BettyRubble
Contributor
Ok so I've been frustrated by my inability to control buoyancy when I hit the 18-20 foot range. I've popped up so many times, that now my dive buddies joke that if they lose sight of me they just need to look up. . .UGH . . . obviously this could be a very serious issue so I need to work out the kinks. So far I'm diving fairly shallow so missing the safety stop (cuz I go from 18 feet to surface uncontrolled) hasn't killed me yet, but at greater depths or more frequent dives this is going to get me in trouble.
Sooooo this weekend a light bulb finally went off and I figured out two things. It helped and I managed to hold 3 safety stops after that.
1) Instead of proactively dumping air in anticipation of the pressure change, I realized that I was just REACTING to my body starting to ascend by dumping air. By waiting to react it was too late, I couldn't get the air dumped fast enough to prevent the cork response and I'd find myself at the surface. Now I am proactively dumping air around the 22-24 foot mark.
2) I finally figured out (with the help of my buddy - thank you Rich!) that in order for my shoulder dump to work properly, that I must tilt myself so that shoulder is the highest point and the air bubble will escape from that valve. I'd like to say the reason I hadn't figured that out before was cuz I'm so good at being horizontal in the water!! Ha Ha!!
But seriously, what else am I missing? I'm weighted fairly right - maybe a pound over . . and buoyancy below 18 feet is fairly good. (well at least it is improving).
So for now my biggest issue in diving is this one. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Sooooo this weekend a light bulb finally went off and I figured out two things. It helped and I managed to hold 3 safety stops after that.
1) Instead of proactively dumping air in anticipation of the pressure change, I realized that I was just REACTING to my body starting to ascend by dumping air. By waiting to react it was too late, I couldn't get the air dumped fast enough to prevent the cork response and I'd find myself at the surface. Now I am proactively dumping air around the 22-24 foot mark.
2) I finally figured out (with the help of my buddy - thank you Rich!) that in order for my shoulder dump to work properly, that I must tilt myself so that shoulder is the highest point and the air bubble will escape from that valve. I'd like to say the reason I hadn't figured that out before was cuz I'm so good at being horizontal in the water!! Ha Ha!!
But seriously, what else am I missing? I'm weighted fairly right - maybe a pound over . . and buoyancy below 18 feet is fairly good. (well at least it is improving).
So for now my biggest issue in diving is this one. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated!