scubaman2151

Ok, i took a tune up class over the weekend, becuase i havent dived in a few years. While in the pool, i seemed to have trouble on the surface of the pool, when the BCD was inflated on the surface it seemed like i was always fighting to stay upright, it was like i was always leaning forward as if snorkeling. I dont know how clear that is but any comments would be great.

On the bottom of the pool, there was no problem at all, the weight was fine, and my bouency i could control just fine, that surface was the problem.

Scuba Mama

You may have been wearing a back inflate BCD. They will cause you to pitch forward on the surface. Check with the shop you did the tune up with and they should be able to tell you which BCD style it was. If not, it may have been the positions of the weights. If weight intergrated and all weights placed in the front pockets nothing in the back for trim, this will also cause the pitch forward.

Hope this helps.

diver153

wow that sounds a little weired i don't know what could have gone wrong i would have said it was your weight belt but i guess not

scubaman2151

The bcd wasnt intergrated, so that wasnt the problem, but when i think about it, the bcd did seem to be a back inflated one, seems like it could be the answer. Thanks scuba mama.

steve634

I also had this problem with a back inflated bc. I constantly had to fight to stay upright,,, not much fun

scubaman2151

no kiding^^ lol, anyway to tell a back inflating BCD from just looking at it, or do you have to inflate it to tell?

dalehall

If you know what you're looking for, you can tell just by looking at them. The back inflate has a bladder just at the back where the jacket style will have the air pockets actually reaching around your waist area as well as the back area.. Most of the back inflate wings look like an upside down "U"...

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glynneco

Back inflate is fine on the surface once you get use to it. I lean back and get "on top of it" and do fine or inflate just enough to get my head out of the water. Actually I don't even think about it anymore it's just automatic. Back inflates are nice fo4r stability underwater and increased attach points for more "stuff". I can't stand the jacket anymore. Way too confining. The Back inflate also lets you carry the wght of the gear better out of the water. More like a back pack. Easier on the back and knees.
It's what you get use to and what kind of diving you do.

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Is that the bottom of the quarry or is the vis just really bad today?

Scuba Mama

Glynneco has a good point about the back inflate once you use them and get adjusted to leaning back a little it is not a problem.
I also have found a less air a the surface helps maintain buoyancy in back inflate.

If it has been awhile since you have been diving ask with BCD style it is and if it is different then what you were trained in ask what the difference is and how to adjust to it.

Scuba Mama