Buoyancy Control: How to do it like a Pro

Buoyancy control is the most important skill to master as a SCUBA diver for many reasons and each reason makes for a much more pleasurable dive for you and other divers in your group, along with preserving the underwater world.

Here are just a few reasons for you to hover like a pro.

  1. Protects the Environment
    As divers we know how fragile the marine ecosystem can be and throughout our diving life we will come across some very sensitive environments, the most popular one being coral reefs. It can take hard corals hundreds of years to grow into a beautiful reef and this habitat is home to more species in the world than any other ecosystem. All it takes is for a buoyancy error to force a weighted diver into some branching coral, or for a kick of a fin to destroy decades of work.

    Coral reefs are not the only fragile bottom, with many bottom dwellers depending on the protection of the sand or silt bottom to lie on or under. That small pipefish or beautiful Spanish platform do not appreciate being swept up in a gush of sand because you can’t control your positioning in the water.

  2. Closer marine life encounters (Better photographs)
    One of the reasons we dive is to see the magical marine life, and when many non-divers ask about scary sharks confronting us, they are surprised to learn that most sharks as well as other creatures actually find us the intimidating life in the depths. As divers we are very noisy, exhaling bubbles every few seconds, and we are also pretty big, so when adding the flailing arms and legs into the mix, marine life don’t fancy hanging around. But when your buoyancy is perfect and you’re not causing ripples, your experience is that much better. That cute puffer fish starts to feel more comfortable around you, or that turtle munching on seagrass may forget you’re there all together, meaning you can get some fantastic underwater shots and a special dive.

  3. Improves air consumption
    No one wants to be that diver to end the dive after 30 minutes due to bad air consumption. A 60 minute dive is typically a good amount of time underwater, not only that but you get more for your money too! You don’t want to be sat on the boat 25 minutes earlier and miss out on the manta ray that everyone else towards the end of the dive.

  4. Looking good
    Diving is not only a great sport, it is also pretty cool and we don’t want to spoil the James Bond backward roll off the boat with an unstable, flapping gymnastics underwater. Being calm and streamlined underwater with only the minimal movement from your fins shows others that you really do know what you are doing.

  5. Diver friendly
    Ever been at the back of a group going through a swim-through to find that all you could see was sand in front of your face? You missed the colourful sponges and mantis shrimp on the ceiling thanks to the unsophisticated diving style of your buddy in-front of you!! Don’t be that diver who spoils it for the rest of the group.

    It makes diving a much more enjoyable experience- when you combine all the great reasons for perfect buoyancy you can see that it will only enhance each dive experience and improve your skills as a diver. Tips & Tricks for Buoyancy

  6. Visualisation
    Even before you get in the water you can start to work towards better buoyancy. Take a couple of minutes alone time and just close your eyes and envision yourself on the dive. Take time to think about your breathing pattern, keeping calm and relaxed. See yourself rise gentle as you take a breath in, then whilst breathing out, feel yourself slightly sinking. Almost like a meditation, getting into the mind set of good buoyancy is a great way to start before you jump into the water.

  7. Proper Weight Check
    You want to make sure that you are properly weighted for your dive to make buoyancy easier for you. Straddled with extra pounds/kilos will only reduce air consumption and create drag. It is recommended that you do a buoyancy check before and after your dive. You will want to be slightly over weighted (2kg/4lbs) at the start to compensate for the emptying of your cylinder towards the end of your dive. Doing a weight check at the end of your dive when you have 500psi/50bar left will be more accurate.

  8. Breathing
    The most important tool for buoyancy control and it is basic and easy to practise. Your lungs are a natural BCD that you should be using more than the one you are wearing. Taking a big breath in fills your lungs with air so therefore you should start to rise. Breathing out and emptying your lungs of air will therefore make you sink. There is a 2 second delay after the breath in or out before you see the movement, but as a diver we don’t want to yoyo up and down so we practise a breathing pattern that keeps us at one level, keeping in mind that 2 second delay so you experience perfect neutral buoyancy which every diver desires.

  9. The Hover
    Every diver is familiar with this exercise. Practising in any position such as the starfish or lotus makes for a great understanding of your buoyancy. You can really grasp how your lungs have a major effect on buoyancy. If you take a deep breathe in, wait two seconds, you should gently start to lift, if not, add some air to the BCD, if you are properly weighted you should not have to add much. Then, after breathing out and emptying your lungs you should start to sink. Controlling your breathing pattern you can then perfect the hover, you become in-tuned with your breath that you don’t move up or down, just staying neutrally buoyant.

  10. Buoyancy Speciality
    If you only dive with a Dive Master it can be hard to find the time on a dive to really perfect your buoyancy, especially if you only dive a few times a year on vacation. So if you really want the time to master this important skill then why not do a speciality in it? It gives you 3 dives just to concentrate purely on buoyancy, which will involve games and tests to really give you time to feel comfortable with your buoyancy.

  11. Dry-suit Diving
    Lets not forget, if you’re a hard core cold water diver you are more than likely in a dry suit. During your Dry Suit Specialty you will have practised buoyancy using the suit as it is quite different to diving just depending on your BCD. In a dry suit your BCD can become pretty left out.

    Some people find it easier to stay neutrally buoyant in a dry suit as the air encompasses the whole body making it easier for a perfect profile. The breathing technique is the same, but adding air as you go deeper is not optional in a dry suit otherwise you will experience a dry suit squeeze which can be quite painful.

Once you have mastered your buoyancy control, the diving experience will be elevated for you. Gliding effortlessly through the water, encountering marine life like never before, you will be truly immersed in the underwater surroundings and can really take the time to appreciate its beauty.


This article is written by @Anne-Marie Martin (PADI Instructor #298786), please give respect to her copyright !
This article is not allowed to be reproduced or distributed without written permission of Anne-Marie Martin.

If you like her beautiful & interesting way of writing, or wish to offer her some dive related business opportunities, please let us know, we can put you in contact with her directly.

Comments

留下邮箱,就不会错过各种折扣哟 !

Google+ Google+