What am I doing wrong? Buoyancy problems?

[Progen]

Ok, so I've finally gotten my Open Water Diver license with PADI but I'm having trouble getting the hang of Mares Hybrid Pro Tec BCD which I shall detail below.


1st time. Freshwater. Swimming pool. About 4 metres deep.
With 1 720ish gram (marked as 25oz) weight in each weight pocket, I'm ok with the eye level thing with a normal breath BUT the tank was full then. Could hover fine too but was only my first run so was too excited to notice whether I was buoyant at the end of the dive with the almost empty aluminium tank.

2nd time. Freshwater. Same swimming pool.
Used 2 720ish gram weights in each weight pocket plus 1 450gram one in each trim pocket beside the tank to compensate for the theoretical increase in buoyancy when the tank's empty. Seemed overweighted both at the beginning and the end of the dive.

3rd dive. Same swimming pool.
Used the BCD in its backpack and harness mode without the vest so wore a weightbelt with 2 1 kg weights.
Was fine with a normal breath and got to eye level at the end of the dive when the tank had about 600 - 700 PSI BUT had problems hovering at the beginning of the dive. Things felt ok but I was probably compensating with eye up and down angles to remain at the bottom.

4th, 5th, 6th and 7th dives. Open water at the sea. Back with the vest and MRS Plus pockets.
Used 2 2kg weights, 1 in each integrated pocket. Was a little bit overweighted at the beginning of the dive with a slightly overpressurized tank but would stay at surface if I didn't fidget. Gauge showed about 3200 PSI. Things didn't feel right and I was constantly struggling to get neutral. Was difficult even with watching the breathing, keeping it relaxed plus wasn't moving my fins or arms. Felt overweighted because I couldn't get my body level no matter how much I reminded myself to stretch out and stay as level as possible. Fins were always below torso and considering that they're slightly positively buoyant, it couldn't be them dragging my feet down.

I'm just a beginner so please point me in the right direction because I do enjoy watching animals and would like to be able to get near to them without posing a danger with poor buoyancy skills.

 

[Quero]

What a mix of metric and imperial scales you're using!

It sounds like your weight distribution is at least part of the issue. Since you are using integrated weights and weight belts, and since the trim weight pockets for this BCD are "lumbar" ones, it may simply be a question of carrying all your weight at your waist where it tends to drag your lower body down. There are a few fixes for this without investing in a completely new BCD system--one is to put the trim weights on your upper tank band rather than at/near your waist; another is to move the whole tank higher on your back so that more of the weight rests over your lungs and upper body and less of it rests on your hips and lower body.

You are in Malaysia, and so I presume you're Asian. Asians tend to be quite negatively buoyant to begin with, and by carrying all your weight at your hips, your legs will tend to sink. Shift some of that weight higher onto your back, maybe change your posture in the water so that instead of "stretching out" you hold your legs above your butt, and also stretch your arms out in front of you. This changes the whole pivot point of your body. Anyway, if you want targeted help with this, just hop on a plane here to Phuket and I'll do a buoyancy clinic with you to get you sorted out.

 

[Progen]

Thanks for taking the time to read through my woes. I guess I've been lurking around American dealers' websites too much which explains the imperial stuff. Someone had remarked a few times that my tank's too low but I don't like the feeling of the Sherwood SR-1's first stage and hoses hitting my head when I look up. Anyway, I've changed the configuration of the hoses so hopefully I can bring the tank higher since there's no contact now.

 

[InTheDrink]

How many dives you got under your belt? Good buoyancy control comes easy to some, harder to others, my being in the latter group.

There's a ton of stuff really. My personal recommendation would be to do a GUE fundies course. Or go visit your geographically located friend above.

If I get time tomorrow I'll post the things that helped me.

John

 

[Quero]

Thanks for taking the time to read through my woes. I guess I've been lurking around American dealers' websites too much which explains the imperial stuff. Someone had remarked a few times that my tank's too low but I don't like the feeling of the Sherwood SR-1's first stage and hoses hitting my head when I look up. Anyway, I've changed the configuration of the hoses so hopefully I can bring the tank higher since there's no contact now.

