Heavy Legs Affects My Trim
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Kharon
Contributor
I had the same problem. I bought a couple of pockets for the tank band and moved weight up there and it completely solved the problem. I use both Aeris Velocity 3X (heavy) and Accel (neutral) fins so I distribute the weight depending. Two thirds on tank with the 3x and half with the Accel.
You just need to learn how to scull. Sculling is different than Finning. It's basically moving your feet in the same motion as if you were treading water with your fins on except doing it while on your stomach so that your feet are upside down. There are usually does good video to learn how to do this. I would check those out. Also I would find an instructor that specializes in cave diving because they could teach this skill most likely better than an open water instructor could. Schooling is also essential to learning how to fin backwards
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
DukeAMO
Contributor
Yes, getting your feet up will help, but people who insist that gravity doesn't matter are being a little bit impractical, IMHO. If your weight is balanced, you won't have to fight to stay in a proper swimming position; you'll be able to maintain your position in a true hover with little effort. Before I started using my trim pockets, I could get into a proper position (horizontal, arms forward, feet up) and hold still, and within a few seconds I would be vertical, feet down. Not cool!
One thing I didn't see mentioned here is that you can put an ankle weight or even two (if you're wearing tons of neoprene) on the top of your tank, using ankle weights, similar to these: Ankle Weights (1 Pair) by Durward Scuba Diving Soft Wei - Weights : House of Scuba
Because of the nature of leverage (weight * lever length), moving just a little bit of weight up to the top of the tank, farther from your center of gravity, can have as much of an effect as moving twice as much weight up to a trim pocket.
I personally end up having just over half of my weight in the dump-able hip pockets, 1/3 in the trim pockets, and 2-4lbs (depending on wetsuit) on the tank neck, below the regulator. It works so well for me, that I bring the ankle weights on vacation. The DMs and so on are happy as long as there's enough weight in the dump-able pockets to make you reasonably buoyant if you have to drop the weights in an emergency.
One thing I didn't see mentioned here is that you can put an ankle weight or even two (if you're wearing tons of neoprene) on the top of your tank, using ankle weights, similar to these: Ankle Weights (1 Pair) by Durward Scuba Diving Soft Wei - Weights : House of Scuba
Because of the nature of leverage (weight * lever length), moving just a little bit of weight up to the top of the tank, farther from your center of gravity, can have as much of an effect as moving twice as much weight up to a trim pocket.
I personally end up having just over half of my weight in the dump-able hip pockets, 1/3 in the trim pockets, and 2-4lbs (depending on wetsuit) on the tank neck, below the regulator. It works so well for me, that I bring the ankle weights on vacation. The DMs and so on are happy as long as there's enough weight in the dump-able pockets to make you reasonably buoyant if you have to drop the weights in an emergency.
I think a lot of you are arguing past one another.
You cannot fight physics. The body underwater experiences a mixture of forces which are lifting it (positive) and forces which are sinking it (negative). If those forces are properly aligned, the body will remain in position at rest; if they are not, the body will rotate until they are. If a diver is good body position (which has a significant effect on the position in which one will come to rest) and, when motionless, notes that his feet sink, then too much lift is high on the body, or too much weight is low on it. The wetsuit diver has limited options for correcting this: They can change fins, move the tank, or move whatever lead they wear. The dry suit diver has a little more flexibility, by being able to position the air in the suit -- but it's a double-edged sword, because too much air in the feet can make the boots come off, or can seriously complicate an ascent.
Almost ANY combination of equipment can be balanced, with some effort, if enough actual lead ballast is involved. The people who get into serious issues are the ones diving warm with no exposure protection, who have nothing to move -- a set of negative fins can compel a feet-down position in that case, because one simply can't move the tank up high enough to balance them. But someone wearing the amount of neoprene you are describing ALWAYS has plenty of lead to move around. The trick is to figure out where to put it. But one must first be sure that body position isn't defeating the purpose -- a diver who is flexing at the hips and allowing the legs to drop below them that way will always end up out of trim.
The precise nature of the BC is irrelevant, and aluminum tanks can sometimes even make the job easier, by requiring more lead ballast that can be moved.
