JamesMottUTD
Guest
John,
I wish I could say that we teach it exactly on the 13th dive after Essentials but the truth is that the answer is very subjective. Too many divers want to rush right into the breaking trim applications of good trim because maintaining trim is too taxing. Perfect horizontal trim and the ability to default to it without hesitation or effort is an asset that will never stifle you underwater, it is a treasure that will only benefit your progress as a diver.
But having perfect trim when you are working on your perfect trim is not perfect trim. That is the purpose of skills like the basic 6… to show you how something as simple as taking your regulator in and out of your mouth can interfere with your ability to maintain buoyancy, balance and trim.
Various center of gravity techniques that are originally taught to find trim can also be practiced as a means to break trim and return to it in a controlled manner. Some divers get this right away some spend years on it.
Eventually the developing diver will have the awareness to manipulate their buoyancy and trim on demand as necessary and they won’t need an instructor to hold up a sign that says, ‘break trim, now!’ It should just come out of you when you appropriately need it.
James Mott
I wish I could say that we teach it exactly on the 13th dive after Essentials but the truth is that the answer is very subjective. Too many divers want to rush right into the breaking trim applications of good trim because maintaining trim is too taxing. Perfect horizontal trim and the ability to default to it without hesitation or effort is an asset that will never stifle you underwater, it is a treasure that will only benefit your progress as a diver.
But having perfect trim when you are working on your perfect trim is not perfect trim. That is the purpose of skills like the basic 6… to show you how something as simple as taking your regulator in and out of your mouth can interfere with your ability to maintain buoyancy, balance and trim.
Various center of gravity techniques that are originally taught to find trim can also be practiced as a means to break trim and return to it in a controlled manner. Some divers get this right away some spend years on it.
Eventually the developing diver will have the awareness to manipulate their buoyancy and trim on demand as necessary and they won’t need an instructor to hold up a sign that says, ‘break trim, now!’ It should just come out of you when you appropriately need it.
James Mott
