California is home to a highly diverse scenery above and below the waves. Northern California is covered in Giant Redwood forests and sweeping views of rugged terrain. Areas like Monterrey, Big Sur and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve provide divers an amazing view of a protected underwater realm. Meanwhile, the Central Coast of California is a gateway to the Channel Islands, where one of the largest Marine preserves in the country reside. Large animals like Orcas and the Grey Whale travel through the Channel Islands and grace bubble-makers with an unparalleled diving experience! As a traveler moves further south along the longest continuous state coastline in America, they'll find more beautiful water and enjoy many amazing areas that span from San Diego to Los Angeles. There is no doubt in any diver's mind that Southern California is a unique diving experience that must be jotted down on a bucket list and achieved! Whether you are looking for deep wrecks, kelp forests or swimming with some very large animals; you'll find it in SoCal. 

Millions of underwater inhabitants allow a diver to enjoy substantial viewings in a short amount of time and give divers plenty to talk about when they surface on the world-class beachheads to spend the rest of their day!

Here's a few of Southern California diver's favorite encounters! 

The "big'uns":

Giant Black Sea Bass - Photo Courtesy of Jazmin Sproule

Giant Black Sea Bass

Meet Stereolepis gigas. Commonly known as the Giant Black Sea Bass (GSB), this behemoth can reach lengths of 7ft and weigh as much as 700lbs. This fish was sought after by fishermen and eventually found itself on an endangered species list; this prompted the California Department of Fish and Game to ban the fishing of the GSB in 1982. Slowly, but surely, the population is finding itself back in a common sighting for SoCal divers. The GSB find hunting grounds amongst shallow rocky reefs in California and tend to stay in their areas for some time. They utilize their giant maw to rapidly suck a prey into their mouths for feeding and they love to eat just about anything on the reef.  At the time of this writing, GSB's are currently hanging out at the Casino Point in Catalina and along the California coast at Heisler Park. They are a curious fish that will circle a diver and inspect them with their large eyes before moving along elsewhere along the reef. They are quite a treat to see on a dive! 

_________________________________________________________________

California Sea Lions lounging about - Photo by Greg Amptman 

California Sea Lions

Zalophus californianus is a carnivore that is very common along Southern California shorelines. They can live up to 30 years of age and weigh in at a whopping 800+ lbs upon full maturity. The California Sea Lion is the fastest of its family where it can reach speeds of 25 miles an hour. They are a social animal that many top-siders can enjoy as they lay about on docks, moorings, rocks and more. They are extremely smart hunters and can remain below the surface for 10 minutes. They are the ire of fishing boats, as sea lions will comfortably chill below a boat and snag fighting fish directly off reels for some lazy meals. The California Sea Lions are always fun to interact with but do require caution as they are a territorial wild animal. Divers in Southern California will travel to the Los Coronados Islands, La Jolla Cove, San Clemente's Seal Rock and Crescent Bay North's Seal Rock for a chance to encounter these animals. At Shaw's Cove, it is not uncommon to have a Sea Lion join a diver on a night dive. The resident there enjoys using a diver's lights to help hunt! 

_________________________________________________________________

A Pacific White-Sided Dolphin at the Vancouver Aquarium - Photo by Yummifruitbat

Pacific White-Sided Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus obliquidens is known as the Pacific White-Sided Dolphin and are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. They are most noticeable in California waters because of their white stripes when they are cresting the surface of the water or viewed underneath the waves. They have a short beak and look very similar to a porpoise. The Pacific White-Sided Dolphin is highly sociable and is often viewed by boaters when the dolphins decide to surf the wakes of their boats. They are not shy when it comes to acrobatic maneuvers and often hunt in groups, which provide amazing views for observers. Surfers and divers alike will experience close encounters with a dolphin and there are many tales of watching dolphins surf the waves along the SoCal coastline. They are always fun to see under the water! 

_________________________________________________________________

Gray Whale - Photo taken by SpringTide Crew

Gray Whale

Eschrichtius robustus is an amazing thing to see in Southern California waters. This animal travels between Mexico and Alaska and provide whale watching tours a view unlike any other. Reaching 30-40 tons and 40-50 feet, a Gray Whale is a very noticeable passerby in Southern California. They are often covered in organisms and will provide onlookers with views of their tails (also known as flukes) and gigantic blowholes when they surface for air. Their two blowholes are positioned in such a way that when they exhale, their spout appears to be heart shaped. For Southern California divers, a gray whale is so large that it often creates a visual disturbance in the water when it passes. An animal that exceeds the length of full size school busses are wary of boats and will often travel or dive well away from them. On occasion, divers and sight-seers will get to enjoy a breaching whale or catch a glimpse of their beautiful flukes. 

