Train trim, buoyancy & propulsion in pool w/o tank & reg?

[J322Y]

Hi all. Due to how common the search terms are I couldn't find anything that addressed my specific question.

I just got certified so naturally I flop around like a fish out of water, while in the water. I'll be diving as much as possible, but I wondered about practicing in my community pool without a tank or regulator. I'm pretty sure full scuba gear won't fly with the HOA, but I don't see why I couldn't wear my BCD, weights, snorkel, fins and mask.

I understand that the amounts and placement of weights won't translate exactly to full gear, but do you see this as a viable way to train when I can't get to a proper dive site?

I believe my exposure suit is neutrally buoyant (Lavacore) so hopefully that aspect won't be an issue...

I am concerned about the chlorine, so any comments about that are also welcomed.

Thanks! If you know of a thread where this was discussed please direct me to it....

 

[Saniflush]

I suit up in my pool about once a week and work on trim, weighting, and buoyancy. Have not had any issue with the chlorine but I also rinse out my gear thoroughly after each time.
As far as the HOA they haven't sent you a letter yet so I wouldn't worry about it until they do unless it is actually covered in the covenants, but I'm an ass like that.

 

[JohnnyC]

@RainPilot does this in CW1. He'd be able to explain it better. I've seen it in person, and by the end students are doing skills neutral, in trim, in mid-water. In confined water dive 1.

Basically you're figuring out your own personal weight requirement sans any gear, then you stack weight on your gear individually so you know how much weight each piece of gear weighs (say 2lb for bc, 4lb for wetsuit, etc.) so you can figure out the amount of weight required. Then it's just practice, moving weights so you trim out properly, etc.

As for your HOA, easier to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission. Show up with all your gear, do your stuff, and if anyone complains feign ignorance. Check your bylaws and see how they're written. My parents HOA has to specifically disallow something by name, otherwise it's allowed by default. As an example, you can't have a chicken or a horse because they're specifically prohibited, which means you can absolutely have a donkey and a goat if you want. Unless your HOA specifically prohibits using scuba gear in the pool, it may not be an issue at all. I know I've taken a rebreather and a DPV into the pool in my parents community for gits and shiggles.

 

[Landau]

Just be aware that underwater you have different body positioning than on top. Underwater your head does not have to be high enough to have your mouth or snorkel out. This affects your kick technique. So practice underwater swims in the pool if it is underwater propulsion you want to work on.

Also practice ditching you weights just in case. No auto-inflate of the BCD without a tank and orally inflating the BCD underwater does not change your buoyancy until you fill your lungs with the next breath - which isn't available underwater without a tank. You have the same amount of air - you just moved some from your lungs to you BCD.

 

[J322Y]

Thanks all. I might already be the bad boy of this retirement community so I don't want to make too many waves (pun intended). I'll see what I can get away.

The other thing is that I don't own a tank to practice with. Yet.

The dive shop is a 60 minute round trip. Maybe they would consider a weekly tank rental.

 

[dmaziuk]

When I asked about bringing gear to my university's diving well, they said no problem as long as there's another diver in the water. Maybe if you ask they'll say sure, knock yourself out.

 

[J322Y]

Thanks dmaziuk. I'll do that. It would be great if I can. That would probably be enough motivation to buy a tank.

 

[decompression]

google search extreme scuba makeover from UTD, its the basis for all our open water courses.

 

[divad]

Thanks all. I might already be the bad boy of this retirement community .

You look really young to be living in a retirement community, cute...., but young.

 

[RainPilot]

google search extreme scuba makeover from UTD, its the basis for all our open water courses.

That’s where the stuff @JohnnyC mentioned comes from.