Trim? Let's discuss how to manage trim

[TheRedHead]

My trim has improved greatly, but time to time I would roll left or right. How or what could I do to correct this. Thanks, Ronnie

Sounds like your tank is shifting, Ronnie.

 

[Splitlip]

My experience is most new divers are severely over weighted. My AOW instructor liked to keep his students overweighted to keep them on the bottom for skills.
With BC as standard equipment it is very easy to get compensate for too much weight by adding air to the BC. The BC ends up suspending you like a marianette puppet.
We have all seen divers kind of peddle kicking like they are sitting on a unicycle.
Get buoyancey right and trim will follow.

 

[TheRedHead]

Trim and bouyancy control are not the same thing. They are related, but seperate issues. Excellent trim is being so perfectly horizontal that someone could pass a ruler underneath you in a straight line and never touch any part of your body.

 

[loosebits]

My trim has improved greatly, but time to time I would roll left or right. How or what could I do to correct this. Thanks, Ronnie

If you aren't consistently rolling one way or another then it's probably just your body position (e.g. you have one arm extended, etc).

 

[Ronniemu]

If you aren't consistently rolling one way or another then it's probably just your body position (e.g. you have one arm extended, etc).

No, I am not consistently rolling. When I am horizontal, off the bottom and neutral (without moving at all), I have a tendency to roll slightly either to one side or the other. Thanks for your help.

Ronnie

 

[Splitlip]

Trim and bouyancy control are not the same thing. They are related, but seperate issues. Excellent trim is being so perfectly horizontal that someone could pass a ruler underneath you in a straight line and never touch any part of your body.

Hi Red:
I agree completely. Did not mean for anybody to infer they were the same thing. Based on my own experience however, a new diver will do better managing his or her trim if he or she is properly weighted.
I dived for a lot of years with a back pack, steel tank and no bc. I was pretty comfortable in the water. I took an AOW class in 2001. Instructor put me in a bc and 18 + #'s of weight in a 3 mil suit. I had limited success moving weight around my body, but was terrible in the water. When I stopped diving with the guy, I shed weight until I was carrying only 8#s. That was when I was finally able to dial in my trim.
Seeing that Andrew is a new diver, I don't want him to do the same as I.
(now have a number of BP/W's, so world is good.)

 

[Kim]

I'm not going to get into the 'how to' as that's already been done.

However, I check my trim by dropping my head and looking behind me underneath my body. I can see immediately if I'm truly parallel if the bottom is flat. If it's not I can still see my angle to everything else simply enough. It's simple geometry. It's also the easiest way to keep a check on your buddy if you're leading in a single file situation.

 

[TheRedHead]

Seeing that Andrew is a new diver, I don't want him to do the same as I. (now have a number of BP/W's, so world is good.)

Yes, new divers are usually overweighted that is true. And you have to fix that first.

 

[m3830431]

Sounds like your tank is shifting, Ronnie.

Or you BC is loose

 

[Andrew Richardson]

Just to add to the weight part of this thread:

My wife & I first dove our BCs in Barbados. I wore my 7mm (nice & warm!!) & used 24#s. I dove Tobermory with the hooded vest & gloves also 24#s. I dove last weekend in a local quarry (ie. fresh) in just the 7mm and only needed 12#. I started at 18#s and had to go back to shore about 5 times. Still could not believe I only needed 12#s. Headed out on Sat, likely wearing the hooded vest & gloves so I think I will start @18#s.

Loose BC is also easy to get. Feels all snug on land with gravity pulling it down but rolls around under water. Practice, practice, practice....