Skills to practice during a dive

[Blackcrusader]

13. When returning to the boat, unless instructed otherwise, if current and visibility isn't an issue try to avoid using the line to control your ascent. I usually swim to the boat ladder (from well below the boat) and on many dives never even touch the line. If conditions allow, the same goes for the safety stop, get to a place where you can hover effortlessly for the entire duration.

It's rare that when doing a boat dive there is any line to control an ascent. Not had a line to ascend in my last 14 years of diving. In the Maldives you spend your safety stop watching Tiger sharks swim around. Also due to swells you do not want to be underweighted. IT's fine to say get your weight to a minimum with an empty tank in calm water. I've seen divers do uncontrolled ascents in swells like this as they are then underweighted. Also fo some dives in Indonesia you need to do a fast negative entry so you add weights.

Also when your mask is off put your face down and put an air bubble in your eye socket. Allow you to see at least when looking down.

Another thing I do is to close my eyes and see if I can maintain depth or feel depth change. I have neen accused of taking naps on my dives lol

Also every 15 dives or so I will use my secondary for the dive. Most people never do this. I've seen people pass a secondary they never really check only to find out there was an issue.

 

[Soloist]

Also for some dives in Indonesia you need to do a fast negative entry so you add weights.

No. Negative entries do not require additional weight. It does require your wing or BC to be void of air.

 

[USdiver1]

Ummm.....no it doesn't. There is no reason to make contact with bottom when doffing/donning one's kit underwater.

In fact PADI requires Divemaster candidates conduct a complete equipment exchange underwater while maintaining neutral buoyancy:

From the PADI Instructor Manual, Divemaster Course Instructor Guide:

Exercise 5: Equipment Exchange In confned water, demonstrate the ability to effectively respond to an unusual circumstance underwater by exchanging all scuba equipment (except exposure suits and weight belts) with a buddy while neutrally buoyant earning a minimum score of 3. During the exchange, when divers switch scuba kits, they should go to and breathe from their buddy’s alternate air source, not the primary secondstage. Instead of exchanging masks, divers remove and replace their own masks.

-Z

Who wears weight belts these days? BCDs have integrated weight pockets, when you doff your scuba you pop up due to the buoyancy of your wet suit and no lead to counter. What we were trained with 15 years ago is no longer the norm. A new reality exists.

 

[Soloist]

Who wears weight belts these days? BCDs have integrated weight pockets, when you doff your scuba you pop up due to the buoyancy of your wet suit and no lead to counter. What we were trained with 15 years ago is no longer the norm. A new reality exists.

I've removed and replaced my BP/W without a weight belt numerous times, but it's a PITA. Not recommended if you're not prepared for the ramifications. If you dive with heavy steel tanks or BC weight pockets it is what it is. With that being said, I would much rather do this procedure with a weight belt.

 

[Zef]

Who wears weight belts these days? BCDs have integrated weight pockets, when you doff your scuba you pop up due to the buoyancy of your wet suit and no lead to counter. What we were trained with 15 years ago is no longer the norm. A new reality exists.

Sadly, if I agreed with you, we would both be wrong.

One can certainly doff/don their kit underwater, neutrally buoyant with a BC with integrated weight pockets, or with weight belt...or both for that matter.

If you do the exercise properly, there is no issue of "pop up due to buoyancy".

It surprises me that you are pandering this kind of drivel given your profile lists you as an Instructor / Assistant Instructor / Dive Master / Dive Con.

Do some research on diving a balanced rig for starters, but even if one doesn't have a balanced rig, if the BCD with integrated weight pockets is removed from one shoulder and then pulled around the body as it is removed from the other shoulder, the BCD and tank can be held close to the chest, manipulated, cleared a tangle or other issue if need be, then the procedure reversed. If conducted in a calm and coordinated manner, as it should be, then one will maintain control of their buoynacy and not "pop up" as you state.

Here is a video of it being done in a shallow pool, where it ostensibly harder to maintain buoyancy control due to the greater change in buoyancy with minimal change in depth...while not the greatest example, the diver executes it with bcd with integrated weight pockets and no weight belt. Listen to the naration as she explains what she should be doing and how she is playing around while conducting the exercise:



Here is anothe example, this time the diver has wetsuit on, BCD with integrated weight pockets, and no weight belt. He is not popping up to the surface and he is doing good job staying off the bottom too:



I have done this. I have witnessed this. This can be done. Go do this. This is the way!

-Z

 

[USdiver1]

Sorry but wearing a 2mm wet suit in a 84 degree pool is hardly the kind of situation that most divers experience, nor was it why I suggested the doff/don scuba skill.

Try wearing a 5mm wet suit with a 3mm overshorty in 60 degree water without a weight belt, using only your BCD with integrated weight pockets. Doff/don is much more challenging a skill, one that should be practiced.

 

[johndiver999]

I've removed and replaced my BP/W without a weight belt numerous times, but it's a PITA. Not recommended if you're not prepared for the ramifications. If you dive with heavy steel tanks or BC weight pockets it is what it is. With that being said, I would much rather do this procedure with a weight belt.

I agree. I much prefer to have a weightbelt with at least some weight on it.

I always seems that I need) to do my remove and replace while on the bottom, in a current and generally I have a stupid line around my tank valve or something. I'm sure it is a crutch, but I much prefer to be on the bottom (where I can set things down), rather than floating neutral in the water column with my tank off.

I guess I should practice sometime in the water column, but I usually have so many things in my hand, I would be worried about dropping something - on a real dive anyway.

 

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

Sadly, if I agreed with you, we would both be wrong.

One can certainly doff/don their kit underwater, neutrally buoyant with a BC with integrated weight pockets, or with weight belt...or both for that matter.

Sure you can do it in a shortie or 3mm. Now do it at 3 meters with a thick neoprene wetsuit or on a drysuit ;-) .

 

[TMHeimer]

i am like you max depth is 40' ish. Are you practicing cesa from 30' ? I need to practice this...

Yeah, usually from about 20' but occasionally 30. I pick a time when I want to come up and see exactly where I am.

 

[Blackcrusader]

No. Negative entries do not require additional weight. It does require your wing or BC to be void of air.

You have obviously never dived in South Lombok then lol Of course BCD is void of air. I make sure I suck it all out first.