Ok the incense stick and yoga music made me chuckle. Great video, this is how I was taught during my GUE fundamentals course, but this was beautifully concise.
I’ve sat and watched all the videos you have already and I’m desperate for more! These are such high quality videos! Great content and blowing all over “how to” dive videos out of the water.
My OW course instructor never discussed weight checks or the proper procedures for performing them. Instead, everyone was significantly overweighted, which created a lot of issues with both descending and ascending. One student was caught so off guard by her rapid descent that she suffered a barotrauma when she couldn’t equalize her ears and then in a panic, inflated her BCD and bolted to the surface, the instructor in vain pursuit to bring her back down. Day One of OW. She quit on the spot. I was originally strapped with 8 kg (no exposure suit, just rash guard and trunks). By the end of the course, I had argued my way down to 4 kg and still felt slightly overweighted. I really appreciate the clarity and detailed explanations in your videos and agree with others here that instructors should share your content with their students.
Thank you for sharing this with us. Unfortunately, we often hear many similar stories about the neglectful behavior of open water instructors. The primary reason instructors may overweigh a student or resort to teaching them while on their knees is simply due to laziness and negligence. Learning proper breathing techniques takes time, and if a student is not correctly weighted, descending becomes a challenging task at first which has to be learned in the first place. We have faith that our videos will garner some attention, and even if not all instructors are receptive, students will have a valuable example to evaluate their courses against. Ideally, this awareness will occur before they enroll, allowing them to demand the high-quality instruction they rightfully deserve.
I went into the course with an awareness of the need for a proper weight check and was frustrated and disappointed that the instructor didn’t ensure we all went through the process or even provide an explanation of the hazards of incorrect weighting. The focus was strictly on how to ditch our weight belts. Given how overweighted we all were, had anyone actually ditched their weight belt, they could have been in serious trouble. I’m grateful to channels like yours that put out solid fundamental skills videos and especially WHY such skills are important (and the issues that can arise if a diver doesn’t perform the skill correctly). 👍🏻
@@philipdstudio I totally understand. I’ve done a lot of research before my OW, but there’s no guaranteeing what/ how the instructor will teach. Which is a bit unnerving. But… I’ve come to realise, getting certified is just a ticket to get in the water. I will be taking further/ more detailed training straight after OW, using DIR approach.
Excellent video! I appreciate how you breakdown the considerations and how to account for everything. Furthermore you also clearly demonstrate the effects of excess weight. Please continue with this series. It is a fantastic resource for divers looking to improve. Thanks again!
Just discover your channel. You doing amazing job! Perfect form sharing knowledge. Have share channel @ my all groups. Well done guys!👍Poland watching!
@flowstatedivers, I hope you appreciate that this is my first RUclips comment ever. I like your videos and I am learning so much that my instructors don’t teach about diving. Please give us more tips and lessons that the general instructor will not teach students.
Fantastic!! I'm pleased to hear that you're finding our videos valuable. It's disheartening that, in many instances, instructors nowadays tend to overlook teaching the fundamentals.. mainly due to a lack of expertise.
I’ve dive in may places in the Caribbean and with only 1 dive center (in Turks & Caicos) was a weight check at surface before starting our descent. Everywhere else I have to ask and they always make me look like I don’t know how much weight I need and I’m slowing down the group
@@jean-philippebelisle2552 every dive center should facilitate weight check for divers that are unsure or seemingly overweighted, if not just ask your money back next time
Thanks! We are trying to stick to a consistent schedule with our releases but it's no always working out as planned. Aiming for a video / week anyways :)
Excellent, logically laid out, video and explanation of technique and reasoning behind weighting. Your channel is fast becoming THE definitive source of SCUBA diving knowledge and theroretical breakdown.
Sam, I want to express my gratitude for your support; it means a lot. I'm hopeful that our efforts will eventually gain momentum, allowing us to dedicate ourselves fully to creating these videos. The possibilities for the topics we can explore are boundless.
YEEEEESSSSSSSSS. This video alone will get me through my Thursday. It really speaks to the quality of these videos, both in terms of production and content, that I look forward to them so much. 👌👌👌
Man this is some really useful and thorough educational content. its really impressive how this channel just produced top tier content right from the start. Keep it up!