If others have noticed your tank riding too low, I'm convinced that this is at least part of your issue. And changing the configuration of the first stage position and hose routing may help some, but perhaps not enough to actually move your tank much higher. Rather than screwing up your trim to make it easy for you to tip your head back, why not learn to look up in a different way than craning your neck? There are ways, trust me. I often hear this excuse for not wanting to move the tank up, and I just think it's trading one minor problem (occasional head contact with gear) for a worse one (constant struggle to stay in trim).

 

[Progen]

I've done about 10 dives so far. 6 freshwater and 4 saltwater. I'll adjust the tank higher and give it a go again before I come back whining for help.

ps. Thailand and Malaysia does sound near enough but Phuket's an island in the western part of Thailand and I'm in what is known loosely at east Malaysia which is Borneo. Quite a good distance away. I have been to Phuket a few times and will of course visit it again one day. This time as a diver. Hope to see you then, Quero.

 

[Searcaigh]

Progen,

There are some good instructors in Borneo, not sure who you trained with, but Borneo Divers have always been highly recommended.

 

[Quero]

I've done about 10 dives so far. 6 freshwater and 4 saltwater. I'll adjust the tank higher and give it a go again before I come back whining for help.

Let us know how it goes!

ps. Thailand and Malaysia does sound near enough but Phuket's an island in the western part of Thailand and I'm in what is known loosely at east Malaysia which is Borneo. Quite a good distance away. I have been to Phuket a few times and will of course visit it again one day. This time as a diver. Hope to see you then, Quero.

Having lived for a number of years in Malaysia, I know how unconnected Malaysian Borneo is to the rest of SE Asia. I just thought I'd extend a helping hand, so if you're ever around this way, the offer is good. But let's hope you get it solved before then!

 

[TSandM]

I'm always curious about what people are actually feeling when they say they feel "overweighted". The two things that tell ME I'm overweighted are an excessively rapid descent rate with an empty BC (because I have done enough dives to know how fast I ought to sink when I'm weighted properly), and having too much air in my dry suit and/or wing (because I know how much is normal). What I hear new divers saying, most of the time, is that they were sinking at the bottom, which is not a sign of being overweighted, but simply a sign of not having put enough air into the BC. Of course, it IS possible to be SO overweighted that your BC can't compensate, but that's pretty gross, and it doesn't sound as though you are packing on that much weight.

Balance, as Quero says, is a matter of moving weight around and adjusting body posture. If you allow your body to bend at the hips, you will always tend to float feet-down. Good diving posture is having the body flat from the shoulders to the knees, and then adjusting your arms and your lower legs/feet to be comfortable and to fine-tune the balance. HERE is a good article that goes into this (and there is a lot more good information about buoyancy and trim on that site).

By the way, good for you for worrying about this. I wish more people did!

 

[Progen]

...
Having lived for a number of years in Malaysia, I know how unconnected Malaysian Borneo is to the rest of SE Asia. I just thought I'd extend a helping hand, so if you're ever around this way, the offer is good. But let's hope you get it solved before then!

I work fulltime with animals over in Borneo and spin part time as a DJ so my time's pretty full but I do have a break every few months. We'll see how things go. Was thinking of spending maybe 5 to 6 days over at Phuket. 2 days diving and another 2 to help out at either PAWS or Soi Dog.

---------- Post added January 8th, 2013 at 12:18 PM ----------

... HERE is a good article that goes into this (and there is a lot more good information about buoyancy and trim on that site).

...

Thanks heaps for this!

---------- Post added January 8th, 2013 at 12:24 PM ----------

Progen,

There are some good instructors in Borneo, not sure who you trained with, but Borneo Divers have always been highly recommended.

I'm over in Sarawak though. Borneo Divers is based in Sabah which coincidentally I just came back from last week. I did see their jetty office as I got off the boat from Pom Pom Island.