Skills Lab

Study and prepare each technical skill before training.

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Buoyancy and Trim

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Objective

Maintain a stable horizontal position at a chosen depth without moving hands or disturbing the environment.

Why it matters

In an overhead environment, poor buoyancy destroys visibility in seconds. One fin-stroke on a silted floor can black out a cave for hours.

Correct execution

Use lung volume for fine adjustments. Keep arms tucked. Fins behind hips at all times. Eyes forward, not down. Check your shadow — it should not move.

Common mistakes

  • ✕Head-up posture causing fin contact with bottom
  • ✕Using arms to stabilize instead of breathing
  • ✕Uncontrolled depth changes when distracted
  • ✕Holding breath at the wrong moment

Failure consequences

Silt-out, disorientation, loss of visibility — all potentially fatal in a cave.

Performance standard

Maintain depth ±0.5m for 3 minutes without hand use. No silt disturbance.