My new favorite dive channel, extraordinary Good content from you guy's! Thank you for sharing this with us One problem the most recreational divers like me have , is that you checking in at the dive center for some dives and nobody will ever do a proper weight check with you. They just say "aahh you need XY kg you will be fine with that"
Thank you very much! We're delighted to know that you find our videos useful. The situation you've described is unfortunately quite common. However, it's important to remember that as a customer, you have the right to request them to facilitate your weight check, irrespective of their initial stance. They should bring extra weights and be prepared to store the ones you remove in case you find yourself overweighted, it should not be your problem but theirs. Diving while carrying excess weight is both unacceptable and extremely hazardous. Since many individuals may not fully grasp the seriousness of this problem, you now have the opportunity to educate them right then and there.
the more I watch the FlowState videos, the more I appreciate the channel... and not only for the content, but also for the production quality incl. the quality of the video. Great job and thanks for running this channel!
I don’t what you said and it dramatically proved my trim and buoyancy! I’m a new diver, and on my tests I had too much weight. I kept sinking and using lots of air, now I can stay horizontal and move up and down by using my breath. Thanks for the tips. I just need to practice breathing now, and other things, but one step closer to improving.
Thank you, thank you and one more time thank you for this explanation! Holly cow, now it rings the bell, now I can figure it at the lake on platform how much really weight do I need.
Excellent videos, I love that there is no fluff, content is rich and concise. I've watched the trim video as well as this correct weighting video. I have a question about the distribution of weight, in respect to having to jettison weight in an emergency, or is your approach to achieve correct weight instead?
I'm curious to know if you can test your weight in a pool before you start to dive in the ocean. I would imagine pool water and ocean water have different densities due to the salt in the ocean. Does this mean you can't check your weight in a pool before hand? or is the difference insignificant?
Hey, good question. Saltwater is denser than freshwater because the presence of dissolved salts increases the overall mass of the water without significantly changing its volume. The density of water increases as the salt concentration (salinity) increases. Typically, at room temperature (around 20°C or 68°F), freshwater has a density of approximately 1.000 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³), while seawater, which is salty, has a density of about 1.025 g/cm³. This means that for an equal volume of water, seawater is about 2.5% denser than freshwater. This means if you do your weight check in the pool, you can increase the measured amount by 2.5% and it will work the same in the sea. However, keep in mind that the exact density of both freshwater and seawater can vary depending on factors like temperature and the specific composition of salts in the water, but the general trend is that saltwater is denser than freshwater. The method we show in the video to carry out a proper weight check is easy enough to be done prior to the dive so your best and most accurate option is to do a weight check in the sea when you get there :)
We exclusively employ long hose configuration as opposed to the conventional recreational regulator setup, which includes the presence of an octopus. In the extended hose arrangement, your backup regulator is positioned around your neck and secured with a necklace bungee, making it impossible for you or any panicked divers to inadvertently detach it. Purging this backup regulator instead of the primary second stage could result in bubbles being directed towards your face. Additionally, another advantage of this setup is that it provides superior control over the potential occurrence of freeflow, as the primary reg is kept clear of your body.
Fantastic vedio as usual, I still have question though, it is the air weight in the beginning of the dive, if I have to be on eye level in the beginning of the dive then I need to add the extra weight of the air to reach a control ascend in the end of the dive with 50bar. Now if I add that weight from the beginning then I loss the ability to stay afloat eye level with 80% lung capacity. I dive with 15l steel tank and that is around 3kg of air. Any thoughts on that? Love what you are doing and I wish you can talk about weight position and trim soon.
Thanks for your question! The initial weight check at the start of the dive must encompass the total weight, including the gas weight. If you can maintain a buoyant position at eye level with a casual full breath (~80%), you're ready to proceed. However, if you find yourself too heavy and have no additional weight to shed, perhaps because your cylinder is inherently heavy (assuming the 15L steel tank has a substantial weight), you have to start introducing something more buoyant, like opting for a thicker exposure protection suit or change the tank that's managable to be correctly weigted with. The key is to balance your equipment (positive, negative) until you are able to perform the weight check successfully as shown in the video.
