http://www.scubadviser.com/blog/top-tips/10-top-tips-for-buoyancy-control/

Hi, Greg from Scuba Happy  here  😛 , Here’s a little refresher to keep prepared. lets say you hanen’t been diving for awhile and you feel the strong need to get back in the water as we all do, well it’s always best to prepare for the event by refreshing your mind with some of the basics you learned back when you first certified,  go to the pool and practice until you get them nailed so you can have a safe and comfortable dive.

If you remember in the Open Water certification class you went through you were helped by the instructor on dive assistant with adding weight to your system to get you properly weighted, well you pretty much do the same thing, add enough weight to be able to float in the water with the water line hitting you in the middle of your mask with you BCD emptied of air, you should be just doing a slight bob up and down, at this point you should be able to control your buoyancy at depth with your air pressure in the BCD by inflating or deflating as needed to maintain Neutral Buoyancy.

There are some instances you will want to be over weighted (very few)  like in a heavy current or turbulent water and close to the rocks with limited visability, then it helps to have the added weight to make it easier to navigate in those waters rather that be tossed around with very little control. You would also have to make sure your BCD had enough lift to deal with the extra weight added, you need that lift to get back to the surface from depth, and also remember you will be more buoyant when at the end of the dive with less air in your tank.

As I started my diving exploits in the U.S. Air Force in 1973 in Myrtle Beach South Carolina and later PADI certifying with my son Trevor . As a Dive Control Specialist at a Scuba Diving shop in the waters on the Oregon Coast, it was my job for many years to get the new divers properly weighted (along with many other duties) both in salt water and fresh water so I am aware just how important it is to be in control of your buoyancy. Be sure and refresh this information from time to time just to keep current and able to deal with things under water. If you take a break for a bit you will be ready to hit the water with a little refresher.

Here are a list of things to remember when learning how to control your buoyancy, when you have mastered this list you should be able to control your buoyancy in the water in any situation.

1. Don’t just assume that you are weighted correctly, take the time to check it and make sure, you may have gained or lost weight or have water retension or dehydrated (have your buddy help you get do a weight check and check his also) before you get into the water, because that is not the time you want to find out you need more weight.

2. When adding air into your BCD to get Neutrally Buoyant,  be sure and add it in small increments and rest between them, to see if it has changed your buoyancy, if you practice on the bottom and hover just off the bottom that will let you know you are Neutral, it can be done quickly and easily.

3. Become good at adjusting the air into and out of the BCD, practice releaseing air from other deflaters equiped on your own BCD also, don’t just concentrate on your inflater valve, if you keep practiceing  you will have better control when on the move in the water. Remember the deeper you go the less buoyancy you will have, you will at some point have to add air to again maintain neutral buoyancy, It constantly changes and you have to be able to adjust on the move, but don’t fret it becomes second nature after awhile.

4. Make sure and remain relaxed and breath deep and slowly and naturally, check your brteath from time to time durring your dive to make sure you are not breathing too fast, sometimes you forget to check your breathing id chasing fish. Being aware of  your breathing and maintaining a relaxed posture you will keep at ease, and give you a good dive.

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