New Gear, Trim Issues...

[LCF]

When I had to figure out how to dive 95s for my Cave 2 class, I spent a lot of time in the pool. What I finally worked out was that, with Florida undergarments, I needed about six pounds of ballast in addition to the tanks. A SS BP put me horrible head down. A five pound tailweight with an aluminum plate was perfect. I was happy that I could finally make the setup comfortable.

Then I got to Florida, the instructor took one look at me and insisted I remove the tail weight. And I didn't have the backbone to refuse. Many things in the class did not go well from that point.

[deanme]

This is so obvious.

Take the tanks off your back and put them on your side.

dean

[diveongas]

When I had to figure out how to dive 95s for my Cave 2 class, I spent a lot of time in the pool. What I finally worked out was that, with Florida undergarments, I needed about six pounds of ballast in addition to the tanks. A SS BP put me horrible head down. A five pound tailweight with an aluminum plate was perfect. I was happy that I could finally make the setup comfortable.

Then I got to Florida, the instructor took one look at me and insisted I remove the tail weight. And I didn't have the backbone to refuse. Many things in the class did not go well from that point.

Everybody is, literally, different. Some are tall and some are short. Some have "big bones" for their size and some have"small bones." Some have more muscle than fat, others have more fat than muscle. Fat and muscle can be arranged differently about various peoples bodies. Some have large lungs and some have small ones. Some have long lungs and some have shorter ones. All this affects buoyancy and trim, and by now, everybody gets the point.

Unless the instructor can see an obvious entanglement hazard or can see a possible change that accomplishes the same effect, he would do well to leave it alone. Dive training, done correctly, is supposed to be fun as well as instructive. If you're already out the money, its a tough call whether to just try to get by or buck his "authority." Once you get the card, you can always go back to what works for you. Its not uncommon for someone to spend years trying to get their configuation just perfect in every respect for themselves. "Suggested configurations" are just that, a useful starting point that works reasonable for lots, but not all people.

Jim Charles

[RHolmesJr]

Ok... So, traded out my 95's for 104's from someone cool on this board. I just got the new gear in the pool. Set the wing on top hole and put the plate on. I climbed into the drysuit and jumped into the pool with all my gear. Still just barely even noticeable, a little bit head down. Adjusted air in drysuit and in wing to just right, still not perfectly comfortable. I get out of pool and move wing to center hole. Jump back in the pool. Life is perfect.

Now-- The Wetsuit Test
Jump into my wetsuit, don my gear, and plunge back into the pool. PERFECTION!
I'm happy with my 104's.
Thanks so much.

Glad the tanks are working out for you man. Look forward to diving with you soon.

[Superlyte27]

This is so obvious.

Take the tanks off your back and put them on your side.

dean

Ultimately that will be the goal. But for right now, I got to go with what I'm good at. This is not the time to start a new gear configuration.

[Superlyte27]

Glad the tanks are working out for you man. Look forward to diving with you soon.

Thanks man. I love the tanks. Tomorrow is the first dive on them.

[deanme]

Ultimately that will be the goal. But for right now, I got to go with what I'm good at. This is not the time to start a new gear configuration.

Just joking. Lots of people like backmount over sidemount. I'm for whatever makes you happy.

dean

[Burke]

I like to switch back and forth between diving wet and dry. I spent a lot of time trying to adjust the harness just right so I could wear the same harness in both configurations. It can be done, but not to my satisfaction. I'm glad it's working out for you...

[Sludge]

I spent a lot of time trying to adjust the harness just right so I could wear the same harness in both configurations. It can be done, but not to my satisfaction.

Just about the cheapest major piece of gear is the backplate/harness. If I dived wet sometimes and had trouble making the harness work both ways, I'd get another harness for use with a wetsuit.

[Superlyte27]

No worries at all me. I want to go that method. But I've gotta look my best for the next few months. Hehe.

Just joking. Lots of people like backmount over sidemount. I'm for whatever makes you happy.

dean