66 replies to this topic

[raizyr]

just did my confined water work towards OW cert last weekend, and I must say that this thread has me wanting to go back and practice some more!!

All you guys are great, and each of your descriptions of proper buoyancy control are worth more than any one class/instructor could ever be because we get to see more than one person's "right way" to do it.

I can honestly say that I likely would have procrastinated to get into diving were it not for all the great people here.

Hooray Singledivers.com!



-Chris

[Dan Nafe]

I created a free computer program that lets you practice the prinicples used in buoyancy control.

[Narwhal]

I have been lurking and watching the excellent info put out by Walter, Aaron, and Grant on buoyancy control and I just want to say---Right on. As instructors we all know the importance of buoyancy and the difficulty of completely mastering the techniques. While we may disagree on specific techniques and have different approaches, basically there are no "secret handshakes" in different training organizations when it comes to buoyancy. We all have the same goal in mind and the desire to make our students safe and competent.

I teach and like the PADI PPB tape as a place to start after a student has a few dives under his or her belt. There is some good material in the tape and it is well worth watching no matter what the experience level of the student (Or instructor for that matter). At the college, I teach NAUI and spend a good deal of time on buoyancy control and proper weighting (I agree with Walter that most divers tend to overweight) and set up obstacle courses with weighted hoola hoops to swim through and use a few other "fun" exercises. We reinforce proper buoyancy techniques at lake, river, or ocean certification dives. I require a demonstration of proper buoyancy control before even beginning to teach any TDI technical course--this becomes a matter of safety more than proper form.

I am going to bow out and lurk again at this point because I believe you have all said what needs to be said and you have said it well. Congratulations on well presented information and displayed professionalism.

Jim

[peterbj7]

And then try a rebreather.....

[bigblueplanet]

CCR does change things a bit. On one hand it is easier in the fact that things do not change all that much on CCR, but when diving dry it adds a third source of buoyancy. People talk about managing two sources as complex. Three makes it interesting, but is still more than managable.

Of course for those used to using breathing to make fine adjustments to their buoyancy on Open Circuit have the hardest time unlearning that on CCR. Simply, nothing happens when you change your breathing parameter on CCR. An eye opener when people try it for the first time. Re-enforces that OC experience just does not translate to CCR.

Grant

[TraceMalin]

Grant,

I found it easier learning to control buoyancy with a rebreather as a freediver because I could draw on the tricks of the trade to help me before having to make adjustments with the BCD. I'm sure you had the same experience?

By the way, I was supposed to do some cave training with Terrence Tysall in FL, but I got sick and spent the past two weeks posting to SD and playing Medal of Honor: Rising Sun.

Trace

[bigblueplanet]

Yes, it is easier if you are a freediver. But, most are experienced open circuit guys and they think they will just roll into CCR and all that experience transfers over. Just not the case. I think it actually is easier with less OC experience for people.

Reschedule with Terrence. He is simply the best cave instructor on the planet and I have seen a lot of them.

Grant