Achieving good body position AND locating weight correctly is what I believe Diver0001 is describing as good technique. Several other posters have not included the weight positioning as a component of technique, which is why I think you are arguing with one another. The best body position and finning technique in the world will not balance an unbalanced gear composition, and the best diver in the world will be unable to be motionless if the gear is sufficiently maldistributed.
BTW, here is Rob, diving in gear which was entirely new to him. The only thing he is wearing of his own is his mask:
Edited to add that he's the one in trim . . . 
You cannot fight physics. The body underwater experiences a mixture of forces which are lifting it (positive) and forces which are sinking it (negative). If those forces are properly aligned, the body will remain in position at rest; if they are not, the body will rotate until they are. If a diver is good body position (which has a significant effect on the position in which one will come to rest) and, when motionless, notes that his feet sink, then too much lift is high on the body, or too much weight is low on it. The wetsuit diver has limited options for correcting this: They can change fins, move the tank, or move whatever lead they wear. The dry suit diver has a little more flexibility, by being able to position the air in the suit -- but it's a double-edged sword, because too much air in the feet can make the boots come off, or can seriously complicate an ascent.
Almost ANY combination of equipment can be balanced, with some effort, if enough actual lead ballast is involved. The people who get into serious issues are the ones diving warm with no exposure protection, who have nothing to move -- a set of negative fins can compel a feet-down position in that case, because one simply can't move the tank up high enough to balance them. But someone wearing the amount of neoprene you are describing ALWAYS has plenty of lead to move around. The trick is to figure out where to put it. But one must first be sure that body position isn't defeating the purpose -- a diver who is flexing at the hips and allowing the legs to drop below them that way will always end up out of trim.
The precise nature of the BC is irrelevant, and aluminum tanks can sometimes even make the job easier, by requiring more lead ballast that can be moved.
Achieving good body position AND locating weight correctly is what I believe Diver0001 is describing as good technique. Several other posters have not included the weight positioning as a component of technique, which is why I think you are arguing with one another. The best body position and finning technique in the world will not balance an unbalanced gear composition, and the best diver in the world will be unable to be motionless if the gear is sufficiently maldistributed.
BTW, here is Rob, diving in gear which was entirely new to him. The only thing he is wearing of his own is his mask:
DukeAMO
Contributor
eelnoraa
Contributor
I see lots of good advice mentioned already. I am also foot heavy with wetsuit, from 3mm to 7mm farmer john. After fixing posture and technique, I can trim out if I extend my arms all the way forward, but this isn't very comfortable. I switched to light fins for wetsuit diving, that is OMS slip stream. In tropical water, I opted for AL backplate so that I can add weight on the top cam band to help me trim out. Before you go to a equipment solution, I suggest to have friend video you in water to see if you are doing what you think you are doing. Fixing posture can help a great deal with single tank.
Where I agree with everything you are saying 100% in theory.I have to just remind you of the status of the OP.
Ie the OP isn't yet actually qualified. So the most likely cause of "heavy legs" is trim and gear setup.
So I say don't spend money on new gear untill trying shifting weight around.
Knfmkr
Registered
so...what's the consensus on this?
I'm asking because I have large muscular legs and am also still in the process of learning to get trim correctly. So far, I haven't noticed "heavy leg syndrome" ....but hey, it could be hiding behind other trim problems I'm having.
Dan
I'm asking because I have large muscular legs and am also still in the process of learning to get trim correctly. So far, I haven't noticed "heavy leg syndrome"
....but hey, it could be hiding behind other trim problems I'm having. Dan
DukeAMO
Contributor
Knfmkr it's pretty difficult to diagnose on Scubaboard, if you can't tell us what the problem is! The best advice is to get an instructor or a very experienced diver to work with you. They can watch you swim around and (try to) hover, and give you things to try. It's part knowledge, part trial and error, part technique and practice. I personally found it worthwhile to take the Peak Performance Buoyancy specialty. Maybe your OW instructor can give you some tips before you "graduate" OW.
The best advice is to get an instructor or a very experienced diver to work with you. They can watch you swim around and (try to) hover, and give you things to try. It's part knowledge, part trial and error, part technique and practice. I personally found it worthwhile to take the Peak Performance Buoyancy specialty. Maybe your OW instructor can give you some tips before you "graduate" OW.Similar threads
