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09-22-2005, 2:33 PM Listerine Joined on:09-22-2005 Posts 5 Why does my instructor suggest diving feet-first? I see people finning down and I see my instructor dropping down feet-first... he says something to do with 'heartburn' prevention??    Report

09-22-2005, 6:56 PM Guysmiley Joined on:09-21-2005 Posts 6 Re: Why does my instructor suggest diving feet-first? must be all the sambal in his tummy.... ;) Decending head first can cause dizzyness and disorientation. All that blood rushing to your head...    Report

09-23-2005, 1:39 AM Scubagirl Joined on:09-20-2005 Toronto, Canada Posts 11 Re: Why does my instructor suggest diving feet-first? Descending head first can also make it difficult to equalize. People tend to kick down because they're not relaxed enough and exhaling completely enough to simply glide downward feet first. The ideal way to descend is to be completely relaxed, maintain a vertical position in the water, point your fins downward, exhale completely, deflate your BCD gradually (rather than dumping all the air) until you begin to sink. If you're still having trouble sinking, looking up almost always solves the problem (it causes your body to align itself in the most streamlined position to sink). Once you're past about 5 feet, go horizontal so that you can see where you're going; it will also create drag so that your descent is controlled. You might also need to add air to your BCD in order to control your descent. Happy diving! "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined." Thoreau    Report

09-23-2005, 6:05 PM griz Joined on:09-23-2005 Carins, Australia Posts 2 Re: Why does my instructor suggest diving feet-first? To stop a desent while going feet first is as easy as kicking your legs. If you go head first you'll need to turn around first. When you are learning to dive this could mean you desend a few more meters before you stop, this could cause ear damage. Regards Gary www.marinedomaindiving.com 0 ____ 0 (_/\_) o =() .. Take only pictures, leave only bubbles!    Report

09-26-2005, 3:05 PM flameangel Joined on:09-20-2005 Posts 16 Re: Why does my instructor suggest diving feet-first?  Listerine wrote: I see people finning down and I see my instructor dropping down feet-first... he says something to do with 'heartburn' prevention?? True true... I read somewhere (i think its Asian diver mag a few issues back) that its something to do with the stomach acids that could leak from your stomach into your throat passage causing 'heartburn' and causing some people to vomit or have chest discomfort. I experienced this before... not very nice feeling... almost gagged, especially after eating. I now descent feet-first.... but you have to be weighted correctly. ;)    Report

09-30-2005, 11:25 AM maveric Joined on:09-20-2005 Posts 1 Re: Why does my instructor suggest diving feet-first?  flameangel wrote:  Listerine wrote: I see people finning down and I see my instructor dropping down feet-first... he says something to do with 'heartburn' prevention?? True true... I read somewhere (i think its Asian diver mag a few issues back) that its something to do with the stomach acids that could leak from your stomach into your throat passage causing 'heartburn' and causing some people to vomit or have chest discomfort. I experienced this before... not very nice feeling... almost gagged, especially after eating. I now descent feet-first.... but you have to be weighted correctly. ;) True i agree with flameangel.The feeling sux and its lousy ...I feel do a descent feet first is better coz:  1)better control when  descending 2)its easier to ascent in case of unforseen circumstances Just my 1cent worth of opinion      Report

09-30-2005, 2:45 PM Alex Joined on:09-21-2005 Singapore Posts 24 Re: Why does my instructor suggest diving feet-first? Hi buddies, also agree - head down isn't the best choice. What I like to do is getting in horizontal position as soon as possible. I feel the most confortable doing the decent in that way because it gives me full control and the best overview and apart of the fact that you are still descenting it's already your final postion (horizontal).    Report

03-26-2007, 11:25 AM raychristenpaul Joined on:03-25-2007 Posts 4 Re: Why does my instructor suggest diving feet-first? Yes...yes....feet first is always the best choice and your methods are the same with me. Sometimes, we have to dive head first. I remebered one time diving in the Philippines, the surface current was rather strong. We did the backward roll entry with empty bcd and meet down at about 4-5 metres to avoid the current. Down below, it was calm and we all have a nice dive. Don't really like the head first descent but at times we need to do it.    Report

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