Getting my own tanks

[UWZen]

Another thing to consider: feeing like you are being pulled into the seahorse posture by your weight distribution is often (not always) a sign of being overweighted.

What process did you use to determine your weighting needs? A lot of classes only pay lip service to actually teaching students how to properly weight themselves (even PPB classes) and students come out with only a basic idea about floating eye level without understanding the basic requirements of minimal ballast. On the other hand, you might have it spot on, and you now just have to play with weight placement, and tank position.

 

[Marie13]

Another thing to consider: feeing like you are being pulled into the seahorse posture by your weight distribution is often (not always) a sign of being overweighted.

What process did you use to determine your weighting needs? A lot of classes only pay lip service to actually teaching students how to properly weight themselves (even PPB classes) and students come out with only a basic idea about floating eye level without understanding the basic requirements of minimal ballast. On the other hand, you might have it spot on, and you now just have to play with weight placement, and tank position.

I am naturally very buoyant. I have actually reduced my lead somewhat. 24 lbs with 5mm and a bit less than 30 diving dry. It's been 2 months since I dove dry and I'm not sure what it would be now that I've been spending a lot of time working on my breathing and buoyancy which is much improved over the past few months. The amount of weight I need to carry is why I finally went to steels.

Given that I can actually have decent trim at times makes me think it's more of a posture thing. I've been way too light in the past (months ago) and it's too much of a struggle to stay down. I also usually carry a 30cft pony slung on my left side, which actually seems to help overall. I'd rather be a bit heavy than too light.

ETA: in my buoyancy class, we used the method with a nearly empty tank to see how much weight took me to eye level. I don't remember exact amount, would have to look in my logbook. That was with my drysuit, though.

 

[stuartv]

While I agree with your sentiment, not all shops I've been in agree it. Ive personally heard and been told all kinds of stupidity about why our tanks couldn't be filled. That includes refusals for Nitrox from multiple shops around the country because of either no Nitrox sticker or the ones we had "werent legal".

Those would fall into the category I identified earlier as "wanting to sell stickers".

If a shop flat out won't put Nitrox in an O2 Clean tank just because it doesn't have a Nitrox sticker, I'm not sure I would really want to get a fill from them anyway. What other totally stupid things do they think with regards to filling tanks? It's okay to have a running car outside the open door to the fill station - because the wind is blowing the other way?

 

[MichaelMc]

Given that I can actually have decent trim at times makes me think it's more of a posture thing.

Marie, what happens if you are horizontal in the water and then go still in your arms and legs, such as hands clasped and legs crossed so they do not unconsciously kick? It is an easier test in a wet suit than in a dry as there is less air shifting around, and easier in still water. You can do a bit with posture (arm/leg position) but I try to distribute my weights so I stay horizontal if I become a statue. Then there is less to do with arm/legs and they can be used just for dynamic stuff like air use etc. It's easier to see with frog kick as it has a glide phase that points out any head/tail miss-placement of weights. I'm moving toward wishing all instruction used frog kick not flutter, for that built in glide pause that highlights trim issues and encourages them being fixed. Trim in a wet suit may be a different process that in dry, as there is no bubble to shape with your body, (from my reading only. I've never dove dry).

Awesome on the new tanks. I want some new Fabers, but LP50s, as pony/baby side.

 

[Landau]

Marie,

I've got no advice but I love your wetsuit with the yellow lines. Very Cousteau. I may need one. What does Bare call it?

Also loved the "Get Tanked" slogan in the background of your tank photo.

 

[Marie13]

Marie,

I've got no advice but I love your wetsuit with the yellow lines. Very Cousteau. I may need one. What does Bare call it?

Also loved the "Get Tanked" slogan in the background of your tank photo.

Wetsuit is the Bare Evoke. The Get Tanked slogan is on a display of scuba tank shaped water bottles at DRIS.

 

[Landau]

Rats, they only do yellow in the women's suits. Wrong shape for me. I'll have to resign myself to looking less stylish than you.

 

[Marie13]

Rats, they only do yellow in the women's suits. Wrong shape for me. I'll have to resign myself to looking less stylish than you.

 

[KenGordon]

Probably just writing incorrectly, plus I'm on my phone. I'm often head-UP aka Seahorse Syndrome.

So if I'm understanding correctly that others using HP80s tend to be too much head DOWN, then maybe they will trim out correctly with me. Correct me if I'm midunderstanding.

Trim is not entirely a balancing act based on a static centre of gravity, especially in a dry suit. Being head heavy in COG terms may lead to a head up position in the water in order to find a comfortable, stable (ish) place.

Sometimes it helps to try the opposite of what you *think* will work. If things get worse, good, you have checked your thinking, it not then maybe time to throw away the drawing board.

 

[Marie13]

Bifur and Bofur had a much happier time in the water at Haigh today than Bofur had in the Mirkwood Forest River. (you'll only get The Hobbit reference if you've read the book).

They are so much easier to dive than AL80s! I was able to drop 4 lbs of lead. Tried an additional 2 lbs on second dive, but I felt maybe just a bit too light. They trimmed out pretty well, and I was less head up, although still some, per buddy for first dive. Also much easier to deal with on land since they're smaller. I'm very glad I didn't wait until the winter to get them! Feel perfect for my size.

I was unsure of where to take the lead off, so I took 1lb out of each waist and trim pocket. That left me with 4lbs total on my waist, and 4lbs total in trim pockets for first dive. Dive buddy (experienced diver) thought I looked a bit heavy, so I took out an additional 2lbs on second dive from waist pockets, leaving me with 2lbs total at waist. Not quite sure about that.

I'll stay with 4lbs off for my southern Lake Huron dives next Sunday (Regina and Mary Alice B. wrecks out of Sanilac). Found out the guy whose boat I'm diving on has a couple of HP80s for sale, and depending on what condition/price, I might take those off his hands.

ETA: would it help any to move the tank UP some? I can't move my cam bands into different slots in the STA due to the weighted insert I have.