Getting trim

ellisn · December 1st, 2005, 08:48 PM

How many options are open to getting ones trim right. I am way to top heavy at the moment and if I relax horizontal just role upside down with my feet pointing to the surface. I have a bit of free play to move my tank bands up but was wondering if there are other ways people have found to get it spot on. This may all be accademic as I have a new wing and as i said will be moving my bands up but just in case. Another option I've thought about is moving a bit of weight from my V-weight to my belt which I imagine would help. Really don't want to resort to tail or ankle weights.

TIA

Neil

*JohnKendall* · December 1st, 2005, 09:08 PM

Make sure that your tank bands are as high up the cylinders as possible. Also make sure that your harness fits properly.

Then you need to learn how your head, arms, legs and feet effect your trim.

After all of that, then you may need to move weight around.

HTH
J

Divingniknaks · December 1st, 2005, 09:18 PM

Neil,

This also (may) be due to Fabers being neck heavy.

Tail weights are one option after you've moved your bands up of course.

Help ?

Cheers

***ericfine50*** · December 1st, 2005, 09:19 PM

John nailed it pretty good.

Once you move the bands up a bit and check the harness all you have to do is dive and play around in the water :D

**Alastair** · December 2nd, 2005, 01:24 AM

This is one I've played with a lot!

The concept of trim is a bit like a see-saw. You have a centre of gravity and if the mass is too near your head i.e. in front of your centre of gravity, then you'll rotate head down. Too near your feet and you'll be head up. You can affect it by undersuit layers and by weight. E.g. If you are head down you can put on xerotherm top or use a tailweight or weightbelt. Either will have a similiar effect.

As everyone else has said technique plays a major role and dive gods can sort this with arms, legs and even their head. However I still find that kit plays a part. Loads of people will tell you it's just head games, but don't ignore the kit entirely.

Cheers
Al

Rob Dobson · December 2nd, 2005, 11:54 AM

Neil - when I used the V weight or the p weight I was too heavy at the top and it felt awful in the water - so I've moved back to a belt (or no weight in fresh) so that is def worth playing with.

*JohnKendall* · December 2nd, 2005, 01:35 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Rob Dobson)

Neil - when I used the V weight or the p weight I was too heavy at the top and it felt awful in the water - so I've moved back to a belt (or no weight in fresh) so that is def worth playing with.

One thing to watch with a weight belt is that it isn't under the waist band of the harness. This allows the harness to flop around which then works againts what you are trying to achieve.

HTH
J

graham_hk · December 2nd, 2005, 02:21 PM

I would love to have feet down trim then you can push your buoy (just like in swimming) without moving and acheive correct body position. Much more difficult is head down because you have nothing to push against :-(

I have head down trim in 104s even with all the tricks and have to skull gently with fins. I have looked a JJ and David Rhea and they both use Titanium Mk25s which have significantly less mass compared to the TX100s - I am going to try this next time I get a chance to dive 104s

Graham

December 1st, 2005, 08:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
ellisn(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon Posts: 89	Getting trim How many options are open to getting ones trim right. I am way to top heavy at the moment and if I relax horizontal just role upside down with my feet pointing to the surface. I have a bit of free play to move my tank bands up but was wondering if there are other ways people have found to get it spot on. This may all be accademic as I have a new wing and as i said will be moving my bands up but just in case. Another option I've thought about is moving a bit of weight from my V-weight to my belt which I imagine would help. Really don't want to resort to tail or ankle weights. TIA Neil

December 1st, 2005, 09:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Divingniknaks(Offline) Resident purveyor of shiney kit.... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 1,038	Neil, This also (may) be due to Fabers being neck heavy. Tail weights are one option after you've moved your bands up of course. Help ? Cheers __________________ Phill ----------------------------- Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

December 2nd, 2005, 01:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
Alastair(Offline) DIRX Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 693	This is one I've played with a lot! The concept of trim is a bit like a see-saw. You have a centre of gravity and if the mass is too near your head i.e. in front of your centre of gravity, then you'll rotate head down. Too near your feet and you'll be head up. You can affect it by undersuit layers and by weight. E.g. If you are head down you can put on xerotherm top or use a tailweight or weightbelt. Either will have a similiar effect. As everyone else has said technique plays a major role and dive gods can sort this with arms, legs and even their head. However I still find that kit plays a part. Loads of people will tell you it's just head games, but don't ignore the kit entirely. Cheers Al __________________ Helium is our friend - GI3

December 1st, 2005, 09:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
JohnKendall(Offline) GUE Instructor/DIRX Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,102	Make sure that your tank bands are as high up the cylinders as possible. Also make sure that your harness fits properly. Then you need to learn how your head, arms, legs and feet effect your trim. After all of that, then you may need to move weight around. HTH J

December 1st, 2005, 09:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
*ericfine50*(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MA Posts: 622	John nailed it pretty good. Once you move the bands up a bit and check the harness all you have to do is dive and play around in the water :D

December 2nd, 2005, 11:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
Rob Dobson (Online) Chillin' with the ninjas Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 537	Neil - when I used the V weight or the p weight I was too heavy at the top and it felt awful in the water - so I've moved back to a belt (or no weight in fresh) so that is def worth playing with.

December 2nd, 2005, 01:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
JohnKendall(Offline) GUE Instructor/DIRX Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,102	Quote: (Originally Posted by Rob Dobson) Neil - when I used the V weight or the p weight I was too heavy at the top and it felt awful in the water - so I've moved back to a belt (or no weight in fresh) so that is def worth playing with. One thing to watch with a weight belt is that it isn't under the waist band of the harness. This allows the harness to flop around which then works againts what you are trying to achieve. HTH J

December 2nd, 2005, 02:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
graham_hk(Offline) GUE instructor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: here, there and everywhere Posts: 780	I would love to have feet down trim then you can push your buoy (just like in swimming) without moving and acheive correct body position. Much more difficult is head down because you have nothing to push against :-( I have head down trim in 104s even with all the tricks and have to skull gently with fins. I have looked a JJ and David Rhea and they both use Titanium Mk25s which have significantly less mass compared to the TX100s - I am going to try this next time I get a chance to dive 104s Graham