Does buoyancy and proper trim come easier with backmount as opposed to sidemount?

[Great White7]

I'm not sure why you are dropping your knees 45 degrees everytime you kick. It really throws off your trim. I'd keep the knees up. Minor trim issues are easily masked while on the move. Try to hover motionless without any skulling at all.

Something to keep in mind.

Could be due to lower back problems in the past.

[chrpai]

Something to keep in mind.

Could be due to lower back problems in the past.

I understand that one. 12 years ago my first born was due and it was a blizzard. I shoveled all day and hurt it bad. Then years of shoulder rides, horsy rides, getting old and fat and lugging twinsets around. Not so good now and then when it flares up.

[Great White7]

I understand that one. 12 years ago my first born was due and it was a blizzard. I shoveled all day and hurt it bad. Then years of shoulder rides, horsy rides, getting old and fat and lugging twinsets around. Not so good now and then when it flares up.

I think its something like 80% of people have back problems and "they" still really have no idea about how to fix it.

Just something I have to deal with I guess.

[Aotus]

can't resist - proper position in the water does not depend on low back condition. Mine has been a mess most of my life, but if anything feels tired or strained after the dive, it means something is way off in your technique or your gear configuration. It should be effortless. Most often, if i felt strained when I was learning sidemount or learning new tanks, it was my lower erectors. If they were tired, it meant I was working too hard to keep my head up, so I learned to move my cam bands up to move the ballast back (a little more complicated for ALU tanks, as you'd have to move weight on the rig). Knees dropping can be from a lot of things, and many of us found that different solutions worked for some and other solutions worked for others. Whatever the solution your instructor finds will likely also come with you developing an idea in your head about the straight line between your belly and your knees.

Regarding the frog kick. I know others suggest in other posts that you can only practice in the water, with full gear. However, I really think some people can benefit from training themselves to position their feet to find the resistance in the water. That is, to NOT waste energy with funny kicks with the fin folded over or slicing sideways in the water, like in your video (you aren't alone in making these mistakes). You can work on this sensitivity by frog kicking swimming laps in a pool without all your gear. This won't help your trim or your heavy knees, but your feet will learn what they're supposed to be doing. I did this a lot between my first efforts to frog kick (went nowhere) and my first sidemount class (went great!). This might be an easy way for you to improve.

[Great White7]

This might be an easy way for you to improve.

I would be doing that already but not many public pools in Playa Del Carmen.

[Great White7]

and many of us found that different solutions worked for some and other solutions worked for others.

Yeah still a bit of trial and error to go but I feel like I am 95% of the way there.
Compared to the 20% I felt last week when I basically wasted 2 days and learnt nothing at all.

[floridabob]

can't resist - proper position in the water does not depend on low back condition. Mine has been a mess most of my life, but if anything feels tired or strained after the dive, it means something is way off in your technique or your gear configuration. It should be effortless. Most often, if i felt strained when I was learning sidemount or learning new tanks, it was my lower erectors. If they were tired, it meant I was working too hard to keep my head up, so I learned to move my cam bands up to move the ballast back (a little more complicated for ALU tanks, as you'd have to move weight on the rig). Knees dropping can be from a lot of things, and many of us found that different solutions worked for some and other solutions worked for others. Whatever the solution your instructor finds will likely also come with you developing an idea in your head about the straight line between your belly and your knees.

Regarding the frog kick. I know others suggest in other posts that you can only practice in the water, with full gear. However, I really think some people can benefit from training themselves to position their feet to find the resistance in the water. That is, to NOT waste energy with funny kicks with the fin folded over or slicing sideways in the water, like in your video (you aren't alone in making these mistakes). You can work on this sensitivity by frog kicking swimming laps in a pool without all your gear. This won't help your trim or your heavy knees, but your feet will learn what they're supposed to be doing. I did this a lot between my first efforts to frog kick (went nowhere) and my first sidemount class (went great!). This might be an easy way for you to improve.

I fear you have no idea....

[Aotus]

I fear you have no idea....

ya know, ya try to be helpful... but you found me out, I just read that all off the back of my PADI scuba experience pamphlet, well it was good while it lasted.

[floridabob]

ya know, ya try to be helpful... you found me out, I just read that all off the back of my PADI scuba experience pamphlet, well it was good while it lasted.

strange.

[floridabob]

I replied with quote and it was not the same as what appeared in your post. I didnt add anything it was just expanded.

Very telling.

I feel as though I now know so much more than before.