The Art of Shutdowns - A Garf Rant.

[wilbo]

Garf,

Well in bud.. that must have taken ages to write.. quiet day?

A very good write-up, well thought out and very well balanced. Have a gold star sir.

I wonder who the swearing diver was?

take it steady.

[Garf]

I wonder who the swearing diver was?

[KeyLimePie]

Great write up, Garf, and it has a lot of resonance for me. The first couple of times I tried it was a miserable failure, really depressing. But making some of the adjustments you outlined above worked wonders. I think the points you make about being stressed and having crap trim are really crucial. Trying to relax and attempting to maintain a more horizontal trim really was the crux for me - at least after I had changed my suit -and made it much easier to locate the valves. Still a long way from perfect, but improving slowly.

Nice one mate.

Dave

[wilbo]

<side note>I would just like to say - Swearing is not big and it is not clever - and should never be attempted without the proper frame of mind </side note>

back to the thread..

Being relaxed is definately the key when reaching back to your valves - especially if the valves are at the limit of your reach.

[Scuttler]

Garf,

Spot on post.

Green inbound.

[Bogwoppit]

Whilst I am not Garf's recent in water Tourettes buddy (I think lol) I can only echo Garfs wise words. I am the worst person in the world to be next to when I fail at something. Just like most people I am my own worst critic and I give myself no quarter. Which of course just makes matters worse. I have been known to leave the water in a really dark mood and P*ssed and myself and the unjust world to such an extreme that i have not wanted to reenter the water. All of which has just made Valve drills harder and nigh impossible. Once I calm down smile at myself and calmly go about my business Valve drills are easy.

If you are stressing give up and go stare at fishes until your ready to go at it again. Practise does infact make perfect however I am just not perfect.. (ask my ex wives they will confirm this).

[recurve]

Fantastic posting, very concise and very usefull.

One thing Mark Powell pointed out to me was the tendency that people have to nod their heads forward when doing a shutdown, almost in the hope that it will bring the valves closer, when in fact it does the opposite. Consciously tilting your head backwards helps a great deal.

[Scuttler]

One thing Mark Powell pointed out to me was the tendency that people have to nod their heads forward when doing a shutdown, almost in the hope that it will bring the valves closer, when in fact it does the opposite. Consciously tilting your head backwards helps a great deal.

Great point......the spine curves as you bend backwards shortening the distance between hips and shoulders and bringing the shoulders closer to the backplate

[KeyLimePie]

Great point......the spine curves as you bend backwards shortening the distance between hips and shoulders and bringing the shoulders closer to the backplate

Yep, but don't you need to clench those buttocks too...

[Scuttler]

Yep, but don't you need to clench those buttocks too...

:shuffles with back to the door:.....erm....I think I'd better go now!