How to achieve Perfect Buoyancy Control
From the first time you try scuba diving you realise that moving underwater is not as easy as you thought. All the new equipment, the heavy cylinder and unfamiliar fins at the beginning feel a bit uncomfortable. Even swimming in a straight direction is not so straightforward, and then you also have to take care of the depth you’re diving in and it all becomes at least… overwhelming.
This is normal; you’re in a new environment, with new equipment and you have to take care of a lot of details. This is something every beginner in diving experiences and even for the more experienced ones, sometime, showing a good buoyancy control does not come entirely natural. It takes time, practise and correct equipment and positioning. This is a skill that every diver should continually practise.
Let’s see together what you can do to master this very important aspect of scuba diving and how to turn into an easier and full-of-fun experience.
This is normal; you’re in a new environment, with new equipment and you have to take care of a lot of details. This is something every beginner in diving experiences and even for the more experienced ones, sometime, showing a good buoyancy control does not come entirely natural. It takes time, practise and correct equipment and positioning. This is a skill that every diver should continually practise.
Let’s see together what you can do to master this very important aspect of scuba diving and how to turn into an easier and full-of-fun experience.
Equipment that Fits
Make it easier for yourself, use good equipment that fits well. If your BCD is too big it will make your cylinder roll from one side to the other, causing you to roll with it. The cylinder is the heaviest part of your equipment and if it is not properly fixed it will drive you crazy underwater while a well secured one is a completely different story.
On entering the water adjust your BCD so that it is tight fitting - remember pressure compresses your equipment, so what felt like a good fit on the surface could become lose in the water also take that minute at the beginning of the dive to relax after descent and tighten any straps again.
On entering the water adjust your BCD so that it is tight fitting - remember pressure compresses your equipment, so what felt like a good fit on the surface could become lose in the water also take that minute at the beginning of the dive to relax after descent and tighten any straps again.
Right amount and position of weights
This is critical. Most of the divers struggling with buoyancy are over weight, this means that they need too much air in their Buoyancy Control Device, making it wobbly and they have to work and therefore use lots of air, that could be used to extend their bottom times.
There are two main characteristics that you have to consider about weights underwater:
1) the quantity of lead; and
2) the position of it.
There are two main characteristics that you have to consider about weights underwater:
1) the quantity of lead; and
2) the position of it.
The right amount of Weight
This is the first and most essential step that you have to deal with when you want to improve your buoyancy control: having the right amount of weight.
Check you have the right amount of weight before diving, by completing a Weight check. Remember that from your training? Are you still completing a Weight Check at the beginning of every dive?
Just in case you have forgotten how to complete a weight check....
After entering the water in full diving equipment, completely empty the air out of your BCD. If you are properly weighted, you should float at eye level when holding a normal breath and you should start to descend slowly when exhaling.
If you descend quickly then you are overweight..
The best time to check if your weight is correct is at the end of the dive, when you have 50 bar in your cylinder as you should be able to comfortably stay at a depth of 5 meters (safety stop) with the worse case of 50 bar in your cylinder.
Check you have the right amount of weight before diving, by completing a Weight check. Remember that from your training? Are you still completing a Weight Check at the beginning of every dive?
Just in case you have forgotten how to complete a weight check....
After entering the water in full diving equipment, completely empty the air out of your BCD. If you are properly weighted, you should float at eye level when holding a normal breath and you should start to descend slowly when exhaling.
If you descend quickly then you are overweight..
The best time to check if your weight is correct is at the end of the dive, when you have 50 bar in your cylinder as you should be able to comfortably stay at a depth of 5 meters (safety stop) with the worse case of 50 bar in your cylinder.
A good placement of your weights
The way you arrange your lead is also important and can greatly impact the way you control your buoyancy.
If you’re wearing a weight belt make sure to divide the weights equally and position them around your hips.
If you’re using an integrated weight system, divide the lead equally on the right and on the left pockets.