_________________________________________________________________

The common ones:

Pacific Barracuda - Photo by Mark H.

Pacific Barracuda

Sphyraena Argentea is a schooling fish that is often found in large packs throughout Southern California. It is a predatory fish that spans from the southern tip of Baja Mexico all the way up to coastal Washington state. They can grow to over 3ft long and weigh in at 15lbs. During winter, the Pacific Barracuda will move south to warmer hunting grounds before moving back into our favorite Southern California dives sites and becoming a treat to see while out in the water. These fish are aggressive hunters of smaller fish and are inquisitive by nature. They are attracted to shiny objects and will come close to a diver to take a look. Considering their sharp teeth, it is safer to maintain a distance and enjoy their beautiful views from afar! 

_________________________________________________________________

Garibaldi - Photo courtesy of Istockphoto

The Elusive Garibaldi

Hypsypops rubicundus can be easily identified by its bright orange coloration and inquisitive personality. Unlike other damselfish, who reside in warm tropical waters, Garibaldi can be found in temperate waters off the California coast from Monterey Bay down to the northern Baja coastline waters of Mexico. After over two decades of the Aquarium industry aggressively targeting the Garibaldi, California passed legislation in 1993 to protect these fabulous fish. In 1995, the Garibaldi was officially named the California State Marine Fish and are completely protected under state law from being removed from their habitats. The male Garibaldi is the housemaker of a mating pair. Not only does he select the nesting area, but he thoroughly prepares and maintains the area for the female to lay her eggs. Garibaldi are also very territorial and have meticulous boundaries of where one nest ends and the other begins. Be careful not to get too close! They have been known to chase divers away from their nesting areas. One of the authors may have been bitten by a combative garibaldi while photographing its nest. If you are diving in California, you can bet you will be able to see some of these vibrant fish!

_________________________________________________________________

Sheephead - Photo courtesy of djmansfield.com

California Sheephead

Semicossyphus pulcher are an incredibly long-lived fish species that inhabits the rocky reef and kelp beds of California. Its maximum known lifespan in the wild is 53 years! However, most Sheephead do not reach this age due to fishing demands. Males can be distinguished by their black and orange midsection, white chin, red eyes and prominent bulbous foreheads. Females are typically smaller than the males and are more of a dull pink in color with white undersides. These fish are sequentially hermaphroditic as adults. Which means they are all born female and can develop into a fully functioning male after reaching a certain maturity level and size. Environmental conditions and the ratio of males to females in their local populations spark this unidirectional sex change. As a male, this fish establishes a spawning territory during mating season and protects a group of females with which he breeds. If you’re diving in California, you’re likely to see at least one of these canine-toothed fish!

_________________________________________________________________

Moray Eel - Photo Courtesy of Charles H.

The California Moray Eel

Gymnothorax mordax is a long, slim snakelike fish that is light to dark brown or green in color. Divers will typically find them tucked away in crevices during the day and prowling the reef for prey at night. The moray eel lacks pelvic fins, pectoral fins and gill covers. Most fish breathe by opening and closing their gill covers to force water over their gills. Since moray eels lack gill covers, they constantly open and close their mouths to push water over their gills, so it appears to be regularly gasping for breath (or waiting for the end of a bad joke). Scientists hypothesize that the California Moray’s off the Southern California Coast do not reproduce – possibly due to the cold-water temperatures. Moray’s living here are thought to hatch off the coast of Baja California and drift north as larvae.  A distinguishable feature of the moray eel is the “second set” of jaws located in the back of their throat, also known as pharyngeal jaws. When the eel’s front jaws bite into its prey, the pharyngeal jaws spring forward and latch onto the prey while dragging them deeper into the moray’s throat. Along with their two sets of jaws, moray’s also have dagger-like teeth that are full of bacteria. Even though a moray will not bite unless provoked, be sure to keep your hands to yourself and do not reach into moray territory crevices.

_________________________________________________________________

Octopus - Photo Courtesy of Greg A.

