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

[JohnK]

I use only my drysuit for buoyancy control in UK waters - why ? - I was taught this way.

What do you use if wearing both BCD and drysuit ??

[Fiona]

<font color='#0000FF'>Probably not very Dir, but I put enough air in the suit to take off the squeeze then use the jacket. &nbsp;It works for me.

[markg]

<font color='#000F22'>i use drysuit only too. although i was taught to use bcd i find it much better just using d/suit. i look upon my bcd as an emergency item which is there to give me lift/breathing air in case i need it &nbsp;

[Dominic]

Actually, Fi, you're the one being DIR - until you mention the &quot;jacket&quot; part, anyway

I de-squeeze the suit and put all the rest in the wing. Makes buoyancy control so easy - autodump wide open the whole time and ignore the suit, everything else in the wing.

[J.D.]

Dom,

As im collecting my new drysuit tomorrow (Gates CBX-450. No more diving in a semi-dry! ) ive been asking around for peoples opinions in my club and thats what most people have said.

Seems to me the most simple way too.  Already used to controlling bouyancy with my BCD anyway.

James

[Mark]

<font color='#000080'>

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (FionaB @ May 22 2003,20:29)]Probably not very Dir, but I put enough air in the suit to take off the squeeze then use the jacket.  

That's VERY DIR actually   Apart from 'the jacket' which is not very DIR at all I'm afraid. A wing on the otherhand could be.  

Mark.

PS. Wing - in answer to the original question.

[Justin Owen]

i've been wondering about this too... i've been taught to use suit - which has been ok up to now as I have a weezle and the combination keeps me lovely and warm! the downside is I can get a degree of migration sometimes, and sticking head down i sometimes feel on edge of an inversion... So i've been thinking of trying to use bcd instead... someone should set up one of those votey button thingies (technical term) to see what the consensus is!!!?

[Mark]

<font color='#000080'>Justin,

your weezle won't keep you very/as warm if you don't add all that gas to keep it 'lofty'. A quality type B Thinsulate undersuit is the best option, as it's thermal properties are unaffected by compression (gas only needed for squeeze/comfort). Type B thinsulate is what is used in boots BTW. These suits are normally at least £200+ but O'Three make an excellent type C thinsulate which is only about £150 (I have one and it's very good/warm).

You will find that by switiching from 'suit' to 'bc' you will need less weight and you will be far less prone to buoyancy problems like inversion/air migration. A set of heavy fins can help a lot with the floaty feet (no ankle weights required either).

Mark.

[John Gulliver]

It depends on what cylinder(s) you use. I think most of the answers above assume you're using a heavy twinset. If you use a single and pony, just enough air in your suit to prevent sqeeze will make you neutrally buoyant, unless you are overweighted. You won't need any air in your BC/wings. If you DO put air in your wings, you'll either have to dive with your suit squeezed or wear more lead.

[Fiona]

<font color='#0000FF'> Sorry Guys, I was using the generic &quot;jacket&quot;, I do actually have a wing. &nbsp;