Buoyancy Control - done with your BCD/Wing or Drysuit?

[Dr Stevil]

<font color='#0000FF'>No worries dude, not trying to start a ruck or owt &nbsp;- even though I am a Geordie! &nbsp;It just wouldn't be cricket picking on a shandy drinker &nbsp; )

I agree, with twins + two stages you would want extra back-up than just a suit, but don't you carry at least one dSMB as standard? (I'm being rhetorical cos I saw you with one at the weekend) There's 25kg of extra buoyancy, and if you had another blob that's as much lift as an &quot;average&quot; wing.

Chee-az
Steve

[Dominic]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]There's 25kg of extra buoyancy

10, actually, on a standard dSMB.
I always used to think it was 25, but it's apparently not..

[Justin Owen]

Hi Steve,

Would *never* fin down to descend, I know what the consequences of that could be (potential uncontrollable ascent at end of dive) and sounds like hard work! I have gently worked way down anchor lines (on shallow dives) which does help squeeze all the air from the weezle!

Completely agree about inversion recovery too - you must know how to get out of it comfortably and without panic - I couldn't think of anything worse than being panicked, upside down &amp; in an ascent! I spent three weeks in the pool in my dry-suit practicing before i went open water.

It's a valid point about people needing different weight. There does seem to be some weird peer pressure out there to lose weight as a sign of you being more experienced though. Last night I learned my fresh water limit through trial and error - some people would take the mick out of the weight i've got - but with empty drysuit &amp; bcd and a full cylinder I could barely get down - at end of dive I would've had no chance...

The best thing about these forums is getting all the advice/stories from you guys - I only joined a few months back but i'm a whole not more experienced for reading these forums!

[Andy Phillips]

Me, I'm greedy, I got two, three if you count the little yellow, &quot;oh help me&quot; one. It Has crossed my mind, but as Dominic said it's 10Kg's per, two would give me 20 plus filling the suit to bursting point, would get me off the deck, but then you have to wind up two reels, gonna be a pain. Plus, my original point was the suit as back up is not enough. I've seen some of the real techie guys with 50Kg lift bags as backup dSMB's, and was told this is the reason they carry them. Makes sense to me, but this is the reason I got a second bladder in the wing.

Andrew

p.s. Shandy,,,,,,, yuch!!!!!!!!!! Only an import into the south me, so I only drink imported beer

[Dominic]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I only joined a few months back but i'm a whole not more experienced for reading these forums!

Freudian slip?

To paraphrase a Dilbert strip:

These web forums are great. I can feel myself becoming a better diver just by reading them. In fact, I see no need to physically go into the water ever again.

[Mark Chase]

<font color='#000F22'>Funny thing about the folowing comments:

A diver should be able to recover after an inversion caused by air in the legs of his / her suit??

Why not avoid having a big bubble of air that could cause inversion in the first place?

Moving up from singles to twin set and then stages the type of boyency control needed changes and some air may be required in the BCD to balance the equipment.???

Why?

I started with a BCD and a wet suit using my BCD for boyency control, then I use a semi using my BCD then I use a Dry Suit using my BCD. Then I go to twins, still BCD. Then Twins and Stages, still BCD

As I said before, each to his own. BUT using a dry suit for boyency control and making the BCD a redundent lift source is a new / different stile of diving for most new dry bag useres, and it comes with inherent problems. Why any one wants to introduce problems into their diving is beyound me and the only defence I can think of is more air in suit makes for a warmer dive.

DIR say dont do it and only use Thinsulate type undersuits as they dont rely on air space for warmth. As most of you know I am definatly not DIR but as I have said before they do have some ideas and beleifs that I think make a lot of sence.

This is one of them.

Mark Chase

[Justin Owen]

That's weird... given the 'N' and the 'L' are so far apart....! Must be my dyslexic typing fingers again.... My head thinks faster than my fingers can type... Honest guv'nor...

[Dr Stevil]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Dominic @ May 28 2003,14:51)]10, actually, on a standard dSMB.
I always used to think it was 25, but it's apparently not..

<font color='#0000FF'>Hmmm.... that's an interesting observation, guess what I'm going to be testing on my next dive....

As for all this debate, as long as whichever method a diver is using is to their liking and they can control their buoyancy without distress and effectively, then its right for them, IMVHO

Vive la difference!
Steve

[Mr T.]

*bump*