Problems with Descents..

[Hooked4Life]

I have been having problems on decesents without using a descent line. When using a descent line, I have no issues at all. When not using a descent line, I have problems getting past 10 feet doing a vertical descent. To give a background on my equipment:

Sherwood Freedom BC, Dacor 7Mil (farmer john) wet suit, Faber 112 Steel Tank, (2) 5lbs lbs Integrated Ditchable weight, (2) 2 lbs Integrated Trim Weight, (2) 2lb Ankle Weights - 18 lbs total. I am 6'1 and 165 lbs.

I have done a total of 17 dives, and the above setup is being used in a FW quarry. The wetsuit has a total of 10 dives. I am assuming that the wet suit being so new may be part of the issue. With the weight that I use, I feel very comfortable with my bouyancy, but I wanted to see a higher opinion.

Thanks,

 

[Walter]

What are your problems?

 

[Hooked4Life]

Walter once bubbled...
What are your problems?

The problem is I can not get past 10 feet without using a descent line. I constantly bob back up to the surface slowly.

 

[scubaspider]

Hi, I'm not a higher opinion, but I weigh the same as you...well 3 lbs. more and I have/had the same problem as you do. I would wear a 23 lbs weight belt when i had this problem and now i added 2more lbs. to equal 25lbs. in my belt and havent had a problem since w/ decending.

So, I would try maybe a lb or 2 more.




:spider:

 

[hodgson]

Are you saying that you hit 10 feet and then stop descending? If so add a couple of pounds. A new wetsuit has a lot of trapped nitrogen. As they get older they lose some bouyancy. They will also lose some bouyancy at depth from compression.

I just reread your post..... are you pulling yourself down the line until you become neutrally bouyant? If so add weight. The end of the dive could be an accident waiting to happen if you don't.

 

[Walter]

Talk me through it. How do you get to 10 ft? How does it differ when you use a descent line?

 

[MikeFerrara]

If you can get to ten feet the rest is easy. Think abot it the suit has compressed and you're less buoyant.

Keep your feet still. I see many new divers who descend feet first start kicking and swim right back to the surface. Don't kick until you're horizontal.

 

[Freestyler]

It sounds like you need to add more weight. Add a couple more pounds. and see if you go down easier.

Then the best way to test to see if you have the proper amount of weight is this: When you have 500lbs of air left and you let all the air out of your BC you should be neutrally bouyant at 15 feet deep.

Hope this helps.

 

[scubaspider]

A rule of thumb my dive instructor told me to figure out how much weight is take 10% of ur body weight then add 5 lbs. to that.

So, if u weigh 165 lbs. = 16.5 (round up)=17 lbs. + 5lbs. =22lbs. for your weight belt.


Diving in salt water is different...sorry, i dont know the equation for that.

 

[MikeFerrara]

scubaspider once bubbled...
Hi, I'm not a higher opinion, but I weigh the same as you...well 3 lbs. more and I have/had the same problem as you do. I would wear a 23 lbs weight belt when i had this problem and now i added 2more lbs. to equal 25lbs. in my belt and havent had a problem since w/ decending.

So, I would try maybe a lb or 2 more.




:spider:

No more weight. Just for reference. I'm about the same weight and with a 2 piece 1/4 inch suit and an Aluminum tank I only wear 13 pounds. Of course all people are different and so are wet suits.

If you can get down that far the problem isn't the amount of weight unless you're so butt heavy and head up that the minute you move your feet you push right back to the surface.