Another tip could be to put, if your BCD allows it, put some weight in the trim pockets or on each site of the velcro that holds the cylinder as these help to stabilise and counter the weights on the front of you and your equipment but remember weight in this position is nondisposable
If you’re wearing a weight belt make sure to divide the weights equally and position them around your hips.
If you’re using an integrated weight system, divide the lead equally on the right and on the left pockets.
Another tip could be to put, if your BCD allows it, put some weight in the trim pockets or on each site of the velcro that holds the cylinder as these help to stabilise and counter the weights on the front of you and your equipment but remember weight in this position is nondisposable
Good control of your BCD
Remember your BCD is not a toy and shouldn’t be used as one. You should actually use it the least possible.
There are 3 tips that you have to keep in mind when using your buoyancy compensator:
There are 3 tips that you have to keep in mind when using your buoyancy compensator:
- Remember that the air goes up: when you’re trying to empty your BCD make sure you’re perfectly vertical and the low pressure hose is pointing to the surface.
- Give it time: it takes a couple of seconds both when you inflate it and when you deflate it for the change to be reflected in your buoyancy, so once you have done one of the two actions count till two and if the buoyancy is still not good try using it again. Remember Fin Pivots in the pool during your confined water training?
- Be moderate: when you inflate or deflate your BCD always press the valves slightly otherwise you’ll keep inflating and deflating the whole dive.
Use your breathing
This is one of the most important way's to master your buoyancy control: the way you breathe.
Let’s have a look at the 3 key points:
You know from your training at Open Water, we provided you with the understanding that your lungs works the same way as your BCD, this means that you can use them to adjust your buoyancy for example if you need to swim over a rock, you can simply breath in a bit stronger than usual.
Using your breath instead of the BCD makes sure that you don’t alter your main buoyancy and once your change of route is over, you are still perfectly buoyant. If you had inflated the buoyancy control device to go over the rock then you would have needed to deflate it and the BCD game would start all over.
Let’s have a look at the 3 key points:
- When you breathe out you become less buoyant and slowly start to go down.
- When you breathe in you become more buoyant and slowly start to go up.
- The slower you breathe the steadier your buoyancy will be.
You know from your training at Open Water, we provided you with the understanding that your lungs works the same way as your BCD, this means that you can use them to adjust your buoyancy for example if you need to swim over a rock, you can simply breath in a bit stronger than usual.
Using your breath instead of the BCD makes sure that you don’t alter your main buoyancy and once your change of route is over, you are still perfectly buoyant. If you had inflated the buoyancy control device to go over the rock then you would have needed to deflate it and the BCD game would start all over.
Trim
Trim is the position your body takes in the water when you're neutral and still. This matters for buoyancy because if your fins are lower than your body, kicking to go forward will also make you go up. It will seem that you've suddenly become buoyant, so you'll vent air from your BC. Then, when you stop kicking, you'll be too heavy and you'll sink.
In order for your kicking not to disrupt your buoyancy, your body needs to be trimmed so your legs are nearly horizontal and your fins push you only forward. Here's how to check your trim:
Once you are exactly neutral, hold your body absolutely still with your legs stretched out behind you. If your legs sink, you should move a little weight from your waist to a point higher on your body.
In order for your kicking not to disrupt your buoyancy, your body needs to be trimmed so your legs are nearly horizontal and your fins push you only forward. Here's how to check your trim:
Once you are exactly neutral, hold your body absolutely still with your legs stretched out behind you. If your legs sink, you should move a little weight from your waist to a point higher on your body.
Conclusion
Mastering good buoyancy is a mix of skills that you can easily learn with a bit of practise, so remember
- Get equipment that fits right.
- Dive with the right amount of weights and well positioned.
- Use your inflate button for small adjustments.
- Use your breathing to adjust your buoyancy.
- Stay horizontal and use your head as your helm.
- Practise, Practise, Practise, Adjust, Adjust, Adjust
- Ask any Dive Rutland Staff Member for advise when out diving with us; or complete the PADI Peak Performance Speciality