Pacific Red Octopus

Octopus rubescens is known as the Pacific Red Octopus and can be found from Alaska to Baja California on the sandy or rocky bottoms of kelp forests to depths of 200m. This octopus is best identified by having three "eyelashes," or papillae, underneath its eyes and is typically red or brown in color. With arms around four times the length of its body, they typically hunt for marine invertebrates (crabs being a particular favorite) and fishes late into the night. Not only do octopuses have excellent sight, but they use each suction cup to taste, smell, and sense their surroundings. Be careful not to touch these guys! They have a powerful venom filled beak that they use to penetrate and poison their prey. Octopuses are gonochoric, where both male and female adults usually die shortly after spawning and brooding. They are considered to be the smartest invertebrate species, and potentially as intelligent as a house cat. However, not nearly as fluffy.

_________________________________________________________________

The "itty-bitty'uns":

Spanish Shawl - Photo Courtesy of Jazmin Sproule

The Spanish Shawl

Flabellinopsis iodinea is a species of aeolid nudibranch that is so vibrant it will stop divers in their tracks! The body of the Spanish Shawl Nudibranch is translucent purple with intense orange cerata emerging from its back. Located on the top of the nudibranchs head are deep orange/red rhinophores that they use for navigation, finding mates and prey. They typically feed on tiny hydrozoan colonies that grow on kelp and will store the stinging cell from these hydrozoans and use it in their own cerata as a defense mechanism. Various species of nudibranchs often use this chemical sequestration process as they lack the physical protection of a shell. This nudibranch, like many other seal slugs, are hermaphroditic. Each nudibranch possesses both male and female reproductive organs on the right side of their heads. Self-fertilization is possible in many nudibranch species however it is extremely rare. On your next dive, slow down and keep your eyes out for these colorful beauties.

_________________________________________________________________

Mantis Shrimp - Photo Courtesy of Prilfish

Mantis Shrimp

Hemisquilla californiensis can grow up to 12 inches long and can be found from silty shallow water to depths of 295ft from Point Conception to Panama. The California Mantis “Shrimp” is actually not a shrimp at all! True shrimp are Decapods that have ten legs with three pairs that have developed into mouthparts. Stomatopods, like the Mantis Shrimp, have only three walking legs while the rest are converted into feeding appendages. These tenacious shrimp have the ability to break glass up to one-quarter inch thick. For diver’s, finding this shrimp in the open is a treat! They are incredibly quick and prefer to burrow more than six feet long in soft, silty substrates. This resourceful shrimp likes its privacy and can conceal their burrows by placing shells and other debris over the openings. Similar to the American lobster, the Mantis Shrimp can produce distinct sounds by vibrating its carapace. Scientists have recorded that each individual animal produces a unique rumble sound, and that this acoustic activity is higher during dawn and dusk, times when they are feeding or guarding their burrows. Listen closely on your next night dive!

_________________________________________________________________

Catalina Goby - Photo Courtesy of Jazmin Sproule

The Catalina Goby

Lythrypnus dalli is a small vibrant fish that almost never leaves direct contact with the rocky reef structures of the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Catalina Goby, or Bluebanded Goby, often hide near or under sea urchin spines (or the crevices that the sea urchins create), and do not like to stray far from these protective structures. This fish can be distinguished by their small stature, bright orange body coloration and electric blue striping. Another particularly interesting characteristic of this goby is its ability to rapidly change sex. Many marine fishes are able to change sex, but nearly all of these species are only able to change in one direction. As a bidirectional hermaphrodite, the Catalina Goby can change their sex back and forth within just a few days. This trait is eminent to these goby considering they rarely venture far from their territories, and this facilitates reproduction with nearby individuals.

_________________________________________________________________

References

1. “Giant (Black) Sea Bass.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/chis/learn/nature/giant-black-seabass.htm.

2. “California Sea Lion.” National Geographic, 21 Sept. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/c/california-sea-lion/.

3. Pacific White-Sided Dolphin. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://www.nps.gov/sajh/learn/nature/pacific-white-sided-dolphin.htm.

4. Gray Whale. (2018, September 21). Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/g/gray-whale/

5. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2020, from https://oehha.ca.gov/fish/species/pacific-barracuda

6. “Garibaldi.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/chis/learn/nature/garibaldi.htm.

7. “California Sheephead.” California Sheephead | California Sea Grant, caseagrant.ucsd.edu/seafood-profiles/california-sheephead.

About the authors:

D.J. Mansfield is a PADI Course Director who dives Southern California and has done so for 23 years. He is currently the Director of Operations for Beach Cities Scuba and is a committed ocean steward and trainer for divers all over the world.

