Why neutral buoyancy isn't

[diver 85]

Reminds me of another controversary, is infinity really infinity? Beacuse infinity is the measure of nothing in reality, can it really be something?

reminds me if there really is parallel light...

 

[divad]

Extra weight is my friend.

You're not "just an average diver" yet.

 

[simbrooks]

You're not "just an average diver" yet.

Actually i would say the contrary, that is the average diver's way because that was how they were taught and didnt want (didnt learn how) to progress. I would say that most folks on SB are above the median percentile when it comes to dive knowledge - which makes the average for this group somewhat higher than the entire diving population. But i do agree that he isnt doing himself any favours diving like this. Its like saying you would walk around all day carrying an extra 10# just because you can and couldnt be bothered to leave it behind.

 

[divad]

Actually i would say the contrary, that is the average diver's way because that was how they were taught and didnt want (didnt learn how) to progress. I would say that most folks on SB are above the median percentile when it comes to dive knowledge - which makes the average for this group somewhat higher than the entire diving population. But i do agree that he isnt doing himself any favours diving like this. Its like saying you would walk around all day carrying an extra 10# just because you can and couldnt be bothered to leave it behind.

You say potahto.

 

[Papa Steve]

Oh well. I wish that the other gals thought of me as "tall, young and stong" like TS+M. You left out dark and handsome though. Really, I am 67 years old, 5'8" and 190 pounds, half bald with a pot belly and flat feet. A real dork by anyones standards. I am somewhat stronger than the average bear because I worked construction all my life, but that's about it. I just don't think that buoyancy or proper weighting is a problem for me. Maybe it is for others. I seem to have gotten it at the start. I have dove (dived, diven) with as much as 8 pounds too much weight when I was using an AL100 a couple of months ago and didn't notice the difference while getting along under water. Maybe it's because I didn't pay attention. I just want to be sure that when I come up to the 5 meter stop that I can do it without struggling to stay down. Extra weight is my friend.

Some in life tend to be perfectionists and others are okay with a B+. If 20 minutes worth of work can get me a B, but it takes another 5 hours to get the A, I generally am okay settling with getting a B and moving on to something else. That being said, I also enjoy the hobbies of flying airplanes and rock climbing/rappeling. Those are two activites where not being a perfectionist will get you killed . . .I have a totally different attitude when I am flying a plane.
It sounds like you really enjoy diving and probably take in the whole experience. I'm new to diving and my limited training, research, observations, and experience would tell me it's more than just a leisure activity. Fine tuning buoyancy may or may not be a life saving skill but I would suggest that you strive to be the best in all of your diving skills to help maintain your "A" game. Though diving is very, very enjoyable it just doesn't seem to be an activity where a "just good enough" mentality is going to keep you in the game. Just my humble .02.

 

[Max Depth]

So you're worried about a little extra weight? What's the big deal? Every breath you take is going to pull air out of your tannk and change your buoyancy to some degree. You're only going to be down for an hour or so and the trip up the ladder shouldn't take you more than 15 seconds. If you are in any kind of decent physical condition that shouldn't be a problem.

Its not just about the effect a few extra pounds has on getting in/out of the boat. The more excess weight you have, the more air in your BC you will need to counteract it and stay neutral under water. The more air you have in your BC, the more susceptible you are to changes in buoyancy from slight changes in depth, so the more you have to add/vent to control your buoyancy.

Apart from wasting air, and time, it also creates more drag, which takes more effort to overcome, which results in more air consumption... and you wonder why you're an air pig.

In short, like everyone else has said, anything more than the minimum weight you need to hold a safety stop with an almost empty tank, is your enemy FAR more than you apparently realise.

 

[wedivebc]

Some in life tend to be perfectionists and others are okay with a B+. If 20 minutes worth of work can get me a B, but it takes another 5 hours to get the A, I generally am okay settling with getting a B and moving on to something else. That being said, I also enjoy the hobbies of flying airplanes and rock climbing/rappeling. Those are two activites where not being a perfectionist will get you killed . . .I have a totally different attitude when I am flying a plane.
It sounds like you really enjoy diving and probably take in the whole experience. I'm new to diving and my limited training, research, observations, and experience would tell me it's more than just a leisure activity. Fine tuning buoyancy may or may not be a life saving skill but I would suggest that you strive to be the best in all of your diving skills to help maintain your "A" game. Though diving is very, very enjoyable it just doesn't seem to be an activity where a "just good enough" mentality is going to keep you in the game. Just my humble .02.

Yes except bad buoyancy technique affects your buddies and everyone using the dive site. When someone with bad buoyancy control messes up my vis I get affected too. I had a DM say to my students one time, "a new diver can never have too much weight". We had some private words right there.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Yes except bad buoyancy technique affects your buddies and everyone using the dive site. When someone with bad buoyancy control messes up my vis I get affected too. I had a DM say to my students one time, "a new diver can never have too much weight". We had some private words right there.

We see the results of that mentality all the time.

Had a guy take a nitrox class with me a couple weeks ago. We showed up for the dives, and since there's not much for "skills" involved in nitrox class dives, I suggested that he take advantage of the fact that he had an instructor for the day ... what would he like to work on. He said "bouyancy control". After checking out his setup, I realized he was packing an awful lot of weight for his size and configuration. I suggested he leave 6 lbs of it in the car, and let's go see how he'd do. At the end of the dive we did a weight check, and removed another 4 lbs. At the end of the second dive he said those were the best dives he'd ever done.

Go figure ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Garrobo]

You see, you are all talking about the effects that excess weight has on me as a diver. It has no effect. I can paddle around under water with the rest of the bunch, not holding anyone up (actually I am usually out in front of the pack) and with an AL100 I can last as long as the rest even though I am an air hog. Probably because of my age. By the way the AL100 weighs 8 pounds more than the AL80. That's how I got the estimate of going 8 pounds over since I didn't change my lead weights. I didn't notice a thing. I get a kick out of the youngies fighting for breath when they board the boat after a dive. Most of them have no muscle stucture to talk about and no stamina. Probably because they have spent their lives playing video games and sitting in front of the computer all day, as it seems that some others of you also have. That or they have an ear ache or are sick at their stomache and can't make the second dive. Not me. I'm ready to go, excess weight or not. I love it. Maybe some day when I get a lot more diving experience I might be interested in fine tuning the weight issue. But for now I'm just enjoying the diving while I can do it. So, until then, I'll leave it to you perfectionists, big time instructors and anals to worry about it on your own. There are several of you who have made some disparaging remarks about me which I don't appreciate. To you I can only say: "Thank you for your interest in my welfare." I have run across this type many times in my life time. It's like it's my way and nothing else will do. I can handle it.

 

[D_B]

It does have an effect, one that your choosing not to notice , or more likely, you never have been weighted correctly in the first place, or you would notice the difference .. as I said, find your correct weight, then add 6 lbs to it and see if you think that it's OK then

Proper weight ... this has nothing to do with the weight your carrying up the ladder, or what your walking around in, it's the weight you need to stay neutral on an almost empty tank ... What test have you done to check it? or do you calculate it?