@@flowstatediversGreat content. I share OP’s question and rephrasing in my words: let X be weight of the air to be used down to reserve (2.5kg, 5.5 pounds, or whatever it happens to be). At the start of the dive you start out with weights where a 50% full lung will put your head just below the surface. You have neutral buoyancy WITH the weight of air, X. At the end of the dive, when you and your gear are X kg or pounds lighter, a 50% full lung is supposed to ALSO keep you neutrally buoyant. How I be neutrally buoyant both with and without that X amount of air weight? My question, and I think OP’s, is: if I set my weights to reach neutral buoyancy with 50% lung capacity at the start of the dive then won’t I find at the end of the dive that I am X kg or pounds too light to be neutrally buoyant with 50% full lungs? Am I misunderstanding? To continue, from the post dive safety stop check, will I find that I have to add X kg or pounds of weight for future dives in order to be neutrally buoyant with 50% full lungs at the end of the dive …. but will that extra X of weight still allow my head to be just under the surface at the start of the dive with 50% lungs and no air in the BCD? Sorry for going on and being so detailed. I’m just trying to figure out where my misunderstanding may be. I don’t think OP’s tank was actually a factor in the original question, to my understanding (or misunderstanding).
Great info! Divey has an awesome buoyancy calculator. Supports more advanced setups than just the normal wetsuit rec setup. I like having it on my phone.
@christianhower8059 This just can not be realistically calculated no matter how 'advanced' the calculator is. The video only illustrated the concept of neutral buoyancy on paper, but we strongly suggest to skip the math math and do an in water weight check.
@@flowstatedivers Oh yeah, nothing beats a water test. It's still an interesting tool to play with. I want to learn doubles and sidemount so I've been experimenting with it to see what happens when I vary tanks and exposure suit. I'll be sure to do a water test when I get the gear :) someday....
We don't exactly know and that's the beauty of the weight checking procedure outlined in the video. It doesn't matter how much is the displacement, following these methods you will always end up in the +/-1kg range which you can further refine during the end of the dive check. Once you did your weight check in a specific configuration you will know how much weight you and the gear displaces
@@flowstatediversGreat(!!) video. Technically, "you will know how much weight you and the gear displace" really means ‘you will know how positively buoyant you and your gear are’, right?
Hey man! I love your videos. Great work, and kudos for sharing your knowledge. I have two questions: 1. How do you check the weight with a twinset and dry suit (should I follow the same steps you demonstrated)? 2. I can stay at a specific depth, but I keep moving forward. What could be the issue?
Thanks, yeah, it's pretty much the same process with a twinset and drysuit, with the difference being that when you inhale to 80%, only the top of your head should be sticking out of the water. Without seeing an actual video of you, I would suggest correcting your trim to stop the minor fin kicks that are moving you forward. It's one of those typical beginner mistakes that our students make.
Awesome videos,thanks first....I understood the calculation of negative version of the calculation but how the positive values can be known? how I know the exposure suit value or my bcd? any clue?
You don't need to know exact numbers-these are just rough estimates. The purpose of showing these numbers is purely for demonstration so that everyone can understand the concept of positive versus negative buoyancy. If you follow the outlined in-water technique for a weight check, you'll be properly weighted, so don't worry about the specific numbers. It shouldn't feel like a math problem, and you can't reliably calculate the exact weight due to the many variables that differ for each person, such as equipment, body composition, and so on. Instead, use the in-water technique to determine how much weight you actually need.
@@flowstatedivers thanks for the reply.Yes I am totally ok how I can check my balance with your delightful videos,but this was only a cruiosity to learn more ,that was my aim to ask ☺
Hello again, thank you for the latest video that brought me back to this one. I was thinking and testing the theory for the last 5 months now regarding the proper weight. I found that if I will be in the eye level in the beginning of the dive, I will be positive in the end of the dive (air weight in the cylinder of course). Now if I add the air weight in the beginning of the dive with everything is equal, I can't hold eye level with 80% lung capacity. How you solve this since you will want to be naturally buoyant in the end of the dive. In simple math. I am at eye level with 10 kg lead with air around 2.7 kg. If I add 2.7 kg in the beginning. I dive with 13kg lead and sink more then slow but not fast. What is your recommendations? Best Regards
You have to work on your breathing it's as simple as that. If you learn how to shallow breathe you will have no problem staying neutral at the end of the dive if you follow our guide on weighting. We observe the very same issue with all our students when they start out, being correctly weighted is a challenge if you never learned correct breathing in the first place. Look at our 'Learn The Correct Breathing Technique Underwater' and the concept is explained there. Good luck!
