Heavy legs affect trim

ohecht · Jul 31, 2011

Hi,

I dive in warm waters without a wetsuit. I wear a swimsuit and a lycra shirt.
I use a Halcyon Infinity with an AL80 tank and Apollo BIO-FIN PRO XT fins. Since these are warm waters I don't have any additional weights and only use the SS back plate.

While I dive I notice that although I have no weights on my waist my legs are heavy and I can't maintain a horizontal trim, even though I use a BP/W I get vertical if I don't use the fins.
I would like to have some advice on how to avoid this, is the only way to fix this is by changing my fins to a positively buoyant fins or are there any other options cause I like my apollos and don't want to change them.

Thanks a lot,
Oren.

DevonDiver · Jul 31, 2011

Is your position like this:

Or like this?

Leg positioning has a lever effect on your centre-of-gravity... and can pull your torso down.

ohecht · Jul 31, 2011

At first they were at position A, and most of my dives I was doing like so.

After reading a bit about DIR and seeing a few videos I tried position B but still I was not able to maintain horizontal trim. I tried using the frog kick but when I tried bending my knees It was much harder maintaining a horizontal trim and I would get vertical much faster. I also tried stretching my arms forward as I have a wrist mounted computer & compass and I already dive with my arms in front of me but that didn't help either.

Mopar · Jul 31, 2011

I have considered using milk jugs and caveline attached to my ankles.

ohecht · Jul 31, 2011

Mopar:
I have considered using milk jugs and caveline attached to my ankles.

** 5char **

Splitlip · Jul 31, 2011

I've real issues myself. Bending the knees as in Andy's post will help.

Sorry to say, ditch the Apollos and get a less negative fin. That helps a lot.

ohecht · Jul 31, 2011

I don't wanna ditch my Apollos, I really like them.
I will give position B a second chance and do it more slowly and notice the exact position shift I have after each movement which I didn't do last time.

Just out of curiosity, which fins are less negative? I know the jets and the F1 are negative, what other options are there?

Quero · Jul 31, 2011

Mopar:
I have considered using milk jugs and caveline attached to my ankles.

That's cute, and actually not too far off a possible aid for floating the feet a little more. Before getting rid of your very heavy fins, try wearing them with really thick neoprene booties. Those may make your feet just enough more buoyant to help keep you in trim. Otherwise, you'll just have to get lighter fins. What is it that you like about the Bio fins? I find fins that sink my feet really annoying, and I can't imagine liking any piece of gear that forces me into a constant battle to overcome issues it introduces.

Jax · Jul 31, 2011

BTW, where is your tank? Can you reach the valve, or is it too low?

stairman · Jul 31, 2011

ohecht:
I don't wanna ditch my Apollos, I really like them.
I will give position B a second chance and do it more slowly and notice the exact position shift I have after each movement which I didn't do last time.

Just out of curiosity, which fins are less negative? I know the jets and the F1 are negative, what other options are there?

Dive-rite fins are the lightest Ive found.EXP Spring Heel Fins by Dive Rite - Dive Gear Express

Heavy legs affect trim

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