Most BCs have other dumps besides the valve. Different body orientation and use of the dumps on the bottom of your BC will really get all the air out!
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miketsp
Contributor
..snip..
I now realise that my weghting probably was correct, but the low air situation will be avoided from now on
From now on i think i will lead myselfand go the same way as the DM lol
My DM was actually very good, especially on my wreck penetrations, as he was always checking on my air situation
You're doing penetrations that require the use of the 3rds rule with less than 24 dives and yet you haven't got your weighting fully under control?
I find this post surprising to say the least.
OP
IvIcYrusIvI
Registered
PfcAJ
Contributor
What on earth is going on here...
Lets review: You don't have your weighting down, you have a handful of dives...but are doing wreck penetrations, decided to start your ascent with 300psi, and state that the DM was good because he was checking on your air situation...whatever that means.
My friend, you really need to think about whats going on with your diving. This is something to be enjoyed, not something to get either a) hurt or b) scared out of your mind over.
Lets review: You don't have your weighting down, you have a handful of dives...but are doing wreck penetrations, decided to start your ascent with 300psi, and state that the DM was good because he was checking on your air situation...whatever that means.
My friend, you really need to think about whats going on with your diving. This is something to be enjoyed, not something to get either a) hurt or b) scared out of your mind over.
OP
IvIcYrusIvI
Registered
ok... well the 300psi thing was a one time occurance at the start of my holiday (not on a wreck penetration), and i was just wanting to know about what people do in a low air situation about thier boyancy!? i realise that this was a very bad thing but as an inexperianced diver - these things can happen, and obviously i have learned by experaince (which isnt the best way i know).
the weighting issue, was not an issue at all as it was down to being very low on air.
yes the divemaster was keeping an eye on my air, as i had tasks to do for my spec, and he needed to see how much air i had before starting certain tasks!
i can see your concern though, and understand your point
thanks
the weighting issue, was not an issue at all as it was down to being very low on air.
yes the divemaster was keeping an eye on my air, as i had tasks to do for my spec, and he needed to see how much air i had before starting certain tasks!
i can see your concern though, and understand your point
thanks
amitsi
Contributor
assuming you were using a AL, try HP Steels
dschonbrun
Contributor
Honestly, an experienced diver wouldn't let themself get down to 300 psi. The general rule for open water is to be on the line at 750 and on the boat with 500. If you're doing overhead work, then the rule of thirds applies.
Whil all of us are happy you're excited about diving, don't let that excitement cloud your judgement.
Whil all of us are happy you're excited about diving, don't let that excitement cloud your judgement.
Bubbletrubble
Contributor
IvIcYrusIvI,
I have 3 comments which you may find helpful:
#1: Photographer as Buddy
I may be missing something here. Who was your buddy for this dive? Photographers tend to be a little absorbed in their craft, so it's usually better (especially for relatively inexperienced divers) to have one person taking pics and the other close by to help setup shots, point things out, etc. The photographer's buddy should be within "grabbing distance," just in case an emergency arises.
#2: Gas Management
TS&M made a great suggestion about learning gas management. This is key to understanding how much gas you should keep in reserve for a dive of a given depth. This goes waaaaay beyond the rule of thumb of surfacing with 500 psi. Remember that your tank holds your buddy's emergency gas...so your reserve should have enough for both you and your buddy (breathing heavily under stressful conditions) to ascend safely from depth. In addition, as you gain dive experience, you'll be able to figure out how much gas you breathe on average. In your pre-dive planning, you'll be able to calculate roughly how quickly you'll run through your gas at a given depth. As others have said, you plan your dive...and then dive your plan.
#3: Weight Check
I agree with the recommendation to do a proper weight check. To do this, I will generally take a few extra smaller weights on an easy shore dive. At the end of the dive when I'm in the shallows, I'll work with my buddy to do the weight check. At safety stop depth (10 or 15 fsw), I purge my reg so that I get down to less than 500psi (usually around 300 psi). If I can hold the depth comfortably, I hand off a small 1 or 2 pound weight to my buddy...and see if I can maintain depth again. If I find myself floating up, I vent my BCD. If I can then hold the SS depth, I'll hand off more weight to my buddy and repeat the process. At some time during this weight check, I will have emptied my BCD bladder of air completely...and I won't be able to hold my SS depth. On subsequent dive, I use the minimum amount of weight that enables me to hold my SS depth on a near-empty tank with empty BCD. Also, realize that you must do another weight check whenever you change your gear configuration (different tank, bcd, exposure protection, dive light, etc.).
