Leg position in the water ?

[nixsie]

Hmm couldnt think of a decent title...

Anyway can anyone provide some pointers on how I stop my lower half of the body being low in the water. Your swimming along quite close to the ground, but the lower half is dragging. Buoyancy is fine, just cant get parallel enough.

You notice more when stationary, but I guess this is a natural thing anyway.

I am using a lead weight belt and shot weights in my Pro QD BCD. Should I look at moving more weight from the belt to the bcd - or attach to the tank ?

I am guessing this is normal for those in the early dives. just want to master the frog kick but....at this rate am probably not helping in keeping debris down.

[dave archer]

Move your tank higher up your back towards your head (i.e. fasten BC lower on the tank)

HTH

Dave.

[nixsie]

Dave - tried moving the tank up - about the max I can go before my head is restricted but the valve. I was told to fix a lead weight to the belt around the tank ? I dont want to put too much on in case I have to ditch.

[Adrian Kelland]

Are you using ankle weights at all? If so, take them off and transfer the weight to your belt/bcd.

[Helen F H]

If you are dropping your knees you need to clench your bum cheeks and push your tummy forward.

[Woz]

Originally Posted by Porg

If you are dropping your knees you need to clench your bum cheeks and push your tummy forward.

Is that because of your full box?

[WBFire]

Have you got the hidden pockets behind you shoulder blades?

[Helen F H]

Originally Posted by Woz

Is that because of your full box?

Two words, and one of them is "off". The other has an "f" in it and ends in "uck".

[gunsentry]

Try arching your back and lifting head up slightly and adopting a slight heads down position this will tip you slightly forward and in turn bring your legs up a bit. Which should see you horizontal. Easier to do than describe.

However a BCD is not really ideal to achieve horizontal trim. It is possible but a lot harder to achieve than using a Wing system.

Hope this helps.

Gary.

[Nick Kay]

Hi nixsie

1. Often, "inexperienced" divers have a tendency to want to dive "head up" and "swim" - normally in a "poor breaststoke position" - this automatically:
- straightens the back
- puts the diver into a slanted "Z" position
- increases frontal resistance to the water
- increases breathing rate
As a result, the diver often puts additional air into their stab/bc/suit and guess what - they feel "light" throughout the dive, so add more lead - vicious circle.

2. In the above scenario, (sorry Dave) raising the tank generally makes things worse... However, if (1) isn't the problem, then yes, try moving the position of the tank. Once you get your own kit, then mark the cylinder (permanent marker pen or duck tape) with the position of the cylinder/camband

3. Hopefully, you'll see more experienced divers finning with their arms crossed, or at least not swimming with their hands... Dropping the hands lower / crossing your arms on your chest or even putting them behind you drops the shoulders. The opposite is also true - put your hands "up" to help you swim / help you balance raises the shoulders and as a result, back to (1)

4. At this stage, esp. when new to a dry suit, "light feet" / "raised feet" feels really unnatural and the "beginner" tends to fight the feeling by pushing the feet down, arching their back - up go the shoulders and we're back to (1)

So, what to practise:
a) in say 6m, just have a float - just off the bottom - try & stay at a constant depth.
b) try looking up/down - see what this does to your buoyancy / attitude in the water
c) try crossing your arms under your chest / compare with the "breaststroke" hands position
d) relax - its fun, we all went through this at some point

Hope this helps