If you could change one thing about dive training...

[TMHeimer]

I suppose you could be using your fins/legs to wrap (one) around an anchor line at a safety stop or for some other reason (as mentioned in the PADI Deep course). Then you want to turn around for some reason, so you may use your hands.
Well, since we're scraping the bottom of the barrel on this hands discussion....

 

[boulderjohn]

I suppose you could be using your fins/legs to wrap (one) around an anchor line at a safety stop or for some other reason (as mentioned in the PADI Deep course). Then you want to turn around for some reason, so you may use your hands.
Well, since we're scraping the bottom of the barrel on this hands discussion....

Where is wrapping your legs around an anchor line mentioned in the PADI Deep course?

 

[Blackcrusader]

What is the value of the crossed legs?

Comfortable position. Also it means I need to use my lungs to control depth and have control of my buoyancy that way. It's just a relaxing position to be in. I wonder why some people might think it is not safe to be in that position? After all you need to have mastered buoyancy precision and control to do it. Divers in this forum have asked how to do it as they cannot do so.

 

[boulderjohn]

Years ago I met a paraplegic scuba diver. On land he was in a wheelchair; in the water, he was free of theat encumbrance and loved the feeling of weightlessness. He used webbed gloves for propulsion.

So, yes, I will grant it that if you do not have use fo your legs, either because you are a paraplegic or because you have decided to swim with your legs crossed, in those cases propulsion with the hands can be useful.

Is that why you apparently believe it should be taught in scuba classes, in case students want to dive with their legs crossed?

 

[VikingDives]

propulsion with the nads

My first response was, "This, I would like to see." But on second thought, maybe not.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Years ago I met a paraplegic scuba diver. On land he was in a wheelchair; in the water, he was free of theat encumbrance and loved the feeling of weightlessness. He used webbed gloves for propulsion.
So, yes, I will grant it that if you do not have use fo your legs, either because you are a paraplegic or because you have decided to swim with your legs crossed, in those cases propulsion with the nads can be useful.

Is that why you apparently believe it should be taught in scuba classes, in case students want to dive with their legs crossed?

It seems I do it on occasion. Just hovering above this fan searching with my torch for small marine life to video or take pictures of. Sometimes in a drift dive I just use my lungs for depth control cross me legs and go with the flow. What if a diver got cramps in both legs at the same time and could not use them for finning? Hands certainly come in hand then.

 

[TMHeimer]

Where is wrapping your legs around an anchor line mentioned in the PADI Deep course?

1994-2003 PADI Deep Diver manual, page 27 (photo included).

 

[boulderjohn]

1994-2003 PADI Deep Diver manual, page 27 (photo included).

I don't have that. So please explain it. It says to wrap the legs around the anchor line and use your hands for propulsion? If you are using your hands for propulsion, where are you gong? Are you pulling the boat and its anchor with you?

 

[TMHeimer]

I don't have that. So please explain it. It says to wrap the legs around the anchor line and use your hands for propulsion? If you are using your hands for propulsion, where are you gong? Are you pulling the boat and its anchor with you?

It says--"If hands occupied...can slow or stop your ascent on a line by locking your elbow around it. To remain stopped for a while with both hands free, wrap your leg around the line..... for longer stops, such as to adjust your weight belt".

I only said this may be an occasion where your legs are occupied, that you may use your hands to turn around-- maybe to look at something? Or I guess you could grab the line to spin to look at something. Just trying to think of some time your feet are occupied after all this extended discussing of Buddha positions, whether hand use should be mentioned in OW, etc., which seems to have bordered on the ridiculous.

 

[boulderjohn]

It says--"If hands occupied...can slow or stop your ascent on a line by locking your elbow around it. To remain stopped for a while with both hands free, wrap your leg around the line..... for longer stops, such as to adjust your weight belt".

I only said this may be an occasion where your legs are occupied, that you may use your hands to turn around-- maybe to look at something? Or I guess you could grab the line to spin to look at something. Just trying to think of some time your feet are occupied after all this extended discussing of Buddha positions, whether hand use should be mentioned in OW, etc., which seems to have bordered on the ridiculous.

Don't forget the title of the thread, which tells what you would like to change about OW instruction. One change suggested was to train students to use their hands for propulsion. I asked why you would want to do this, and I am getting answers about the value of propelling yourself with your hands while your legs are crossed.

I'm just trying to figure out why I should include hand propulsion in dive training, and so far the only thing I have seen so far is that it is essential when you are diving with your legs crossed. So, if that is indeed th "one thing you would change about dive training," it is good to know there is a reason.