If you do a proper weight check on a near-empty tank, you should be carrying enough weight for you to properly control your buoyancy at any depth equal to or deeper than SS depth. In the situation you described, I bet you were improperly weighted. There's also the possibility that you had an air bubble stuck in your BCD. As others have mentioned, you can figure out how to alter your body position to be able to vent the air bubble.
Enjoy the picture-taking and have fun...but above all else be safe!
I have 3 comments which you may find helpful:
#1: Photographer as Buddy
I may be missing something here. Who was your buddy for this dive? Photographers tend to be a little absorbed in their craft, so it's usually better (especially for relatively inexperienced divers) to have one person taking pics and the other close by to help setup shots, point things out, etc. The photographer's buddy should be within "grabbing distance," just in case an emergency arises.
#2: Gas Management
TS&M made a great suggestion about learning gas management. This is key to understanding how much gas you should keep in reserve for a dive of a given depth. This goes waaaaay beyond the rule of thumb of surfacing with 500 psi. Remember that your tank holds your buddy's emergency gas...so your reserve should have enough for both you and your buddy (breathing heavily under stressful conditions) to ascend safely from depth. In addition, as you gain dive experience, you'll be able to figure out how much gas you breathe on average. In your pre-dive planning, you'll be able to calculate roughly how quickly you'll run through your gas at a given depth. As others have said, you plan your dive...and then dive your plan.
#3: Weight Check
I agree with the recommendation to do a proper weight check. To do this, I will generally take a few extra smaller weights on an easy shore dive. At the end of the dive when I'm in the shallows, I'll work with my buddy to do the weight check. At safety stop depth (10 or 15 fsw), I purge my reg so that I get down to less than 500psi (usually around 300 psi). If I can hold the depth comfortably, I hand off a small 1 or 2 pound weight to my buddy...and see if I can maintain depth again. If I find myself floating up, I vent my BCD. If I can then hold the SS depth, I'll hand off more weight to my buddy and repeat the process. At some time during this weight check, I will have emptied my BCD bladder of air completely...and I won't be able to hold my SS depth. On subsequent dive, I use the minimum amount of weight that enables me to hold my SS depth on a near-empty tank with empty BCD. Also, realize that you must do another weight check whenever you change your gear configuration (different tank, bcd, exposure protection, dive light, etc.).
If you do a proper weight check on a near-empty tank, you should be carrying enough weight for you to properly control your buoyancy at any depth equal to or deeper than SS depth. In the situation you described, I bet you were improperly weighted. There's also the possibility that you had an air bubble stuck in your BCD. As others have mentioned, you can figure out how to alter your body position to be able to vent the air bubble.
Enjoy the picture-taking and have fun...but above all else be safe!
scubafool
Contributor
I personally like to set my weighting at the surface with about 200 or so PSI left. If I can sink with a deep exhalation, and float with a deep inhalation, than I am happy. IMO, you should be able to control your bouyancy at depths even shallower than your safety stop, in case you need to wait on the ascent line for other divers to board, or you need to descend to avoid boat traffic, etc.
Bubbletrubble
Contributor
Good point, scubafool. For the reasons you stated, it's important to be able to hold depths shallower than your safety stop. I would also add that it's _very_ important to have pinpoint control of your buoyancy from SS depth to the surface, since ideally divers should be ascending slowly in this depth range to minimize the possibility of DCI and AGE (arterial gas embolism). Some certification organizations recommend ascents in this range to be no faster than 30 feet per minute. This guideline is almost always violated by newer divers. At the risk of stating the obvious, from a 15 fsw safety stop depth, it should take at least 30 seconds to surface.
When I'm diving in areas with boat traffic, I usually take the additional precaution of being slightly negatively buoyant in the last 3 - 5 feet below the surface. This necessitates finning up a little, but it also means that, if a boat suddenly appears once I surface, I can exhale and have a fighting chance to get under it before it runs me over.
When I'm diving in areas with boat traffic, I usually take the additional precaution of being slightly negatively buoyant in the last 3 - 5 feet below the surface. This necessitates finning up a little, but it also means that, if a boat suddenly appears once I surface, I can exhale and have a fighting chance to get under it before it runs me over.
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