Mastering Buoyancy skills

[3rdEye]

and many dives later, still practicing my buoyancy.....i feel like i've gotten much better. Still working on getting my trim dialed in perfect....and working on kicks as well. Here's some photos showing my trim, and a link to a video of me practicing over a platform at Dutch today.

YouTube - buoyancy control


feel free to post any criticisms or observations/suggestions

[Jenn]

I have enjoyed reading everyones advice regarding bouancy. This is something I am looking to master too. Everyone has some great advice and I can't wait to get out there and try some of the things out that I have read from you guys. Thanks for the advice.

[rongoodman]

Originally Posted by 3rdEye

and many dives later, still practicing my buoyancy.....i feel like i've gotten much better. Still working on getting my trim dialed in perfect....and working on kicks as well. Here's some photos showing my trim, and a link to a video of me practicing over a platform at Dutch today.

YouTube - buoyancy control


feel free to post any criticisms or observations/suggestions

The first one looks pretty good. In the second two, a slight arch in your back might keep your knees from dropping.

FWIW, there's been a discussion on one of the other boards about relying on lungs for buoyancy control, and several people have pointed out that if you depend on them too much, you're liable to lose it when you get task loaded and your breathing pattern changes. Their recommendation was to use the wing/BC to get neutral, and to then breath normally.

[stairman]

I use my lungs to keep from touching the bottom occationally.If my wing doesnt catch me in time.Its important to remember that locking the throat should never be done when ascending.We all know that but some may get caught up in buancy practice and make a mistake.I read once that a lung injury can occur with only 3 ft. of depth change while ascending if the glottis is closed.In cave diving the constant up and down profile of the columns will definetly make you proficient in buancy and trim.Touching the bottom in certain places could cause a silt storm that would decrease vis dramatically.Timing is the key to know when to inject air and how long.Lung power[to stop desending]is a last resort because a headacke can develop from increased loading of co2 from incomplete respiration.I was trained to inhale slowly,pause for 2-3 seconds and exhale slowly but more important FULLY! The pause is not done by locking the throat.If you dont exhale fully before taking in a new breath you will retain some co2.

[brandon]

I usually use the safety stop as a good 3 minutes to practice buoyancy control in 15-18 feet of water. Nothing extreme, I just try to hover as motionless as possible without ascending or descending more than a couple inches.

-B

[sravin1]

[quote=3rdEye;18488]ok, so there's been several threads on buoyancy, and we all know it's one of the most important skills for being a good diver. And most of the responses to these threads have suggested practice practice pratice. I mean we all know how the power inflator works, and the general purpose of our BC, but I didn't learn much technique in my OW class concerning that, maybe more is covered in peak performance, but who knows when I'll be taking that. I can do a fin pivot and a hover, but I'm more concerned about adjusting to different depths quickly and gracefully.

What I would like to hear and what I think could help some others is specific technique for mastering that type of control. Those of you who are really good at this, what specific cues do you react to, or what specific methods do you use to control buoyancy?


here are two drills we practised with our instructor.

1. in the quarry where we got certified, there is a platform from which you can practise giant strides and other entries. our instructor hangs a rope tied to a weight from the platform into the water. the rope has a carabiner attached to it every 5 feet (knot at every 5 feet) up to 35 feet. we would have to perform a controlled descent and remove the carabiner from every knot. after this we would have to perform a controlled ascent where we attach the carabiner back to the knot.

2. we would have bars t 15, 25 and 35 feet. we would then descend to 15 feet and remain parallel to the bar for 3 minutes. then to 25 feet and remain there for 3 minutes and then to 35. we would then do the same on the ascent. it is imperative that you do not move your feet while you are performing this skill. no propulsion. just buoyancy.

[JipThePeople]

I consider myself to have pretty good buoyancy skills. I must admit, I got more out of the PADI Peak Buoyancy Specialty course than I anticipated. It was only two dives, but it was a really good course. I think with any dive course, you get out of it what you put into it.

[freeski4ever]

LOL!!!! Why am I not surprised that PADI has a "PADI Peak Buoyancy Specialty Course"?? I wonder when they will implement their "regulator breathing course"

[scubadiver888]

Originally Posted by 3rdEye

all good suggestions so far,

one question, why use the lungs for small changes, when you can swim up or down easily, and quickly? or are we talking about when hovering here? I guess it seems like to me, that would require some concentration on breathing, which I tend to not think about....but maybe i need to think about it until it becomes second nature?

First, what everyone has been noting is that air compresses with depth. If there is air in your BCD it will compress with depth and you need to adjust by adding air to the BCD. If you have a wet suit, the thicker the suit, the more air in the neoprene. The air will compress at depth and you will have to add air to your BCD to adjust. The reverse happens as you come up.

I'm not fantastic at buoyancy... yet... but the one thing I have noticed is that for basic recreational diving, small adjusts works best. If I notice myself becoming negatively buoyant it is probably too late. I've been getting in the habit of giving a little air before I notice I need it. I just get a feel for it. As I'm going down my mind thinks, "I have been travelling down for a bit, give a little squirt." I do it more often in fresh water than salt water. I do it more often if I'm wearing 14mm of neoprene instead of 3mm.

Second, if you are swimming up and down in the water column, you are using up air. The more you swim the more air you use up. Since I've learnt to use my breath for the small adjustments I am never the first guy out of air. My 30 minute dives are now 60 minute dives. it is AMAZING how much a difference this can make. I think it might also be because you are more aware of your breathing if you use it to control your depth.

Darrell