Follow him on Instagram @djmansfield7 or contact him at dj@beachcitiescuba.com.   

Jazmin Sproule is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer with a bachelor's degree from Oregon State University in Environmental Sciences and Aquatic Biology. She has been a PADI Pro for 6 years and continues to dive all along the west coast sharing her vast knowledge of ocean life. 

Follow her on instragram @jaz_sproule .

This month marks year 22 of my scuba adventures. To toot my own horn for a second; I have accomplished 3,731 actual open water dives as of Saturday  morning (yes, I have a dive log). Additionally, I touched the bottom of a Catalina dive site at 302 feet with the proper equipment and traveled to 28 different countries to experience their waters over these years. Whether it was a cave system in the middle of Missouri or the isolated islands of Micronesia, there's been a commonality on every single dive: I can become a better diver. 

You might think to yourself 'That is impossible! This guy has way too many dives! There is no way he is not just amazing.' - do not worry, in my own mind, I think I'm pretty awesome. But, I would be remiss if I did not accept the fact I have made errors during those thousands of dives. On logbook entry 25, I decided to go on a dive to celebrate my achievement with one of my good friends. As we chatted, I grabbed the new cylinder from my vehicle and set everything up. We got to the water and began our dive. At about 25 feet and 5 minutes, the regulator stopped working completely after a distinct wheezing sound came from my tank. I grabbed my octopus and experienced the same issue. There was no air! In a split second, the realization the cylinder I had put in the vehicle was already used! With my remaining breath and a reddening face, I bolted to the surface and (frantically) orally inflated my BCD. My buddy ascended to address the issue and I began to blame everything but the real problem; I made a serious mistake. I did not adhere to one of the most important principles of scuba diving; the pre-dive safety check. If I would have simply taken the time to run through an inherently safe method of ensuring everything is in good working order, I would have saved myself embarrassment and a possible real issue that could have gone much worse. All these years later, one statement sits firmly in the back of my head: I can become a better diver. 

The word "training" is synonymous with improvement. One does not have to subject themselves to actual emergencies to gain experience where education from more experienced trainers can help. You'll find the real key to becoming good at anything is through consistent and constant practice. The author Malcolm Gladwell deduces a person isn't born with natural gifts. Instead, they are gifted through dedication to hours of honing their craft. Whether it is strumming a guitar or replacing a glass window, the user finds themselves better at that 'gift' through dedication to the craft. If you do play an instrument, you can remember when you first started playing people would walk past you with their hands over their ears and a sympathetic smile. The off-key twangs and erratic bursts of sound were like nails across a chalkboard. With more hours of work, you may now manipulate a musical instrument in such a way people demand to hear you play when you are around. It may come as naturally as breathing to you. The same principles can be applied to your scuba diving. 

Having good buoyancy control, breathing techniques and working towards safer scuba diving are worthy goals for a new diver. The divers in the above photo are actually working on hovering, a common goal for all of us when scuba diving. It is easy to look at them and critique the million things wrong in this scenario; but, they are trying to learn how to be a better diver. The truth is they could have honed these skills in a confined water environment and successfully executed them perfectly (and off the poor reef) had the instructor invested in their training and education. That is what those hours in the pool and in safe, sandy environments in the ocean are designed to accomplish. 

As you gain experience in the water, it is also a great idea to seek out further education through a training program. If you want to be better at something, why not practice it in multiple environments that will only make you better at scuba diving! The folks in the picture could be working on base level performance requirements; but, they will become better at buoyancy control if they take the time to do further techniques in a continuing education class or by dedicating their time to performing the skill better. As we all know, practice is an extremely important facet of making ourselves masters at anything. This is where a training program will assist.

When I took the Advanced Open Water Course, I was extremely excited at the experience of night diving. At the time, all Advanced divers were required to conduct Navigation, Deep and Night as three of the five elective dives. These dives were the first dive of the actual specialty course. If you accomplished five of those dives, you'd be certified as an Advanced Open Water Diver. As we descended at Wood's Cove that night, I was super excited. My light illuminated creatures I had yet to see during the day. Lobsters, octopus and rays were flitting about the underwater realm in search of food while the normal day animals were tucking in for their naps. I found the exploration of the reef at night was something I was not fully comfortable with doing. My instructor encouraged me to sign up for the Night Diver specialty. On consecutive nights, we explored other coves and did skills to enhance our comfort level while being in a nighttime environment. This experience motivated me to comfortably dive at night and, at the time, I worked a night job. From that point on, I would spend Saturday and Sunday mornings from 3am to 4am exploring the reef system at Moss Point and more! But, what did I learn? I learned how to become better and much more comfortable operating at nighttime while wearing scuba equipment. Turning the lights off, navigating to and from a point underwater, and much more, taught me how to safely operate in a nighttime environment. Today, we night dive every other Sunday night with the dive club to keep our night diving skills in tip-top shape! 

