First off, I'm so happy to see the posts here. There is alot of great information, and it sounds like its helping more people than just me!
Firebrand,
I agree, the 7 mil wetsuit was definitely overkill, but that is all they offer at ATI Divers in Lake Atitlan. I think I was over-weighted too, after reading some of these posts.
I know you are supposed to just let a little air in our out at a time, go slowly with it, and wait for it to take effect. My issue was, I kept putting air in, a little burst at a time, again and again and again. Yet, I would still sink. I never really had the problem of being out of control ascending, I just kept crashing into the bottom. You should have seen the silt I raised. Single-handedly. If there had been a contest for silt-raising, I would have placed first.
Eventually the DI came to my rescue and put a good 5-6 second burst of air in. I was shocked. I thought I would rush to the surface like a rocket, but I just kind of slowly lifted, and I was better after that. But I remember in Malaysia (in a shortie), giving tinier bursts for larger effect. Is it because of the wetsuit?
Anyway, it sounds like I was too heavy, eh?
A question: Everyone says to just give a little air at a time, and wait for the effect.
How much is a little? Do you mean like 1 second? 2 seconds? 6 seconds? To me, so new to this, I really don't know what "a little" means.
Thank you!!!