Triad
Registered
Hey, folks! Thanks for the awesome community here. You all played a key role in my decision to start diving. I just did my first OW class yesterday and had a great time, despite some minor equipment issues (my height and weight make it seem like I'm rather larger than I really am!) that will be remedied next week.
What I'm trying to figure out is primarily how buoyant I'm supposed to be with a fully deflated BCD and less than 1000 psi of air. With the BCD fully deflated and 4 pounds of weights, I found that I sank in 5 feet of water when I exhaled and ascended when I inhaled. Every moment I spent underwater, I was trying to control my buoyancy with by breathing, without holding my breath. By the end of the session, I was navigating in that 5 foot pool without breaking the surface or touching the bottom, though it still felt awkward, especially when trying to hover in one spot. But I did well enough that two of the assistant instructors complimented me on my buoyancy control, so I think I'm making progress in the right direction. I have a hunch that it's a good thing that I wouldn't be in a rapid, uncontrolled descent if my BCD were to deflate.
I could certainly ask my instructors these questions, but going in to my first class well-informed helped me immensely, so I'm trying to keep that habit up.
TL;DR: Is it normal/preferable to have a fully deflated BCD near the surface? Should I feel confident being able to control my buoyancy with my breathing with it deflated?
Thanks!
What I'm trying to figure out is primarily how buoyant I'm supposed to be with a fully deflated BCD and less than 1000 psi of air. With the BCD fully deflated and 4 pounds of weights, I found that I sank in 5 feet of water when I exhaled and ascended when I inhaled. Every moment I spent underwater, I was trying to control my buoyancy with by breathing, without holding my breath. By the end of the session, I was navigating in that 5 foot pool without breaking the surface or touching the bottom, though it still felt awkward, especially when trying to hover in one spot. But I did well enough that two of the assistant instructors complimented me on my buoyancy control, so I think I'm making progress in the right direction. I have a hunch that it's a good thing that I wouldn't be in a rapid, uncontrolled descent if my BCD were to deflate.
I could certainly ask my instructors these questions, but going in to my first class well-informed helped me immensely, so I'm trying to keep that habit up.
TL;DR: Is it normal/preferable to have a fully deflated BCD near the surface? Should I feel confident being able to control my buoyancy with my breathing with it deflated?
Thanks!