Slight Trim Issue, Looking for Ideas

[tstormdiver]

This is not necessarily a problem just in caves, I also struggle a bit with it in open water, but with more room in open water, it is not nearly as critical. First, my trim balance in my doubles is perfect right now, I can hover motionless & horizontal. My main issue is my neck, it is very short & because of that, I can not pull my head back very far to look ahead or up. In order to be able to look straight forward (on the horizontal plain) for long periods or look up, I must incline my entire body a bit (I still keep my feet up away from the floor, though). I do arch my back as far as I can, but can only hold the strain of that position for a minute or so at a time. I know this bobbing up & down hurts my efficiency, but right now its the only thing I know to do to be able to see more than a few feet ahead. Anyone had to deal with this or has been successful in helping someone with the issue? It is something I'd like to correct, but may be something, because of my physical make- up, I may just have to deal with.

 

[karstdvr]

Some purists will say go to sidemount,but that really doesn't fix your problem. Often when I see someone experiencing the problem you describe,chances are their bands are positioned to allow the tanks as high up as possible,which may allow for great trim,but the manifold is near your head.
If this isn't the problem,then neck mobility may be an issues,mutually exclusive of a "short neck".

 

[knowone]

Japanese Soba Gara Makura Buckwheat Hull Pillows

 

[LiteHedded]

try loosening your harness and tightening the crotch strap to slide the tanks down a tad. are you hitting the isolator or hoses? hose routing may be an issue, depending on your regs

 

[mselenaous]

This is not necessarily a problem just in caves, I also struggle a bit with it in open water, but with more room in open water, it is not nearly as critical. First, my trim balance in my doubles is perfect right now, I can hover motionless & horizontal. My main issue is my neck, it is very short & because of that, I can not pull my head back very far to look ahead or up. In order to be able to look straight forward (on the horizontal plain) for long periods or look up, I must incline my entire body a bit (I still keep my feet up away from the floor, though). I do arch my back as far as I can, but can only hold the strain of that position for a minute or so at a time. I know this bobbing up & down hurts my efficiency, but right now its the only thing I know to do to be able to see more than a few feet ahead. Anyone had to deal with this or has been successful in helping someone with the issue? It is something I'd like to correct, but may be something, because of my physical make- up, I may just have to deal with.

Tammy I have the same problem. After this weekend's dive adventure, today I'm sitting here with an intense neck ache.

 

[ScubaSam]

Tammy - Not sure if any of what I post will help but during my Fundies class, I discovered that I can not articulate my neck as far back as others. I lose sight of my team mates if they are too far above my field of vision. I make a point not to let my team mates get too far above my line of vision. Most of my regular buddies know this about me but I have to remember to remind any new buddies of my physical limitations.

As for the arching your back comment, try tightening your butt muscles. If I kept my back arched during a dive I would have one heck of a back ache after each dive.

 

[fdog]

Not a caver.

But I do dive with a lot of UTD and GUE leadership. Get them out of a "demo for the classroom" environment, (more just like an everyday plain-vanilla dive, eh?) and *bam* trim goes to 10 degrees head-up.


All the best, James

 

[danvolker]

This is not necessarily a problem just in caves, I also struggle a bit with it in open water, but with more room in open water, it is not nearly as critical. First, my trim balance in my doubles is perfect right now, I can hover motionless & horizontal. My main issue is my neck, it is very short & because of that, I can not pull my head back very far to look ahead or up. In order to be able to look straight forward (on the horizontal plain) for long periods or look up, I must incline my entire body a bit (I still keep my feet up away from the floor, though). I do arch my back as far as I can, but can only hold the strain of that position for a minute or so at a time. I know this bobbing up & down hurts my efficiency, but right now its the only thing I know to do to be able to see more than a few feet ahead. Anyone had to deal with this or has been successful in helping someone with the issue? It is something I'd like to correct, but may be something, because of my physical make- up, I may just have to deal with.

Have you tried looking for a "good" Sports specializing Neuromuscular Therapist?
Sounds more like an issue of muscles that have been knotted up a long time, and reduced moblity because of it.

 

[kathydee]

Hi Tammy,

I'm 5'4" and still have a bit of head restriction from equipment in longer tanks such as the Al80's that unfortunately has yet to be solved.

Loosening the harness, tightening the crotch strap, angling the regs down and drilling bolt holes lower in the back plate have all helped. It's been suggested to swap to a small H plate and loosen the straps even more - which I'm still experimenting with.

But if your head is not restricted by equipment, it could be technique and/or flexibility.

 

[rjack321]

Hi Tammy,

I'm 5'4" and still have a bit of head restriction from equipment in longer tanks such as the Al80's that unfortunately has yet to be solved.

Loosening the harness, tightening the crotch strap, angling the regs down and drilling bolt holes lower in the back plate have all helped. It's been suggested to swap to a small H plate and loosen the straps even more - which I'm still experimenting with.

But if your head is not restricted by equipment, it could be technique and/or flexibility.

AL80s really don't have that tall of a crown. Are the bands as high on the tanks as possible? Top of the band right at the break in the crown? Isolator angled optimally? (which can vary)

Neck length is really not that much different amongst short vs. tall people. I do see many many divers with excessively tight shoulder straps though.