Two questions after first basic open water class

[rjpv]

Hi folks,

I finished my first basic open water cert class yesterday and I had an issue come up.

When I got weighted up (integrated into a vest-style BCD) I had a lot of difficulty controlling my attitude at the surface. I had to grab on to the pool edge to keep from tumbling face forward, which made everything harder! Descent was harder because I'd end up descending half horizontal half vertical, but on the bottom of the pool I had less of a problem.

So, what was going wrong and how do I fix it? When I took out my weights at the end things seemed to improve markedly, but I know I can't forgo the weights! Any advice?

Thanks!

PS: Just one question for now, sorry about the misleading title!

 

[rickydazla]

I see this a lot. You'll get used to it. You have lots of new gear on and your center of gravity has altered. The way that you are used to wiggling your legs and things in the water also doesn't have the effect it usually has and the result is an awkward feeling. It was just your first class and it'll come with practice.

That said, if the BC is not yours and is a rental then you might want to try a different style.

 

[Bowmouth]

Hi folks,

I finished my first basic open water cert class yesterday and I had an issue come up.

When I got weighted up (integrated into a vest-style BCD) I had a lot of difficulty controlling my attitude at the surface. I had to grab on to the pool edge to keep from tumbling face forward, which made everything harder! Descent was harder because I'd end up descending half horizontal half vertical, but on the bottom of the pool I had less of a problem.

So, what was going wrong and how do I fix it? When I took out my weights at the end things seemed to improve markedly, but I know I can't forgo the weights! Any advice?

Thanks!

PS: Just one question for now, sorry about the misleading title!

Dear RJPV,

Distribute your weights in a different way! If that doesn't work with your intergrated weight system try an old fashioned weightbelt instead.
It surely looks you had a BAD Open Water certification course run by an either lazy or incompetent instructor. Your instructor should have taught you all the things you need to know about proper weighting before the end of your course and NOT certify you if you still have ongoing problems with it.

What kinda course did you do? How many days? Where and how many students in your class? Any other problems during the course?


And RJPV..... I'm sure "controlling your attitude" on the surface were meant to be controlling your face up position on the surface....

 

[Brian1968]

Dear RJPV,

Distribute your weights in a different way! If that doesn't work with your intergrated weight system try an old fashioned weightbelt instead.
It surely looks you had a BAD Open Water certification course run by an either lazy or incompetent instructor. Your instructor should have taught you all the things you need to know about proper weighting before the end of your course and NOT certify you if you still have ongoing problems with it.

What kinda course did you do? How many days? Where and how many students in your class? Any other problems during the course?


And RJPV..... I'm sure "controlling your attitude" on the surface were meant to be controlling your face up position on the surface....

A little confusion here and now I'm not so sure what you meant, RJ. Did you mean that you just finished your course (ie that you now have your open water cert)? Or did you mean that you just finished your first class (ie your first time in gear in the pool)?

If it's the former, then Bowmouth is right...this should have been addressed by your instructor long before now.

If it's the latter (which is what I originally took it to mean), then it's something you need to address (with the help of your instructor). And if so, yes, it's a very common issue that you'll work out with trying out different types of gear and weighting arrangements to find out what works for you. That's part of what Open Water class is (or should be, as the case may be).

 

[Diver0001]

So, what was going wrong and how do I fix it? When I took out my weights at the end things seemed to improve markedly, but I know I can't forgo the weights! Any advice?

You can try a couple of things:

- let a litte more air out of the BCD, which will cause you to sit a little deeper and a little more stable on the suface. This will help a lot if you have a back inflate or a hybrid BCD.

- tuck in or bend your knees in and extend your legs when you start to descend.

- Hold your feet still. Most beginning divers have the (unconscious) reflex of flippering a little bit when they're on the surface. If your legs are even a little bit behind your then you'll fin yourself on to your face. Cross your ankles when you're on the surface and you'll see a difference.

- lay back on it instead of trying to sit straight up

- Make sure it fights right. "Stability" problems with BCD's are often a result of the BCD being too big for the diver.

- Move the weights to a weight belt. That's generally a more "stable" place for them.

And don't be afraid to ask these questions to your instructor. You'll get the best answers from someone who knows you and can look at you in the water.

R..

 

[Diver0001]

It surely looks you had a BAD Open Water certification course run by an either lazy or incompetent instructor.

You sure read a lot more into that than I was able to. From the original post it certainly isn't clear to me if he's finished the course or only finished the first pool session....

R..

 

[Damselfish]

There's could be several things going on here but I'd guess your main problem (or at least easiest solution) for now is weight distribution. Though any of the things Diver0001 mentions might be part of the problem lots of good ideas there.

Even though it's a weight integrated BC, try putting some or all of your weight on a belt instead and shifting some towards the back. Some BCs (usually the type where the inflation is all in the back so can suffer more from this problem) even have spacial weight pockets in back next to the tank, but if you actually have a jacket style it probably does not. If it's not too much of a pain to unthread the strap, you could also thread some of your weight right on a tank strap instead.

If you are still in class this is definitely something your instructor should be helping you with, since they're right there they're in the best position to see what's going on. If they don't notice you need help, ask!

 

[TSandM]

If this was your first pool session, don't get too worked up about it. I didn't fall face forward, I went on my back . . . and it took a long time to get that sorted out. Some of the answer is weight distribution, and some of it is just getting more facile with being strapped into heavy gear and learning to carry yourself in the water. But do ask your instructor about what's going on, so he (or she) can look at how your weights are distributed, and where your tank is on your BC.

If you want a good laugh, you can read my journal of my open water class. About anything you can do wrong or have go wrong, I did.

 

[tracker]

Don't know exactly about your situation, but, I had the same problem. Had weights in the side pockets but not in the back shoulder pockets. Added a couple pounds ea. in the back and solved problem.

 

[cudachaser]

Remeber. you have to be in vertical postion to release air from the BC....Sounds like you are on a rear inflate system...They are hard to get used to