trim in the water column.

All that said, you typically do see folks wearing their tanks like the diver in the video. Not surprisingly you also typically see folks swimming at a 45deg angle and kicking the hell out of the reef. Accordingly -gun-to-my-head - I would say that in general "too low" is a bad idea.

EDIT:

To my point about the relationship between tank position and trim, if you look on the "Related Videos" to the one you showed you'll see that very same diver is perfectly VERTICAL in the water the entire time. Coincidence? (She's also got some issues with buoyancy control and propulsion techniques as well...)

 

[BabyDuck]

i would say if you're not touching your head to your tank, it's too low. but really, as long as you can reach your valve, you're in good shape.

 

[dkktsunami]

RJP is right on - tank position adjustment is one of the easiest and most effective ways to correct poor trim.

 

[AfterDark]

Back in the old days of double hose regs tank position was a big deal. The "correct" position allowed the reg to function at it's best. Low between the shoulder blades was where the reg needed to be.
Since the use of single hose regs it's no longer an issue. As others have said if you can reach your valve and not contact the valve / reg with your head when you look up your good. The BC control is a excellent point.

 

[paddler3d]

Changing the tank position is a virtual must to help nail down your trim.

If you really want to experience this, try diving with two different size tanks, something like HP-80's and then HP-130.

If you position the 130 like you would the 80, you're going to have a real hard time trying to get horizontal. This makes logical sense because the 130 is longer. If you position the tank the same as you would the 80, you're going to have much more of it over you're butt, therefore changing your center of gravity.

Tank position is one of those variables in trying to get yourself trimmed properly.

 

[k374]

yeah, thanks...that position of the tank explains her vertical orientation.

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

Being able to reach your tank valve is a basic safety issue and should be first priority.

Beyond that you should use your tank to correct trim. Low tanks are common, but are also a sign of bad technique. Although of course it is hard to see this for yourself. So offering constructive feedback may help.