Seeking out education did not make me a master of the night environment, but it did establish a foundation of principles I could then carry into hundreds of night dives across the world. It made me a better diver. As with all things, I could give you fifteen bullet points on how to become a master. But, my challenge to you is to become better through dedication to the sport of scuba diving. As you get better in the skills you learned in the Open Water Diver program, seek out experience through other courses and conduct dives with more experienced divers. Take the time to read about the latest technologies and techniques. If you can stay dedicated to the craft, you'll find yourself waking up with thousands of dives under your belt, a better education and the ability to teach others the importance of getting better at scuba diving! 

Did you know Beach Cities Scuba is a 100% AWARE partner? We are committed to supporting our ocean partners and creating a protected environment for sea life that includes responsible fishing practices and minimal human interaction. See how you can get involved today!

There is no doubt that Orange County scuba diving surpasses the competition in terms of marine life encounters, quantity of sea life and unique exploratory dive sites. From San Diego to San Francisco, a diver can enjoy a wide range of scuba diving that provides clear, calm and cool waters. The abundance of dive sites, access to/from and the protection of those areas are on an entirely different level when it comes to Orange County scuba diving.

What makes Orange County so different? The topography offers unobstructed views of the ocean for those multi-million dollar homes that decorate the landscape of Southern California. This creates sweeping observation areas found throughout the region. These large hills continues downward towards the ocean and provide dramatic rock formations for divers to explore. For beach-goers, swimmers, paddle boarders and other aquatically focused folks; the public access areas to the Pacific Ocean are far greater than many other areas along the western coastline. Huntington Beach alone boasts a 9.5 mile state beach! The rocky formations found along the coastline continue well into the water; submerged and covered completely with ocean creatures. 

As a visiting diver, many will notice that there are waves along the coastline. As divers move north towards Santa Barbara, Big Sur and Monterrey, they will experience large waves that have spent millions of years forming up California's beautiful views. These pose a challenge to beach divers throughout the region and many will find themselves traveling via boat to enjoy the dive sites found in these areas. As the coast moves south and east, one will find that coves and beaches become a little more protected. With the consistent swell and direction, many Southern California dive sites are often capable of successful scuba diving throughout the week. If you are in Orange County and looking to experience dive boats, you are more than welcome to explore Orange County Dive sites with boats like the Riviera Charters. This boat has operated in the Dana Point harbor for many years and has become the staple boat diving platform in Orange County. 

The beautiful rock formations are often accompanied by kelp. Kelp forests are prolific throughout Southern California and provide excellent protection for many animals. Diver's enjoy sweeping views as the kelp sways back and forth with sunlight rays poking through. It is amongst the most beautiful views found on earth. A diver can linger along the bottom and enjoy watching the fish travel through the area while watching the kelp forest. When you are on a dive site with kelp, it does not get much better!

There are naysayers when it comes to scuba diving in California. These protests can be narrowed down to three main issues: water temperature, wave action and visibility. 

The water temperatures range from 55°-75°F throughout the year. The average Southern California water temperature is 60°F. Usually, the cooler temps in winter will bring in high pressure systems that will keep the wave action low and provide us with great visibility. What most divers experience is the cooling effects of the outside temperatures which creates an undesirable effect to those of us that have an affinity for warmth! With the proper exposure protection, a diver can enjoy year-around scuba diving in Orange County. Whether finding an affordable drysuit or wearing a 7mm wetsuit, many divers enjoy scuba diving in Southern California year after year. 

The waves in Southern California do pose a risk to scuba divers and they are a very manageable risk. Scuba instructors throughout Orange County and all along the coast teach their divers at the lowest levels of learning how to enter and exit effectively from beaches.  These waves can become greater heights during tidal changes, wind shifts or other factors. If those conditions exceed your capabilities as a diver, it is a good idea to postpone your California diving activities or find another venue like a dive boat to enjoy your dives. Even a three or four foot wave is more than manageable to the majority of divers in Orange County. You'll find divers every single weekend at dive spots like Shaw's Cove as they safely enter and exit the water for their dives. If you are interested in learning how to beach dive, ask your instructor about the techniques! 

