trim problem

[all4scuba05]

diving with jacket style BCD...20 lbs weight belt and 2 lbs on each leg...have tank placed a little higher since drysuit diving...are my legs supposed to be below horizontal at about 30 degrees?...want to be horizontal even if air gets in my legs

 

[pants!]

2 lbs on each leg...are my legs supposed to be below horizontal at about 30 degrees?...

Take the weight off your legs?

 

[GDI]

Take all your weight off and remove all the air from your BCD and Drysuit. Get into a pool or a shallow dive site where you can be close to a dock, get a site about 10 feet deep. Empty your cylinder down to about 500-700 psi. Add back on the weight in 2-3 lbs increments attempting to sink and hold your position after each weight addition. Remember to breath normally. Once you can sink and hold your position in the water column without any up or downward movement you will have all the weight your need to permit sinking. Now play with your cylinder and BCD, adjust by lowering or raising your bcd, you will raise or drop your cylinder and thus raise or drop your head up or down. Try to check you weighting in a flat spread eagle like position. When you have the correct weight and you are able to remain flat then all you should need to do is lift up your legs by arching your back and your trim should be set. Adjust your weights around your body if required to fine tune your trim, your should not use any on the ankles, keep your breathing at a normal relaxed rate when doing this. The adjustment from fresh water to salt water is to add about 4-6 lbs. Now fill your cylinder and go dive. Make a note as to whether you used a steel or aluminum cylinder for this test. if you used steel you may need to add another 4 lbs for when you use aluminum or subtract 4 lbs if you use steel. good luck

http://www.genesisdiving.com/buoyancy.shtml

 

[all4scuba05]

thanks...that was a great explanation...already draining a tank to try and figure out my needed weight without the ankle weights...wish we spent more time practicing buoyancy control in OW...

 

[markfm]

I started out with a lot more weight -- combined OW and drysuit certs
If 24 is correct for you at this point, you might want to try moving those ankle weights off and putting 4 on the tank, either a couple of pouches with 2lb each or a regular 4lb tank weight. The tank weight is kind of pricey, but I picked one up and really like it, used it a lot until I just added a pony.

 

[ScubaDadMiami]

Change to a backplate and wings. Sorry, you might not want to hear it, but that is why they work so well.

 

[m3830431]

diving with jacket style BCD...20 lbs weight belt and 2 lbs on each leg...have tank placed a little higher since drysuit diving...are my legs supposed to be below horizontal at about 30 degrees?...want to be horizontal even if air gets in my legs

Most people I know wear some ankle weights you might try one
pound on each leg and move the rest to tank or belt after you
do a bouyance check as stated earlier.

 

[Matthew]

Change to a backplate and wings. Sorry, you might not want to hear it, but that is why they work so well.

The BP and wings sure have advantages, but I dont believe will it instantly solve the problem. You still have to figure out your weighting and trim as described by GDI above.

 

[jepuskar]

It is very possible to use ankle weights along with a BCD and have very good trim. It takes some experimenting and everyone is different with the placement of weight. Play with it and see what makes you feel comfortable.

It is true though that with some experimenting/experience, ankle weights are not needed.