The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
I teach this a lot. First, trying to assess your weighting at the end of your dive is putting the cart before the horse. Think about it.
I recommend doing your first weight titration in a pool. Empty your weight pockets, so you have no weight in your BC. In the deep end of the pool, breathing normally on your regulator, cross your legs and arms. Have your buddy guesstimate how far you're sticking out of the water. Add a pound (0.5kg) for every inch (25mm) the top of you're head is above the water. Re-assess and keep adding weight until the top of your head is just awash. Stop. Exhale. You should be descending. That's it. Stop futzing with it.
Add 4 or 5 pounds (2-3kg) for salt water. You should be fine.
Now, if you already have your weights figured out, remember that the more relaxed you are, the less weight you need. Try dropping 2 pounds every now and then. If you're floaty at your safety stop, add it back. Remember, your breathing affects your position in the water column considerably. It's all about where you pause your breathing cycle. Pause with a full breath and you'll be the floatiest you can be unless you take a superbreath. Pause on the exhale and you'll be the sinkiest you can be unless you do a superexhale.
CAVEAT: Never, ever hold your breath!!! That means don't occlude your epiglottis at any time while you're at depth. BOYLES law really stands for "Breathe Or Your Lungs Explode, Stupid"
I recommend doing your first weight titration in a pool. Empty your weight pockets, so you have no weight in your BC. In the deep end of the pool, breathing normally on your regulator, cross your legs and arms. Have your buddy guesstimate how far you're sticking out of the water. Add a pound (0.5kg) for every inch (25mm) the top of you're head is above the water. Re-assess and keep adding weight until the top of your head is just awash. Stop. Exhale. You should be descending. That's it. Stop futzing with it.
Add 4 or 5 pounds (2-3kg) for salt water. You should be fine.
Now, if you already have your weights figured out, remember that the more relaxed you are, the less weight you need. Try dropping 2 pounds every now and then. If you're floaty at your safety stop, add it back. Remember, your breathing affects your position in the water column considerably. It's all about where you pause your breathing cycle. Pause with a full breath and you'll be the floatiest you can be unless you take a superbreath. Pause on the exhale and you'll be the sinkiest you can be unless you do a superexhale.
CAVEAT: Never, ever hold your breath!!! That means don't occlude your epiglottis at any time while you're at depth. BOYLES law really stands for "Breathe Or Your Lungs Explode, Stupid"
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