Heavy legs. Suggestions?

[Roberto Inzerillo]

Hi,
I'm relatively new to scuba, collecting dives one after another, having fun But I'm totally unhappy with my trim. I tend to have heavy legs, I can't stay horizontal _and_ steady in any way. I keep turning head up and feet down whenever I stop moving :-(
Any suggestion?

This is my setup:
- I'm 1.85cm, 82Kg
- I swim in salt water
- Seac Masterdry 7mm suit
- (1) 5Kg on my belt
- 15l steel bottle
- Mares jacket BCD
- (2) Scubapro Jetfin (each one weighs 1.6kg)

A few notes about that, so you know why I struggle and what I already did to compensate.
(1) + (2): this combination offers me neutral buoyancy at 0m and 5m. Less then 5Kg on the waist makes me too positive and I can't stay put at 5m safety stop at the end of the dive :-(
I know I could go for less then 5Kg (I manage with 4Kg but it's critical), many already told me to try, and I did, but when I do, I can't stay at 5m without finning downward or grabbing at something to stay down (and I really try! emptying lungs, pushing out every air bubble outside my jacket and the suit ... you name it, I did it).

(1) + (2) I swapped the Jetfins with a pair of Cressi Pro Light (each one weighs 1kg, very light in comparison) and moved 1Kg to the belt (now it's 6Kg on the waist). I think I will come back to the Jetfins when I buy me a drysuit, not before.
That helped a lot with the trim, staying horizontal is now easyer but still not perfect. I can comfortably swim feet up, but as soon as I stop the rotation starts again, slower then before but still ...

(2) I will try a pair of Apeks RK3 (not the HD ones) in the next future because I like the way that kind of fin performs and because the Cressi are sooooo long! The RK3 are not so heavy as the Jetfins, but not so light as the Cressi. Will let you know what happens.

I tried to move the bottle a bit upward, so that its weight position counterbalances that on the belt. But I think I reached the max, I start touching the first stage with my head when I tilt it up/back... that's not good.

I guess I have to move some more weight up .. but how? I'm not too keen on moving and anchoring some weight to the top of the bottle, or should I really opt for that?

I'm open for suggestions and will try everything that makes sense ;-)

 

[drk5036]

Switching to lighter fins is a good first start. The actual WEIGHT of the fin itself is irrelevant. The buoyancy is what matters, and the jet fins are negatively buoyant. Something like the standard RK3 should be about neutral or slightly positive so that should help.

Add two weight pockets to your upper cam band, and put two kilos on each side. The remaining weight can be kept on the waist band or belt.

using 5 kg with a 7 mm is completely reasonable, so I don’t see any reason why you need to remove more weight, especially if you’ve done a weight check. Just move the weight around to modify your trim!

I just checked and saw you’re diving with a mares jacket bcd. In general, a jacket will always push your towards a foot down position. If you really want to maintain a good horizontal trim you’d benefit from switching to a backplate and wing setup.

 

[Roberto Inzerillo]

As a sidenote ... what about the 7mm neoprene suit? I read that at 10m deep, the 7mm neoprene positive buoyancy is lost because of water pressure compressing the air inside.

Is that maybe why I have very less problems managing my buoyancy at depth in comparison with the 5m critical stop that forces me to use such a heavy weight belt?
I wonder how and how much this effect has a role in my struggle with the trim.

 

[Roberto Inzerillo]

I just checked and saw you’re diving with a mares jacket bcd. In general, a jacket will always push your towards a foot down position. If you really want to maintain a good horizontal trim you’d benefit from switching to a backplate and wing setup.

Noted, and I'm already considering the BPW setup for the future but I'm not in a hurry to change gear right now.

 

[Roberto Inzerillo]

Something like the standard RK3 should be about neutral or slightly positive so that should help.

That's why I bought them, let's hope it helps Will let you know.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Do move a couple up to your cam band.

Where do you set the weights on your belt? Are they evenly distrubuted on either side of you? Riding on your hip bones, so to speak? Do you have any laying on your lower back?

 

[Roberto Inzerillo]

Add two weight pockets to your upper cam band, and put two kilos on each side. The remaining weight can be kept on the waist band or belt.

On my BCD I only have one band, and ... I don't know, is it really safe to put weight there? I feel like it makes the band around the bottle less "safe/secure" ... or am I paranoid?
I could mount a second cam band (there's room on my BCD, see pic) just for that purpose. What do you reckon?

 

[Roberto Inzerillo]

Where do you set the weights on your belt? Are they evenly distrubuted on either side of you? Riding on your hip bones, so to speak? Do you have any laying on your lower back?

See pic for distribution.

 

[Roberto Inzerillo]

Do move a couple up to your cam band.

Something like that, right?
Or maybe on a secondary cam band, to be used just for that purpose?

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

I sometimes use a camband for extra weight. You don't need to snake it through the bcd, just put it around the tank wherever you want it. OMS makes cute little weight pockets.

If the RK3's don't work try the Deep 6 fins. Super light, super stiff, and super groovy colors.