Visibility is affected on the Southern California coastline by wave action. The majority of dive sites have a sandy substrate; when the waves are up, the visibility is usually reduced. This does not make a dive site 'un-dive-able'; it simply means we change our perspective and travel further away from the beach to get better visibility. The average in Orange County is 10'-15'. The highs and lows are so drastic that there have been times when diving in Southern California felt like diving in the tropics with cooler waters. The clarity of the water is affected by numerous factors, but does provide an average that makes diving in California a year-around experience. 

Overall, Orange County Scuba dive sites are excellent venues to enjoy whether the diver is visiting Southern California or is a resident of the area! If you are interested in exploring these areas, contact your local Southern California dive shop and get set up. You'll be very happy you did when you see how populated these areas are throughout Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and much more. 

Did you know that Beach Cities Scuba is a 100% AWARE partner? We are committed to supporting our ocean partners and creating a protected environment for sea life that includes responsible fishing practices and minimal human interaction. See how you can get involved today!

Introduction

Scuba diving provides a platform in which skill refinement is a constant opportunity. With every dive into the depths, scuba divers find activities on this submerged frontier that captivate interest and allow exploration into areas that many humans have yet to set fin! Whether it is searching for submerged cities that are brought to life through the efforts of archeologists or the observation of plant and ocean life, scuba divers find themselves with a set of skills that are commonly accepted ways to make the experience more enjoyable.

Buoyancy Control

One such common skill is the control of buoyancy. To fully understand the concept, one must first delve into the reason why buoyancy control is so important. From the perspective of the diver, buoyancy control provides numerous advantages. Having proper control can equal less work, which means less breathing. If one is breathing at a normal, controlled rate they will find that dives underwater will be longer because the bubble maker is not taxing the contents of the scuba cylinder. Additionally, having the ability to glide through the water will ensure avoidance against items that may be of danger or discomfort to the diver. For example, a sea urchin has a well known defensive measure in that it shoots tiny barbs into one's skin when it is assaulted. If there was a lack of control in buoyancy, one might find an uncomfortable meeting with one of these creatures. A sea urchin sting is almost always a result of carelessness when descending into the underwater realm. 

From an environment perspective, the ocean is a beautiful aspect of the world. The intricate living system is fragile and, in most cases, old. The fish are adapted to this environment and rarely touch the reefs. A scuba diver has to adapt to this environment and this is done through repetitive scuba diving. An individual with poor buoyancy control will find themselves skirting the bottom and destroying delicate reef and plant life needed to sustain this underwater ecosystem. If scuba divers lack the skill of buoyancy, they may single handedly change the dynamics of a reef system through their destructive practices of poor finning, buoyancy and negligence towards the delicacy of the region they dive within. 

In either case, scuba divers find themselves constantly refining techniques and finding ways to avoid contact with the reef systems we find in our oceans. 

Proper Weighting

One of the most important steps in buoyancy control is the determination of proper weighting. If a diver is wearing too much weight, they are essentially working against their own body. The presence of extra weight translates to drag while traveling through the water. Additionally, extra weight requires a diver to add a larger amount of air to the buoyancy control device (BCD). This can create a situation where managing the air inside the device much more difficult. It also wastes air that is in the scuba cylinder, thus shortening the dive time because of inefficient management. 

A simple technique to check your weighting on the surface is to put the regulator in the diver's mouth. Have them fully inflate their lungs while fully deflating the BCD. A properly weighted diver will settle around the eye line in the water. If the diver exhales, they should sufficiently sink to begin their dive. A diver who is underweighted will not sink at all and a diver who is overweight will begin to sink immediately. 

If a diver has descended, there is another technique to help with determining weighting. Once on a sandy bottom, the diver can conduct a technique where they breath in and slowly rise from the bottom. Upon exhalation, they should slowly drop back down to their original position. A diver who is underweighted will begin to float to the surface upon inhalation and a diver who has too much weight will require numerous adjustments to the BCD to successfully conduct this weight check. 

