Blackwood
Contributor
Nitrox has no effect on buoyancy...
Well, if we really want to spit hairs, it does. Since O2 is ever so slightly more dense than N2, it should have helped 'Joe' rather than hindered him.
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Nitrox has no effect on buoyancy...
I also like dumping from my butt dump on the surface to begin the descent. That has a tendency to keep you in that skydiver position and not put your feet down.
Good post... Thanks... but I can't resist telling a very funny (at least it was at the time) story.
I used to work at an LDS (now partly owned by the guy I'm referring to in this story.) The name has been changed to save him the embarrassment... but he was supposedly a Navy Diver and according to the website.. instrumental in the recovery of the Atomic Bomb off Rota Spain.
In any event, I was "in charge" of the quarry on this particular day. I was standing at the top of the hill (talking to a couple of people) overlooking the entry beach when I heard a bunch of splashing and grunting. It sounded like someone was in trouble... so I looked over the edge of the hill and saw this diver flailing around on the surface in what appeared to be an attempt to descend. I quickly noted that His BCD was fully inflated. I waited for him to pop his head up out of the water then yelled down to him...
"Hey Joe, what are you doing down there." He turned around and yelled back "I'm testing out this Nitrox I just got certified on."... So I yelled back... "Why are you splashing around on the surface?"
To which he replied, "I can't get down... I think it's something to do with this Nitrox or something!"
To which I replied..." Joe, let some air out of your damn BC!"
He let some air out and down he went... We can all sleep better knowing Joe now teaches students to dive... and maybe even teaches them the benefits of Nitrox!
Sorry... that's another thread ...
Nitrox has no effect on buoyancy... but as Bob pointed out... kicking your fins does, having a partially inflated BCD does, anxiety does (just relax,) improper weighting does, type of water (salt vs fresh does,) the thickness/material of your wetsuit/drysuit does, type of tank does (steel vs Aluminum,) etc..
The "skydiver" descent is the best descent to use... been teaching that for years from pool one...
Thanks again Bob for a great post.
I also like dumping from my butt dump on the surface to begin the descent.
Another good post Bob.
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Frankly, I'm surprised at the number of divers that still descend in a vertical or heads up position.
It complements and reinforces Larry Taylor's "barbie" imagery which can be found on the U.Mich site (Visualization For Improved Swimming Efficiency & Increased Bottom Time).Once you've gotten down a few feet [ . . . ] simply extend your legs and point your fins back (think ballerina). As you descend, the motion of your body in the water will push on the tops of your fins and naturally start rotating your body.