While most and many of the suggestions above are good techniques to use during ascents, a few are less than safe.
- Never breath in deeply, ascent a few feet and then exhale. This is beginning to teach breath holding and should be avoided. Skip breathing is also a no-no.
*It only takes a few feet of over-expansion to cause DCI.
- Never use, "adding air to a BCD to begin or during an Ascent" so that you are not kicking. As has been said, "Riding the BCD or using the BCD as an elevator", can lead to serious injuries and SHOULD NEVER be suggested or taught to beginners.
Suggesting or "teaching" advanced techiniques to new/beginning divers, can and is hazardous. The "controlled buoyant ascent", is not a Skill in the Rescue Course. * If this is being "taught" in a Rescue class, it is outside of PADI standards and the Instructor/ DM should look at that and correct themselves.
Hopefully Proper Weighting, for the End of the Dive;
has been taught.
Proper Ascent Positioning;
Swim into a Feet Down, Head Up position. Left Hand holding the deflator up, with finger only on the deflator button (care should be given that fingers are not on the inflator button also) and the Depth gauage or computer in right hand in front of face so it can be monitiored..... then swimming up from a Neturally Buoyancy state, will keep you in control and safe.
If you are not controling your ascent, read "kicking", and something else is causing your ascent, you're setting yourself up for trouble.
Get control over your weighting before you dive (use a 500psi tank to check it at 15ft., get control over your total dive buoyancy by proper positioning and get control over your rate of ascent by how strongly you kick (ie you stop kicking and you should stop ascending).
For your own sake, DO NOT RIDE THE BCD during an Ascent !
my .02
- Never breath in deeply, ascent a few feet and then exhale. This is beginning to teach breath holding and should be avoided. Skip breathing is also a no-no.
*It only takes a few feet of over-expansion to cause DCI.
- Never use, "adding air to a BCD to begin or during an Ascent" so that you are not kicking. As has been said, "Riding the BCD or using the BCD as an elevator", can lead to serious injuries and SHOULD NEVER be suggested or taught to beginners.
Suggesting or "teaching" advanced techiniques to new/beginning divers, can and is hazardous. The "controlled buoyant ascent", is not a Skill in the Rescue Course. * If this is being "taught" in a Rescue class, it is outside of PADI standards and the Instructor/ DM should look at that and correct themselves.
Hopefully Proper Weighting, for the End of the Dive;
has been taught.
Proper Ascent Positioning;
Swim into a Feet Down, Head Up position. Left Hand holding the deflator up, with finger only on the deflator button (care should be given that fingers are not on the inflator button also) and the Depth gauage or computer in right hand in front of face so it can be monitiored..... then swimming up from a Neturally Buoyancy state, will keep you in control and safe.
If you are not controling your ascent, read "kicking", and something else is causing your ascent, you're setting yourself up for trouble.
Get control over your weighting before you dive (use a 500psi tank to check it at 15ft., get control over your total dive buoyancy by proper positioning and get control over your rate of ascent by how strongly you kick (ie you stop kicking and you should stop ascending).
For your own sake, DO NOT RIDE THE BCD during an Ascent !
my .02