Rising to the top

[greg somers]

Buoyancy,without a doubt is the most commonly problematic issue for new divers to learn and guess what? We all had the same problem ourselves.Fortunately the tables and computers have a redundancy with safety margins for our protection and you recovered well.Just remember to keep the chops open and keep breathing normally.You did ok.As the other stated,we raise the inflator hose to deflate the expanding air in the BC to control our ascent and only fill it on the surface.You'll get better at it I'm sure.
Cheers Big Ears,
The Gasman

 

[jmsdiver]

First, excellent recovery!

Second, why add air in BCD to get off bottom if you are neutrally bouyant? A good lung full of air should get you off the bottom. Furthermore, if concerned about kicking up silt, a good strong scull with the hands will allow one to correct direction, steer, go up, down if they are neutral. It's a good trick I use in shipwrecks, less chance of a silt out.

Third, as one goes up, the air in the BCD will expand. By putting air in the BCD at depth your ascent will start out slow, but speed up as you get shallower. According to physics, air will double (or halve depending on ascent or descent) in the first 30 feet of water. So, by 15 feet the ascent will take a turn a start to go faster. As others have said before, a good kick with the fins and dumping air as you ascend will help prevent a run away ascent.

Happy and safe diving