Rocking left to right with BP/Wings?

[Scuba446]

Hi,
Thanks all...yes, all my weights are equally distributed to my left and right side - in at least, my weight belt - evenly balanced there...I dive a single Al80 in the center, NO pony, nothing off to my left or right side to create drag, and dive a Pioneer wing and SS BP, and regualr Halycon harness. I have NO lights, pony's, or stage bottles or anything on my sides. Everyhting should be totally centered on my rig.

Probably just me, even though it could be air trapped in my wings...which leads me to another question....

And forgive me for being a newbie on this - but, if air DOES get trapped in wings when they are totally deflated while diving, then doesn't this give credibility to bungeed wings - in as much as they would help get trapped air OUT of the wings?

????

 

[MikeFerrara]

I have not detected any air trapping in the Halcyon wing.

 

[tchil01]

If you do not roll to your left and get the exhaust valve to the highest point, then you could be trapping air in the wing, regardless of having bugeed wings or not. If I'm not mistaken the bungees are only to keep the wing from flapping (hence the name wings) or wrapping around the tank. Just like a drysuit exhaust valve, the wing exhaust has to be pointing up.

Ty

 

[scubatexastony]

ditch the weight belt for the intgrated pockets. that puts the weight at each side and more in front, helps counter the weight of the b/p and with the thick rubber..... gotta think, the cork will be above the sinker

dive safe

tony

 

[divernva]

Trapped air could be the culprit. In some situation you need to roll your left shoulder so that it's the highest point on the body. Similar to getting vertical, but much more subtle (BTW, in the vertical position air could still be trapped at the very top of the Pioneer wing). This usually moves air to the inflator... on any wing or BC. The other thing to try is nose down (butt up) and use the dump... a little harder since you need to find the cord with gloves on.

How snug is your BP? Do you feel the tank "rolling"? Someone noted (I think from this board) that you should be able to fit your middle finger and fore finger between the webbing and your wetsuit. Yup, pretty tight. Probably not going to help when you need to exit your rig under/above water for the test. But makes sense to compensate for compression when diving a thick wetsuit.

Speaking of tests, I'm curious which agency is allowing you to use a BP for OW certification. I'd be even more curious if you're using a long hose.

 

[Scuba446]

Yup,
Already had to tighten my harness up weeks ago, so its not that.....I passed the 3-4 finger test already. It is pretty snug - in fact, we had to donn our gear and sit on the baot for about 20 mins waiting to dive - and I can tell you that even thru my 7mm suit, the straps began to feel uncomfortable. Of course, once in the water - I never knew I had the rig on...

PS I already did the doff/donn the BC skill in the water - went very well, was a bit tricky getting the crotch strap up and threaded all back on, but it went extremely well. No big deal - really...

Also, the agency is SSI, but I cannot use the long hose (5 ft in MY case) until AFTER check outs are done. They DO however believe in an AIR2 for the divers backup reg, and DID allow me to use my backup reg on the 22" LP hose bungeed around my neck, with my primary reg on a normal length sport config LP hose...

To donate air the SSI way, we hand off the PRIMARY reg (just like DIR) to the needer, and then take OUR backup reg (be it the AIR2 on the inflator hose OR, in MY case, MY backup on the 22" necklace) and put it in OUR mouth....just like DIR.....they no longer teach BUDDY BREATHING in which:

1. Both divers share ONE reg...
2. The needer gets an octo...

Hope this helps..

 

[Wendy]

You don't need to get vertical to dump any air that may be trapped. Just raise your rear end up a bit and use the back dump. I haven't had a problem with diving that wing and having trapped air, I don't know where the air would get trapped at.

One thing about your post is I see you are wearing 8# w/ your STA and BP and 12# on your belt. With the weight of your tank added to the 8# you may just be getting a turtle effect down there and rolling to your back.

Make sure that your wing nuts are tightly screwed. If they are loose at all the tank will rock back and forth.

Remember you have only had a couple of dives with this gear and the same amount of dives total since you are still in an ow class. So give it some time to get used to your gear.

Let us know how things turn out.

 

[Scuba446]

"One thing about your post is I see you are wearing 8# w/ your STA and BP and 12# on your belt. With the weight of your tank added to the 8# you may just be getting a turtle effect down there and rolling to your back."

Thats just how it feels....any idea how to overcome that? I have to have weights on my belt - no way around that...

 

[Wendy]

First off are you sure you need this much weight? What did you do to come up with this number?

I'm thinking maybe you can move some of your weight off your back and on to the belt. Are you sure you need a 6#STA? I had a friend that was having problems with bouyancy with hers, maybe you can just get a regular STA and move the 6# down to your belt.

 

[Scuba446]

Well, I had my 6# BP and 2# STA on, AND 8# on my weightbelt, and I couldn't get down and STAY down - UNLESS, I didn't INHALE at all!

Remember, I had a full 7mm farmer john and jacket on, hood, gloves and booties for cold water diving...pretty bouoyant. (sp?)