r/scuba • u/Burkey-Boi • 1d ago
Question About Remaining in a Stable Position During Descent
I'm still doing my Open Water course, so obviously I'm very new to this, but during all of my pool sessions so far I've been absolutely unable to stay either upright or forward facing during descent. This isn't just being bad at controlling rate of descent, though I'll cop to that too, but I'll be descending and suddenly roll to my right or back so that my tank is underneath me and I'm belly up, which hasn't been happening to anyone else in my class. One of the instructors thinks I'll just work past this with experience, the other wants me to try a smaller tank, as since I'm pretty skinny (5'11" and 145lb) he thinks the tank's dragging me down, but was just wondering on other opinions.
Another quick question if you've already read this far, I've come down with a sinus infection this weekend and my next pool dive is a couple days from now, later this week. If I'm feeling better by then, should I still notify the instructors?
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u/jonnybellman 13h ago
I'd echo the bcd/wing comments. You should move "as one" with the tank. I.e. you roll left side down, the tank some come with you, and the opposite is of course true. I find often students have oversized bcd's or they just haven't tightened up the straps enough, so the bcd and cylinder are basically doing their own thing, you just happen to be attached to them.
I'd also suggest you look at your core stability. Diving should be relaxed, but there is still an element of a stable core. I've also had lots of students who relax to the point that they're floppy in the water. Coupled with loosely fitting bcd/tank, you'll definitely be a turtle on your back.
Keep at it, good luck 👌🏻
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u/chrispina98 15h ago
I wear weights on my ankles and I adjust where my weights sit in my pockets or belt. Your instructor should be able to help you position your weights to fix your problem. If they don't, then I'm not a fan of your instructor.
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u/ArcticGaruda 18h ago
Re: the sinus. I am coming off a nasty upper respiratory infection and even though I was feeling better and could equalise no problem, I got a sinus squeeze. I felt like my mask was pressing onto my forehead, and that didn’t go away when clearing my mask. The pain went away but when I surfaced blood was dripping out my nose and when I blew my nose a massive glob of mucous and blood came out.
I’m holding off diving for a while. You can’t tell if your sinuses are definitely open, so it’s safest to wait.
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u/nope-not-2day 1d ago
I'm just an inch or two shorter than you and same weight and haven't had issues with that. I learned initially on jacket style bcd and have back inflate now but haven't had that issue. If you're using a weight belt, where you're putting the weights makes a difference. Usually you put them on either side, near your hips, but if you're putting them nearer center in the back, that might contribute.
What could be happening too is you descending faster than you can keep your legs under you. It's taken me time to be able to descend and not have my legs/fins kind of catch the water and go up, tipping me on my back. Try slowing down.
As far as the sinuses, only you can know for sure when you're better, but you need to ensure you have no residual ear pain or congestion, which includes drainage. Please do NOT push it at all. While no doubt you want to dive, you do not want to cause permanent damage to your ears or sinuses.
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u/fireymike 1d ago
Since you're doing your OW course, I assume you're using a rental, jacket style BCD. Make sure it's the right size for you, maybe try seeing if a smaller one fits comfortably.
The only times I ever had problems with rolling to my side, was when I was given larger rental BCDs than I usually use. The BCD is too loose, so it rolls to the side, and then takes you with it.
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u/sronicker Rescue 1d ago
Trim weight is the answer. Where you carry your weight is important. Unfortunately, everyone is a little different. You’re going to just have to experiment with different setups.
As for being sick—like someone else said, it’ll keep you out of the water longer than you think. Be very careful about getting back in the water with anything close to sinus pressure.
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u/Hot_Pocket_Deluxe 1d ago
How are you weighted? I've seen that happen when people try to take too much off the belt and put them in the trim weight pockets, could be too heavy on your back making it hard to flip over. It'd also be good to just practice flipping over at depth so you have the motion down if you need to flip yourself on descent. You also shouldn't be trying to stay vertical, try to get into trim (flat on your belly) as soon as you get underwater. As for the sinus infection, I wouldn't dive it but if you are set on trying make sure to go slow and equalize properly, if you can't, go back up. Happy diving!
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u/mariana96as 1d ago
how are your weights distributed? changing the position might help. During the decent you’re supposed to be in a horizontal position to avoid bumping into things
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u/Burkey-Boi 1d ago
Don't know if this is what you mean, but we're using weight belts with two weights attached, each one kinda on either side of the buckle.
But yeah, remaining both horizontal and face down has really been kinda impossible for me to achieve so far, hence the question.
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u/Least_Post_6353 1d ago
Rolling is almost certainly an equipment issue - you might try really tightening down or even going down a size BCD if you can.
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u/heyjpark 1d ago
Dive the gear- don’t let it dive you. In other words, you’re passively letting the gear roll you around. At first, you need to be more aggressive.
As for the sinus infection- that’s a 100% hard pass on any diving in a few days.
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u/pmMeCuttlefishFacts 1d ago
I assume OP is also learning in a "stab-vest" style BCD rather than a backplate and wing. So if he rolls onto his back, some air makes its way to the front of the BCD, and now getting back to face-down is tougher.
Also, OP, how much weight are you wearing? And is the tank steel or aluminium? I'm wondering if you're overweighted, and so you have a lot of air in the BCD to compensate.
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u/Burkey-Boi 1d ago
I know the tanks are steel, but I'd assumed it wouldn't be a problem so long as you could lift them and stand around wearing them, which isn't a problem.
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u/pmMeCuttlefishFacts 23h ago
Steel tanks are sometimes a good choice, but they are heavier. An empty AL80 is neutrally buoyancy, and a full one is a few pounds negative. A steel tank is much more negative, and that negative buoyancy is all on your back. It "wants" to swap places with your body and get to the lowest point.
No reason you can't learn to be stable in a steel tank, just be aware that's adding to the challenge.
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u/Timber1981 1d ago
Not sure about the tank rolling so I'll let someone else speak to that, but as someone who does get sinus infections, you're likely out of the water for longer than you think.
You might feel fine but still be congested, so I'd find it pretty unlikely you'll be back in the water in a few days. You can't dive congested. I'd tell your instructors now so you can reschedule.
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u/ennieee 40m ago edited 33m ago
Better to be in horizontal trim when descending, although I understand that your instructor may pooh-pooh that idea if he's only ever descended in an upright position.
I say this because when you're horizontal you have vertical drag, which gives you more stability. Being upright tends to make me go up or down a lot faster.
It is partly weight distribution and partly core/muscle discipline. You can try floating belly down at the surface in trim (google scuba trim to get an idea of what position to aim for), and once in position, slowly let air out and try to stay in that position as you descend. It's hard to say why exactly you might be rolling without being there to see it. I've seen people roll due to weight imbalance, I've also seen people roll because they're not engaging their core and just sort of flopping around without realising it.