Divers in Southern California typically dive with 10% of their body weight plus 4lbs (i.e. 200lbs x .10 =  20 + 4lbs = 24lbs). The human body differs from diver to diver. One diver may have more body fat than the next, or one may literally be more dense or have a smaller lung capacity. So, the guideline is a good technique for a starting point for divers, but a properly weighted diver will refine this through the above techniques. Once weighting is determined, some other minor techniques can contribute to the success of a diver in buoyancy control. 

Streamlining

When one goes to a race track, they expect to see streamlined vehicles zooming around at high rates of speed. The aerodynamics of the vehicle provides advantage to the racer and is something that race teams around the world pay considerable attention to be successful on the track. It's pretty rare to see a Porsche go head-to-head with a Volkswagen bus complete with surfboards and passengers. Most of the readers here can surmise who would win the race and a good deal of it has to do with streamlining. 

For the diver, the same concepts apply. Does the diver want to be the Porsche or the Bus? By tucking in loose hoses and gauges, paying attention to proper finning techniques and reducing the drag in the water, a diver will find themselves more efficient on every dive. This will also calm a diver down by allowing them to glide through the water almost effortlessly. This action of streamlining the equipment is easy to do and contribute to reduced heart rates and breathing cycles. If the diver is streamlined and calm, they'll make their scuba cylinder as efficient as possible. 

Trim

A technique that is related to streamlining and proper weighting is trim. Trim is the actual position of a diver's body in the water. Divers who sit at 45 degree angles in the water have increased the surface area of their body against the opposing forces of the water. This creates an inefficient model and resistance to the diver. Additionally, a diver who is off trim will find themselves leaning one way or the other when they attempt to relax. If the diver has to engage muscle to maintain a proper position in the water, they are basically working out instead of chilling on their dive. 

Trim is also very easy to repair for a diver. If the diver gets into their swimming position and stops moving, they will see that through relaxation their body will begin to move. If the head is going down towards the bottom, this means that there is too much weight in the torso region for the diver. This can be alleviated by shifting weights to the lower body or by moving the tank a little bit down on the bottom to provide some specific gravity in the lower region area. If the diver's legs are sinking, a weight shift might be appropriate or a change to the buoyancy of the fins. A move to the left or the right is usually an indicator that the weight is not properly distributed on the body. By tightening down straps on the BCD, shifting the tank on the back or by ensuring the weights are evenly distributed; a diver can rectify the situation. 

Regardless of the solution, a properly trimmed diver should be able to stop moving and sit relaxed in their swimming position. By doing this, they've reduced effort and conserved energy!  

Physical Fitness

The scuba world does require the human body to strap on 30-40lbs of equipment and enter the water. Propulsion is created through the fins and this also requires effort on the part of the diver. If the diver has poor eating habits, smokes or drinks heavily, or has a poor workout regime; they will struggle when it comes to buoyancy control and efficient diving. This does not mean that a diver has to be a physical specimen to dive, but it does mean that there is a noticeable impact on an active, fit diver and one who ignores these concepts to consume in excess.

Leading an active lifestyle can improve buoyancy control through increases in stamina and conditioning towards the activity. By being active and diving on a more regular basis, a scuba diver will find that things like proper weighting, trim and streamlining become much easier and make scuba diving more enjoyable. With proper diet and the shedding of habits that affect a diver's ability to effectively breath underwater, we find that the final stage of proper buoyancy is the most beneficial. Not only will you become a better scuba diver, but you may live longer and get the opportunity to enjoy the scuba life much more! 

Conclusion

Of all of the skills involved in the PADI Open Water program and other programs like Peak Performance Buoyancy, none can be greater than the focus on proper buoyancy control. Not only will it extend the diver's ability to stay underwater, it will preserve the environment for future generations and avoid unnecessary injuries by the defensive measures of aquatic life. 

Should you find yourself struggling with this technique, never hesitate to contact your instructor and request time in the water focusing on buoyancy control as a skill. You will be happy that you paid attention to it and you'll find follow on dives to be much better in length and focus. 

Did you know that Beach Cities Scuba is a 100% AWARE partner? We are committed to supporting our ocean partners and creating a protected environment for sea life that includes responsible fishing practices and minimal human interaction. See how you can get involved today!

Welcome to Physics class! 

One of the questions we hear often is "how long will we be able to stay down on this dive?" 

This is a difficult question to answer with all of the factors involved, but we can estimate! Fundamentally, this concept is the Pressure, Volume, Density relationship. There are many things in scuba that refer back to this relationship in our underwater environment. If we break down the three definitions first, we can then look at how they apply to scuba divers. 