@@flowstatedivers Hello! Thank you very much for your videos. I have the same question as @AceGreb. Because I think you did not fully answer his question or there is some misunderstanding. For example, when I have a full tank while conducting the weight check, this method will guarantee that I will be to light once use up some of the gas in my tank. So you can not compensate it by only breathing technique underwater. You have to be overloaded by adding additional amount of weight to compensate the remaining gas in your tank from the beginning. It is also highlighted in manual of PADI. As an example I dive with 15L single tank 200 bar. 15*200*1.28g=3840gramm. Almost 4kg weight of air I have at the beginning of my dive. So I would have positive buoyancy at the end of my diving. So I have to put this amount of weight at the start of diving. Are you agree with me?
Your weight check at the end of the dive at 50 bars makes sense and is what is generally recommended. But it seems to me that if one day you finish your dive at 30 bars (that can happen), then you will have problem to stay neutral at your 3 m stop. Maybe it could be a better idea to make your check at 30 bars (less would be too much on the side of insecurity). You would then carry between 300 and 400 g more depending of the tank size. Is that enough to make you sink at the beginning of the dive with 80 % full lung ? It could be, then in this case to keep in mind the security aspect you were advocating in your video, we can remember it would be nice to have at least 1 kg ditchable. Your thoughts ?
Thank you for sharing your insights. When conducting a weight check, it's essential to ensure optimal breathing. With half of your lung capacity available (if you are correctly weighted), you have ample reserve in case it's needed, as in the scenario you mentioned. A grown human typically would have about 3/4L available lung capacity to play with, well beyond the 400g that -20-30 bar would result, so holding your stop should pose no problems even with a near-empty cylinder as long as you shallow breathe a tiny bit
Just great info here! I have a question, though. Is there a way to calculate the difference of weight we use in fresh water compared to the ocean? Everything being equal, but the type of water we dive in.
Thanks for these amazing lesson. As I am starting diving. Can we make this weight checks in the pool? 2.5m deep. Also, can we hold the breath for 1 or 2 seconds to level up the buoyancy? As well as exale for level down? Note: I understand that holding breath is not recommended in any case. Thanks in advance
What undersuit does the drysuit diver use? What was the water temperature? I did some 40-45m dives in the Mediterranean a couple of weeks ago and felt I could’ve used less exposure protection than my 100gsm thinsulate. Related question: I guess for a drysuit diver you need to have the same amount of gas in the drysuit as what you can normally obtain at the end of the dive just by raising the shoulder. No point in doing a weight check with a fully empty and squeezed drysuit (as would happen when you first jump in the water).
We don't normally use traditional undergarments here in Tenerife. A simple thin long sleeve rash guard over a t-shirt and sweatpants are usually just enough for diving here most of the year. water temp is around 21-24 all year round Regarding the weighting procedure in a drysuit, you are right. You need to add an adequate amount of gas to get the correct result. This usually goes sideways for a lot of divers as "adequate" can mean anything, so correctly using a drysuit is essential.
I hate you for making everything look so easy. I watch your videos with envy and remember how I didn't know how to do anything right in the previous dives and I don't think I will achieve anything in the next ones either.
Read your open water dive book about weighting. Practise in a pool. Wear exact same gear for 3- 5 dives. Set a dive strictly on weighting. Use less weight and add as necessary. Good to practise at 5 or 6 foot depth. I don't really understand the frustration as your Instructor should have helped in the initial course. Log it !!
Honestly I’m quickly improving by watching his videos lol. Rather than be jealous/hating, just learn from him. I can’t quite do a back kick yet, mostly due to anatomy of my hips and practice, but I’m mastering everything else
Don't try to do the math, no point! Do an in-water weight check that's the point we make in the video :) Be sure never to dive in a 7mm wetsuit deeper than 18 meters as you will get critically overweight due to the compression other than that just go in and do a proper weight check before the dive and verify it with an end of dive check
@@flowstatediverstotally agree with you! However a compressed neoprene drysuit is different to a 7mm wetsuit which can suffer a big compression under the pressure!
Amazing video! Good to bring this to the table! It's sad to see that so many people were overweighted or underweighted! Just one tiny bit of critism which made me a bit disappointed: The hand signal for 50 bar is a fist.. and not a stop, followed by an OK signal....
Thank you for your valuable feedback. The hand signals we employ are widely recognized in technical diving, and our numerical system differs from what the two most prominent recreational agencies teach. When a diver displays five fingers, it actually represents the number 'five,' followed by a zero, equating to 50. We're considering creating a video on this topic to ensure everyone is aligned in their understanding.
