BSAC Buoyancy Workshop
This workshop has been developed in response to evidence that many divers’ buoyancy control is not as good as it should be. Statistics show that buoyancy problems are a frequent cause of incidents, with over-weighting being a major contributor. Perfecting buoyancy control is a major step towards safe, comfortable diving, where the diver can relax and move gracefully in the underwater environment. Few skills can do as much as buoyancy control to improve one’s diving: it affects all that we do underwater. It saves breathing gas, saves energy, builds confidence in one’s ability to dive safely and makes for more fun. Not only that, it helps us to avoid damage to the underwater environment and at the same time it makes us look and feel good as divers.
Entry level: The workshop is open to all divers wishing to improve their buoyancy skills, irrespective of their grade. However, the workshop assumes that students have at least the theory knowledge and practical ability expected of a qualified BSAC Ocean Diver, or equivalent.
Course duration: This is a 1 day course and consists of 1 to 2 theory lessons which is followed by 2 open water dives.
Theory Lessons
The course starts by looking at the most common buoyancy problems, the cause of such problems and how they relate to diving. Issues such as; over weighting, under and over inflating, equipment configurations and its trim, increase in air consumption and breathing rates and ineffective body positioning both while diving and at decompression and safety stops are covered.
We then take a look at some solutions how to prevent and overcome buoyancy issues. Other tasks that are used on the dive, such as, inflating and deploying DSMB’s, using reels on the ascent phases etc can also cause additional buoyancy issues. The lessons show you the correct techniques used to avoid any fast or abnormal ascents when using this equipment. Other areas covered in this theory lesson, will address how to maintain the correct horizontal body positioning for more effective dive profiling, fining techniques and decompression stop procedures. Plus we'll cover how to avoid damaging marine life by streamlined your equipment and controlling your buoyancy when swimming near to the seabed in such activities as photography or underwater videography etc.
Practical Lessons.
The practical lesson will consist of two open water dives. The first dive is to a maximum depth not exceeding 20metres. You will start your dive by using a control descent to a depth of 6 metres where you will conduct a stop for 2 minutes on the way down. On reaching the seabed, you will then hold yourself in an horizontal position without fining at 1.5 to 2 metre from the seabed for a further two minutes, before continuing on the dive. Throughout the dive, you will practice maintaining the same altitude of 1.5 /2.0 metres throughout the dive. On the ascent phase, you will practice a controlled ascent with the using an ascent line and then complete a 9m, 6m and 3metre horizontal stop at each depth for a period of 2 minutes.
The second dive is a repeat of dive one, but with an additional stop at 12 metres. On this dive, you will be expected to hold each decompression/safety stop within 1.0, 0.5 or 0.3 +/- of the target depth, depending on the level of your diver qualification. Again each stop will be for duration of 2 minutes.
On completion of the course you will be issued with the BSAC Buoyancy Trim Qualification card.
