Ive dove 119 dives and was never 100% relaxed and comfortable underwater like some of my diving buddies. Although, I always managed to have fun because of the dive sites, the varied sea life and my wonderful dive buddy, my husband Gary.
During this past week, Gary and I participated in ScubaBoards first Surge event. We flew down to Curacao for a week long dive vacation. It had been a couple of years since our last dive and I didnt get a chance to practice in our dive shop pool so I was feeling a little uncertain. Pete Murray (Netdoc), the owner of ScubaBoard, offered to give me a few pointers on buoyancy. I was delighted because that has always been my biggest challenge and what I struggled with the most when I went diving! In fact, I had purchased an Aqua Lung i3 and been using it for several years to facilitate my diving comfort. The i3 Inflator Mechanism has a Single-Touch Control for both Inflation and Deflation. Lift-Up-to-Inflate, Push-Down-to-Deflate, what could be more simple for someone whose main diving issue was buoyancy control?
Pete taught me buoyancy control in three simple steps!
1) GOING UNDER
Take a deep breath, pause and at the same time release air out of my BC until my head was just under the water, then
release the BC deflator mechanism while at the same time slowly release my breath and I would descend until I got to the depth I wanted!!!!
2) STAYING UNDER
Without touching the i3 BC mechanism I was able to ascend/descend with my breathing and slight body movements alone! I would take a deep breath, put my hands together and pulled them toward my chest while I looked up and pulling my legs in toward my torso if I wanted to go up, then planed out by extending my legs and arms straight out. If I wanted to go down Id breathe and release it all out while extending my arms out and looking down.
3) GOING UP
.Take a super breath by deeply inhaling using the muscles without shutting down the epiglottis so that small bubbles continuously escaped out of the side of my mouth. I kept taking super breaths until I was at the safety stop depth then took normal inhales and exhales until it was time to go up all the way, then I continued my super breaths until I surfaced! THEN, I used the BC inflator again to keep me afloat on the surface!!!!
I only used the BC i3 control twice! Once going down and once I was on the surface!!! I had never done that before, and I was never so relaxed! Usually I was pretty tired and had used up a lot of air! This was truly a wonderful gift!
I couldnt wait until my next dive to apply everything I learned!!! I did just fine over the subsequent dives. After so many years of doing it wrong, I had to keep reminding myself of Petes steps and my diving experiences have been so much more enjoyable!!! THANK YOU Pete!!!
While in our ScubaBoard Surge in Curacao, we had an opportunity to try on one of our sponsors, Dive Rite, equipment. I was particularly honored to meet the owners of Dive Rite, Lamar and Lee Ann Hires. I started talking with Jared Hires, their son and the General Manager and Marketing Director, about trying out the equipment they had brought for us to play with and actually had Lamar fit me to one of their TransPac systems and one of their regulators rigs. It felt so comfortable and light. I couldnt wait until the next day to try it out!
During the evening I had heard some of the other divers in the group talk about how the back wings could tip you over, face down, when you were on the water surface sand that worried me a bit. So the next day I had a chance to mention my concern to Lee Ann Hires. She told me to fill the wing half way before I jumped in the water, then just lean back as if I was in an easy chair and I should be ok. I wasnt as sure, as I was used to having a BC that totally surrounded me and made me feel secure. The TransPac only had an integrated back wing, nothing around the front. But I did what Lee Ann told me and I couldnt believe it actually worked. I filled my wing a little over half full, jumped in the water and leaned back
I stayed back, it truly felt snug so I didnt feel out of control and I stayed in place when I leaned back as if I was in an easy chair
unbelievable! It was so easy and I felt super comfortable. The TransPac also helped me achieve proper trim much faster than my other BCs. I cant wait to order my own Dive Rite TransPac for Christmas!!!
What ya gonna do? 
Eventually I'll spring for a set of their regs, also. 
:d
:meeting::grouphug:
:d:d