Pressure - This is the force per unit area of the object on which the force is being exerted. It is defined through the equation: P(pressure) = F (force) / A (area). We don't often think about the pressure that is exerted on us by the weight of the air above us and then the water when we submerge. But, it is there!

In liquid and gasses, we find that pressure is exerted equally in all directions. This is due to their molecules being in flux and moving differently from a solid. For a scuba diver, we find that every 33ft the pressure will become equivalent to 1 atmosphere (1ATA - or 1 Atmospheres Absolute). So, imagine all of the air stacked above you as you look skyward. That is a force that is exerted on you every day of your life. As you descend into a "thicker" medium (i.e. water), the weight of the water becomes a factor for you. So, you are dealing with higher pressures as you descend into the depths! 

Volume - This is defined as the amount of space that a substance or object occupies. There are many examples of this for a scuba diver. We have air spaces in our bodies. When we dive down, we can feel the pressure changes because our ears and our sinuses are quickly affected by the application of pressure onto areas of our body that are flexible. Luckily, our body is a flexible container. We can react to the volume changes through such things as a valsalva maneuver to equalize our sinuses to the surrounding area. Our scuba tank is a inflexible container that is under pressure itself. The volume inside is also affected as the tank goes deeper. When I describe volume to Open Water students, we talk about a balloon. When that balloon is filled with air, it occupies a space that we can now see. There is a bit of pressure in the balloon, but the molecules inside are trapped. As we descend with that balloon, it will actually shrink. The molecules didn't go anywhere. They simply became closer. Thus, creating the smaller volume. 

Density - Finally, we get to density. This is the mass per unit volume of an object. Remember the balloon? Well, as I said, the descending balloon didn't magically make molecules disappear. It just brought them closer together through pressure. So, as the balloon shrinks (volume) from the pressure of the water (pressure), it creates a more dense effect on the molecules inside the balloon (density). To mathematically define it, Density = mass / volume. 

There are some other affects we see with this relationship. As gas molecules come together under pressure, they become agitated and actually create heat. The inverse is also possible. This is why your tank heats up when it is filled (what some people call a hot fill). The same is true for when you rapidly empty a tank. The cooling effect will actually freeze parts of a cylinder if you open it all the way up. This is because a massive change in the environment (releasing or increasing the pressure) has affected the molecules. 

Application - So, how does this affect us? Well, as we go deeper underwater, we see that a scuba tank will be unable to last as long on a dive. Because this pressure is affecting the volume of the scuba tank while simultaneously demanding more air from the user because their lung capacity has changed with the environment. 

If we refer to the image below, we find that every 33ft of depth something occurs. It is relatable in its occurrence as well. At 33ft, the pressure doubles for your body and your scuba tank. Meanwhile, the volume of the gasses becomes 1/2 what they would be on the surface. And, remember the balloon (the molecules went nowhere); we are experiencing twice the density. 

So, as you breath in, you are receiving twice the amount of air into your lungs than you would on the surface. 

This effect is why we pay so much attention to breathing underwater safely. You'll hear the term, "Never hold your breath". This is because our lungs are now adapted to the environment while we are actually breathing in twice the amount of gas. So, if we were to hold our breath and ascend, the expectation is that our lungs will expand to twice their size from 33ft to 0ft. This is an obvious issue and one that makes this all make sense now! 

We can deduce numerous things for that simple question we asked in the beginning. Let's say that we were descending to 66ft on a dive. What we can estimate is how long that tank could last. For ease of math, let's say that it takes you 60 minutes to breath down a cylinder of air at the surface. If you were to take that same cylinder of air down to 66ft, you can estimate that it will perform 1/3 of that capability. Or, 60/3 = 20 minutes. Obviously, there are a lot of factors involved with determining the question (your lung volume, breathing rates, etc.), but you can generally answer it now with an understanding of the Pressure, Volume, Density relationship.

Should you need any help with these types of questions as you move forward in your scuba life, let us know! We are happy to help you get through physics and train you further! 

David "D.J." Mansfield is a PADI Course Director, Technical Diving Instructor Trainer and the Director of Operations for Beach Cities Scuba. He spends his days working inside the industry and training divers all over the world. You can follow him on Instagram @djmansfield77 or catch him at the dive shops any time. 

If you have suggestions on the writing, let him know at david.mansfield@beachcitiescuba.com!