Where does my tank go?

[Linedog]

New diver here, when I am diving where should my regulator be? Should it be even with my jaw so that the hose just sweeps around to my mouth? Higher, lower?

 

[scubafanatic]

...not sure there's a 'rule' about placement here (leaving aside the 'tech' world's viewpoints). I'd say reg placement/level will take care of itself once you have dialed in your bouyancy/trim as you need to first focus on that, moving your tank up or down inside the cam bands is one way to adjust your trim. After you've done that you can figure out if the reg is pulling in your mouth (hose too short) or you've got a giant loop of excess reg hose hanging out there catching/snagging on things (hose too long). Also, switching to different length tanks (a short AL 63 versus a long HP120, for example) can affect the answer to your question......dive some and figure out what works for YOU.

 

[Dr Wu]

New diver here, when I am diving where should my regulator be? Should it be even with my jaw so that the hose just sweeps around to my mouth? Higher, lower?

Some may say I am crazy but the best place for your regulator in in your mouth. It makes it easier to breathe that way.

 

[Diver0001]

New diver here, when I am diving where should my regulator be? Should it be even with my jaw so that the hose just sweeps around to my mouth? Higher, lower?

If I understand correctly, you're asking how high your tank should go in your BCD....right?

I'm going to assume you're using a jacket type BCD. What I usually tell my students is that the best starting point to dial it in is for you to attach the tank to the BCD in such a way that the point where the tank valve screws into the tank should be about even with the top of the plastic backpack on the BCD.

This puts the regulator hose over your shoulder without any tension on the hose but without having the tank so high that you hit your head on the valve if you look up.

Why I say this is the right spot for starting to dial it in is because some divers may want to move the tank up slightly or down _slightly_ in order to affect their trim. You'll have see/feel for yourself if this applies to you. When dialing in your trim keep in mind that there are other options besides moving the tank. Moving the tank is a game of diminishing returns trim-wise.

R..

 

[spectrum]

Linedog

Generally the hose routing will not be truly perpendicular. It's more a result of where you mount your cylinder.
1) Not so low that you can't reach your valve.
2) At a height that contributes to you diving in good trim.
3) Within the limits of your mounting band(s).

Pete

 

[highdesert]

Just low enough so that when you tip your head back normally you don't bang it into you first stage ... good place to start.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

It's more important to think about positioning your tank to help you maintain good trim ... your hose is flexible, whereas your center of gravity will be, in large part, determined by where you place your tank.

If you find yourself constantly feet down, try moving your tank up a bit on the BCD. If you seem to be tilting head first, move it down a bit.

It won't make any noticeable difference in how your reg feels in your mouth ... but it will make a significant difference in how comfortable you feel swimming through the water.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Linedog]

Thank you all very much. I am working on trim issues also, feet down to much. Sounds like I need to move my tank up a touch.

 

[spectrum]

Thank you all very much. I am working on trim issues also, feet down to much. Sounds like I need to move my tank up a touch.

Remember that includes where you mount the cylinder and how you wear your BC. Pay just as much attention to how you adjust the shoulder straps as you do to hanging the cylinder.

 

[Diver0001]

Thank you all very much. I am working on trim issues also, feet down to much. Sounds like I need to move my tank up a touch.

possibly, but like I said in my previous post, this is a game of diminishing returns.

If you're feet down there may be other reasons for it and other ways to solve it. For example, one of the most common reasons for a newbie diver to be "feet down" is because theyr'e simply carrying too much weight around their middle. If your hips are "pushed down" by too much weight then.... well.... your legs are attached to your hips, so what will happen to your legs?

There are two things that are of primary importance to dialing in your trim.

1) how much ballast (dead weight) do you have
2) where is it?

There are several places you can attach your weight, working from top down, the most common positions are:

• Behind the shoulders (depends on BCD design)
• On the cam-band of the BCD
• In BCD weight pockets
• On the weight belt
• On the bottom portion of the tank
• Around the ankles

The position of your tank may have *some* effect but the position of the tank can't be adjusted much as compared to moving your weight around.

In your position, I would recommend the following:

• Do a very thorough buoyancy check with skilled buddy. The basis for everything is making sure you don't have *too* much weight, which is common among beginners.
• Move 1-2kg of weight off of your weight belt to either the position behind your shoulders or to the cam-band holding the tank onto the BCD
• Move about 1/2 of your remaining weight off of the weight belt and into the integrated weight pockets on your BCD. Make sure you read your BCD's owner's manual and don't overload the integrated weight pockets!

Only if that doesn't work then try moving the tank a bit. Even though this is counter-intuitive, if your tank is made of aluminium you may, In fact, find that you have more benefit from moving your tank _down_ a bit instead of up because they tend to be "butt-positive", especially as they empty. It may not work like this for you, but just keep it in mind.

As a beginning diver, I hope your instructor told you to do buoyancy checks on regular intervals. As you gain experience, you buoyancy control will improve, your breathing will improve, your feeling for it will develop and your trim will change. This is normal and the "dialing-in" process isn't something you do once. It's something you do over and over again as you gain experience. I have about 1500 dives and I still spend time on fine-tuning my weights, expecially if I change something.

R..