Surface technique with Wing BC

[firemedic1015]

If you are having trouble staying vertical in the water with the BP/W setup or are having trouble staying above the water you may be over weight. Try doing a buoyancy check on the next dive with a tank that has about 500psi. I dove a BP/W with a STA and 40# H wing for a while using an AL 80. This rig wanted to float me a bit face down. I corrected by removing weight so that I was not over weight and moved the weight that remained further back on my weight belt. Then I switched to doubles and haven’t looked back. I now have excellent trim underwater and float straight up on the surface.

 

[BIGSAGE136]

If your wing is pushing you face forward you may have too large a wing for your rig. Add to that, try and put your weight as close to your spine as you can. once you surface you will find that it doesnt take a full wing to keep you afloat.

 

[LavaSurfer]

I will Ditto what others have said.
I put a little air in it, lay back and float on it.

Its effortless. I do this when I shore dive as well and have kicked out 200+ yards laying on my back, taking in rays, watching the clouds and praying I don't look too much like a seal to those mean GW's down there.

I have hung on the surface many times behind a boat and have no trouble as long as I don't over inflate. If you need to fully inflate it to stay up, maybe your a bit overweighted...

 

[maj75]

Thanks for the replies. I have a SeaQuest Malibu. I have my weight correct, however I may try redistributing more to the back pockets. I don't need to fully inflate to stay on the surface, however I can stay vertical with minimal effort if the top of my head is right at the surface. The bicycle kick worked with fins, but once they came off, not so much.

So far, no suggestions regarding surface assist to unconscious diver with a Bc/W?

Would you ever ditch the victims BC? I recall a recent post about a Washington State rescue where the rescuer recommended ditching the BC and weights when towing the unconscious diver. I don't recall if the type of BC was mentioned.

 

[CBulla]

Post 2 and 3 hit it right on the money!

 

[BIGSAGE136]

Thanks for the replies. I have a SeaQuest Malibu. I have my weight correct, however I may try redistributing more to the back pockets. I don't need to fully inflate to stay on the surface, however I can stay vertical with minimal effort if the top of my head is right at the surface. The bicycle kick worked with fins, but once they came off, not so much.

So far, no suggestions regarding surface assist to unconscious diver with a Bc/W?

Would you ever ditch the victims BC? I recall a recent post about a Washington State rescue where the rescuer recommended ditching the BC and weights when towing the unconscious diver. I don't recall if the type of BC was mentioned.

This can get tricky but watch the exposure suit. If it is at least 3mil get them out of the rig. They will float. Anything less and it gets hinkey fast. Pre-dive review. Very important.

 

[uncreative username]

Thanks for the replies. I have a SeaQuest Malibu. I have my weight correct, however I may try redistributing more to the back pockets.

One thing that I neglected to mention before is that some BCs have non-dumpable weight pockets in the back. With my BC, I can dump the weight in the back, but if your BC is different, it's probably not the greatest idea to put the majority of your weights in a pocket that you can't dump. Just a thought.

 

[BIGSAGE136]

One thing that I neglected to mention before is that some BCs have non-dumpable weight pockets in the back. With my BC, I can dump the weight in the back, but if your BC is different, it's probably not the greatest idea to put the majority of your weights in a pocket that you can't dump. Just a thought.

You are into a whole new evolution.

The neutral rig.

I wont even start....That is my rig though at +2lbs carefully placed

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

I would like some suggestions regarding surface techniques with a BC with a winged bladder.

My rescue training was with "victims" who had traditional BCs that supported the diver in an upright position in the water.

One thing I noticed in the Keys was the dive ops tended to overweight the tourists. Not by a little but by like 15 pounds. Now I understand that being a few pounds overweight is better than being a few pounds under. But being a lot overweigh could cause the problem you describe. I used 4 pounds with a Al-80, a 3/2 wetsuit and an aluminum backplate in the Keys, 6 pounds if we were going to be really shallow like at Molasses Reef where we were in 3 feet of water sometimes. The seemingly standard practice of loading people up with 20 pound weight belts is nuts under those condictions.

 

[BarryNL]

So far, no suggestions regarding surface assist to unconscious diver with a Bc/W?

Would you ever ditch the victims BC? I recall a recent post about a Washington State rescue where the rescuer recommended ditching the BC and weights when towing the unconscious diver. I don't recall if the type of BC was mentioned.

It generally depends how far you have to tow the victim. If you have a long swim it will be easier and faster if you ditch the victim's weights and BC (and your own). You should also consider whether you will be able to get the victim out of the water wearing their BC - if not you need to ditch it.

The Rescue course covers all the and includes learning how to remove a victim's equipment and your own while at the same time providing artificial breathing to the victim (damn hard work).