Ever get the feeling that you are swimming through molasses? Sooner or later experienced divers realize that bulk is bad and that steamlining is the key to improving your scuba technique. You can make your diving easier by reducing underwater drag - that invisible force that tries to hold you back.
The benefits of steamlining are multi-fold. Your air consumption rate will immediately improve, giving you more diving per tank fill. There will be less huffing and puffing during the dive, and less chance of leg cramping. You will find yourself moving through the water faster, with less effort. And, you will feel less tired at the end of the dive. Here are six simple ways to streamline your dive gear.
1) MINIMIZE YOUR DIVE GEAR: Take along only the gear you need for that specific dive. For example, if you are intending to dive an open 25-foot shallow coral reef, you probably don't need that bulky pony bottle. Leave it on the boat for those cave or shipwreck penetrations; the same is true for the dive reel and the big dive light. Take only the accessories you need to make a safe, comfortable dive.
2) SHED THE EXTRA LEAD: Rig your dive gear with just enough lead weights to achieve neutral buoyancy. Carrying too much weight will simply force you to inflate the BC for buoyancy compensation, and a partially inflated BC bladder causes bulk and drag. The BC should ride flat against your body.
3) CLIP THE CONSOLE: Clip the hanging stuff to the D-rings of your BC. Items like your instrument console, pressure gauge or collection bag should not be left to trail behind you. They simply set up another cause for drag.
4) EMPTY THOSE BC POCKETS: Things from previous dives tend to collect in the BC pockets. I actually saw one diver carrying a bottle of mask cleaner and a tube of sun block in his BC. Make a habit of emptying your BC pockets of unnecessary items prior to the dive. That will leave room for those items that you might really need.
5) FASTEN THE FLAPS: As BCs become more worn; the pocket flaps may cease closing properly. An open BC pocket can fill with water, thus causing substantial drag. It is like having a miniature sea anchor on your body. Make sure the Velcro tab on your pocket flap is clean of sand or mud. If it is just worn out, replace the Velcro strip with a new piece. You can purchase a repair kit that allows new strips to be cemented in place on most BC fabrics.
6) TUCK IN YOUR OCTOPUS: As you are gearing up for the dive, make sure your octopus (safe second) is tucked into your BC or against your body. Do not allow it to trail behind you, causing the drag of a miniature parachute. Many BCs have a special quick-release pocket expressly for an octopus. An alternative method is to clip the octopus to a BC D-ring, using a quick-release mouthpiece plug. They are available at most retail dive stores.
Following these simple pre-dive procedures will make your diving more enjoyable, and you will look more professional as well.