Son Is Neutral But Foot-Heavy

[RJP]

You like that photo don't you? How many times have you posted it??

Once or twice.

Would have used this one, but I'm a bit out of trim...

 

[beautybelow]

You like that photo don't you? How many times have you posted it??

It's a nice photo...where are all the stingrays though?

 

[RJP]

Not sure a BP/W would shift weight farther up than where it is now.

You'll be surprised, as it will. Plus it will also REMOVE several pounds of innate buoyancy of a standard BCD.

Shifting weight still farther up to where it's not really designed to be seems like an extreme solution.

Where is the human body "designed" to wear lead while breathing underwater?

I think experimenting around with leg position might be a better next step for now.

Certainly the easiest/cheapest route to try first. That, and pulling 2lbs off the waist and throwing a 2lb ankle weight on the tank valve will probably go a long way to solving the problem.

 

[RJP]

It's a nice photo...where are all the stingrays though?

Apparently I scared 'em away...

 

[beautybelow]

Apparently I scared 'em away...

The good news is they always come back.

 

[TSandM]

As stated (and illustrated, and I like the photo, too) body posture has a powerful influence on trim. If your son lets his knees hang below him, that will tend to rotate him feet down, too.

Does he wear booties? Some neoprene on his feet might help. A nice, thick set of wetsuit booties can create a pound or more of lift.

 

[Marek K]

Where is the human body "designed" to wear lead while breathing underwater?

Good point...

pulling 2lbs off the waist and throwing a 2lb ankle weight on the tank valve will probably go a long way to solving the problem.

...Knowing him, though, he'd forget to take the ankle weight off the valve when changing tanks...but worth trying if the leg position doesn't work.

 

[kanonfodr]

Deep-Sea Sherpa Horizontal Trim 101 – Uses

This web page provides a good explanation of levers in trim, and also how to adjust your body position to get into a good trim position.

Peace,
Greg

 

[redacted]

I had a similar problem (definitely not due to too much lean). My cure was as RJP said, arms out and feet in and a scubapro Mk7. The Mk7 actually overcompensated for some configurations but that was easily controlled by placing the Al tank compensating weights on the lower tank strap rather than the upper.

 

[Hank49]

Apparently I scared 'em away...

New specialty course..."How to Play with Stingrays".

1 Kneel in sand.
2. Gently push stingray on nose as they approach.
You passed.