Proper ascent

[khacken]

As you are first learning this, its usually a good idea to practice stopping along the way to keep control. Later, as you do deeper dives, you can add deep stops starting 1/2 the depth until you reach your safety stop. (IE, from 100', stop at 50' 25' 15')

That is exactly what Firefyter does. It is really cool to watch as well.

I don't know why PADI still teaches the vertical method but I cannot see any advantage in it unless you have no control of your buoyancy. (then its fix your buoyancy control and do the ascent/descents horizontally)

For NAUI anyways, they claim that it vertical descent makes equalization easier on descent. I bet you are right for the ascent. From what I have seen, doing a horizontal ascent may be a bit of overload for someone newly certified and they could easily do an uncontrolled ascent (you have to tug on the bc hose or rear dump valve). Of course, then they have the situation I face heheh.

 

[khacken]

ZZZKing, I plan on being out there Saturday and Sunday. There is a thread for this weekend at:

CSSP this weekend

 

[andydiver06]

We check that we are ascending much slower than the tiniest bubbles released from our reg during exhaling. Anyway you need to look up - 5 point ascent rule to avoid bumping into the boat for instance. Watching your Dive comp is too tedious. If possible dump all the air at depth or keep on dumping while ascending slowly. Target at 10m per min ascent instead of 18m/min max DSAT prescribed ascent rate.

 

[TeddyDiver]

Thumbs up to buddy and group.
Wait for response.
Stay horizontal.
Look at computer and marine life around.
Go slightly positive by taking a deeper breath of air.
Dry suit valve dumps automatically excess air.
Be sure to exhale a little as the ascent starts.
If rate gets too high, exhale more.
If rate still too high, turn little right.

 

[BarryNL]

I find that the ascent rate indicator of the computer is almost useless. It's much easier to look at tiny junk in the water to get feedback on your instantaneous rate of ascent.

Personally I still use my analog depth guage for this. I find I can control my ascent/bouyancy pretty well even with no visual references using this. The digital computer simply doesn't update frequently enough to control an ascent.

Other than that, a buddy makes a fairly good visual reference, and in the sort of low vis. diving I do is often the only visual reference.

 

[espenskogen]

Personally I still use my analog depth guage for this. I find I can control my ascent/bouyancy pretty well even with no visual references using this. The digital computer simply doesn't update frequently enough to control an ascent.

Other than that, a buddy makes a fairly good visual reference, and in the sort of low vis. diving I do is often the only visual reference.

If the computer does not update fast enough, then I'd suggest get a new computer. All my computers update at least once a second (to memory) and I have a feeling the display updates even more frequently. More than often enough to control the ascent.

As for visual reference - I find that in low viz conditions, your buddy is usually a unreliable reference - I.e if you both start ascending too fast, you won't know until you look at your depth gauge. (Because you're not moving in relation to eachother..)

A delayed smb takes care of this easily - Shoot the bag, reel up, and if either of you start taking off, you'll see it on the line.

 

[TSandM]

Do you blow out a tiny stream of bubbles the whole ascent? Is just breathing normal after that first deeper breath ok?

The danger on ascent is TRAPPING air in your lungs -- as long as you are breathing in and out, your glottis is open, and expanding air has a chance to escape. Which also brings up a good point -- when you take that deep breath that initiates your ascent, keep your throat open.

Your breathing pattern during ascent won't be the same slow and regular breathing you did during the working part of the dive, because you are using your breath to affect your buoyancy, but you will still be breathing -- a good ascent will take several minutes, and it would be pretty unpleasant not to do some ordinary breathing during that time!

 

[Charlie99]

If the computer does not update fast enough, then I'd suggest get a new computer. All my computers update at least once a second (to memory) and I have a feeling the display updates even more frequently. More than often enough to control the ascent.

My computer updates once or twice a second, and I have indeed done practice ascents where, by closing one eye, and blocking my view of the world by the computer held in front my other eye, have simulated extreme low viz. Possible, but not as easy as paying attention to the rest of the cues ---- junk in the water and even things like feeling motion of the water.

By controlling your ascent over 10 second to 1 minute periods without looking a the computer/depth gauge you are more able to keep track of your buddy and the rest of your envirionment.

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As I posted earlier, IMO, the real core skill is being able to hold a depth while motionless, just using your lung buoyancy to maintain depth. That's a skill you can practice at safety stop. After getting that skill down pat, then using the same technique for a slow ascent is pretty easy. You just need to dump a bit of air from the BCD when you find yourself keeping your lung empty.

While writing this post, I just came to the realization that I don't really add/dump air to my BCD to adjust buoyancy. A better description of how I dive would be to say that I automatically, rather unconsciously adjust buoyancy by changing breathing pattern; and then add/dump air in the BCD when my breathing pattern gets too skewed either to full lungs or empty lungs. Perhaps another good pool or safety stop exercise would be to hover motionless with different amounts of air in the BCD and note the different breathing pattern that you have to use to stay at a constant depth.

 

[TSandM]

While writing this post, I just came to the realization that I don't really add/dump air to my BCD to adjust buoyancy. A better description of how I dive would be to say that I automatically, rather unconsciously adjust buoyancy by changing breathing pattern; and then add/dump air in the BCD when my breathing pattern gets too skewed either to full lungs or empty lungs.

A wonderful description, and it goes along with Cameron Martz's comment at one point about the frog kick being a constant buoyancy check, because during the glide phase, you see what's happening to your depth.

So many subtle cues one learns to notice . . .

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

(you have to tug on the bc hose or rear dump valve).

If you hold your inflator hose up at about chin level (middle mass if you're horizontal) and keep the exhaust button depressed as you ascend, natures balance will strike an equilibrium by pushing out air and keeping you neutral when you stop.