KIRSTYANDREWS
What a lightweight !
Kirsty Andrews casts an analytical eye over the issue of correct weighting and buoyancy
A diver contemplates the bow of the Shuna in the Sound of Mull
LIKE MANY INSTRUCTORS - IN FACT ALL OF THEM , PROBABLY - when I ’ m teaching a new diver I always emphasise the importance of good buoyancy . It ’ s the secret behind being a good diver and the key to enjoying your diving , I will say . And it feels pretty darn cool when you do get it right - a bit like Superman as you glide effortlessly by .
Anyway , fairly recently , I got my buoyancy embarrassingly wrong . My main excuse is that it had been an odd year in which for various reasons I ’ d messed around with my standard kit set-up . I ’ d swapped between wetsuit and drysuit , used twinsets and singles of various sizes , integrated and non-integrated weights , and three different BCDs . On this dive
I calculated the amount of lead I thought I needed , based on that day ’ s kit , and was about 1kg or 2kg short . I was able to breathe out and descend the shot line without dragging myself down but only just ; I felt lighter than usual . As the dive progressed , I definitely became concerned that I was too light . As the no-deco limit approached , I decided to call the dive and signalled to my buddy to go up as I didn ’ t want to risk not being able to control my ascent . He was a little surprised as we ’ d discussed what deco we ’ d be happy with before we descended , but of course he agreed to the change of plan . I hadn ’ t even managed to find any big stones to put in my pockets from the seabed , which would usually be the first recourse for lightweight rascals such as myself . I did manage to control my ascent and hold a safety stop , but it wasn ’ t comfortable .
We had a chuckle about my amateurish antics over a pint afterwards . I ’ m no novice diver and I ’ m admitting to an experience I ’ d otherwise rather forget in the hope of recognising that we all have off days and it ’ s how we respond to the issue that counts .
Lots of factors can catch us off guard , whether it be salty or fresh water , a new fluffy undersuit , a hefty new torch or a borrowed cylinder ( not all weigh the same , even if the same capacity ). Being a photographer , it makes a difference what camera equipment I ’ m using : my macro set-up is negatively buoyant and my wide angle is a bit positive . Even , shock horror , a few pounds piled on in seasonal excess might require an extra lead allocation : a lose-lose situation , that one . I do still log my dives and make a point of logging how much lead I use with different kit set-ups , which can be really useful to refer back to , should I need to change something . If I ’ d taken a bit more time that day when putting my kit together , I think I would have got it right .
I absolutely don ’ t wish to suggest that we should err on the side of caution and dive heavy : that is just as bad and you ’ ll never look like Superman with a BCD full of gas to compensate for the excess lead you ’ re carrying . In fact , instead of superman we should be like Goldilocks : not too much or too little weighting but just the right amount to be perfect . �
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