I've been taught the way shown in the video through GUE (ie a tech agency), and a fist through PADI. Hand signals for gas pressure seem to vary a lot. So flowstatedivers aren't wrong, just following one method. Here is where it's important to agree with your dive buddies on what hand signals mean what.
Many agencies are teaching this system such as GUE, UTD, TDI, IANTD etc.. and it makes much more sense as you can communicate numbers granularly with one hand
Hi, when it comes to diving with twins, the dynamics change a bit, but carrying an extra 6kg of weight still seems way too much. If a BCD failure were to occur at the start of your dive, it would be impossible to ascend just by swimming up, so please exercise caution. I also hope you are equipped with a dry suit or have a backup BC such as dual bladder or similar equipment. Use a lighter backplate or change to a thicker exposure suit but it's important that you are never 2kg heavier than needed for the reasons mentioned in the video.
actually, this gave us the idea to make a separate video that would be focused on precise weighting with doubles, whether it be sidemount or twins / with or without stages
@@flowstatediversthanks. I am diving a dry suit with thick undergarments en dry gloves etc. The waters in Sweden aren’t so warm. In order for me to do a safety stop comfortably at 4 ish meters with 50 bars I need 10 kilos of weight 😂.
2:20 Sorry for the nitpicking, on the most impeckable instruction videos on youtube. These calculation are perfectly comprehensible, technically better would be 150bar/1bar x 11.1l = 1665l 1665l x 1.29g/l = 2.15kg Liked and subscribed !
Thanks. I feel that it's important to raise awareness on neglected fundamentals so the viewer understands the seriousness and importance of it. Not bashing anyone or pointing fingers to any specific agency just stating reality.
@@flowstatedivers I'm not talking about agencies... If people who watch your video feels that he raises awareness about the importance of fundamentals, and feel you are right - which i think you are - they'll know who failed in their instruction... no need for you to point fingers. You'll get more friends this way...
the method to weight someone is the same regardless of body composition. Yes, fat tends to float so heavier people will require more weight but the method demonstrated in the video applies to everyone
Re-read your open water dive book about weighting. Practise in a pool. Wear exact same gear for next 3- 5 dives. Set a dive strictly on weighting. Use less weight and add as necessary. Good to practise at 5 or 6 foot depth. I don't really understand the frustration as your Instructor should have helped in the initial course. Log it somewhere for reference!! [ Note your bodyweight too, if lost or gained (body) weight. for future dives ]
🚀 Reinforce your understanding. 🚀
x.halocrom.com/ToZshfx1o7
this is such a great feature on your videos, we can't get enough of these smart quizes
Ok the incense stick and yoga music made me chuckle. Great video, this is how I was taught during my GUE fundamentals course, but this was beautifully concise.
Glad you enjoyed it!
It is the most clear and comprehensive video I have ever watched to understand the weight issue while scuba diving. Thank you.❤
When watching this channel, I’m always amazed how much vital information isn’t taught by traditional dive agencies.
This is by far the best underwater skill learning chanel. Thanks guys !!!
Thank you! We're always working on new videos!
I’ve sat and watched all the videos you have already and I’m desperate for more!
These are such high quality videos! Great content and blowing all over “how to” dive videos out of the water.
Thank you for your support! Stay tuned as we are working on a lot of new videos 😎
My OW course instructor never discussed weight checks or the proper procedures for performing them. Instead, everyone was significantly overweighted, which created a lot of issues with both descending and ascending. One student was caught so off guard by her rapid descent that she suffered a barotrauma when she couldn’t equalize her ears and then in a panic, inflated her BCD and bolted to the surface, the instructor in vain pursuit to bring her back down. Day One of OW. She quit on the spot. I was originally strapped with 8 kg (no exposure suit, just rash guard and trunks). By the end of the course, I had argued my way down to 4 kg and still felt slightly overweighted.
I really appreciate the clarity and detailed explanations in your videos and agree with others here that instructors should share your content with their students.
Thank you for sharing this with us. Unfortunately, we often hear many similar stories about the neglectful behavior of open water instructors. The primary reason instructors may overweigh a student or resort to teaching them while on their knees is simply due to laziness and negligence. Learning proper breathing techniques takes time, and if a student is not correctly weighted, descending becomes a challenging task at first which has to be learned in the first place. We have faith that our videos will garner some attention, and even if not all instructors are receptive, students will have a valuable example to evaluate their courses against. Ideally, this awareness will occur before they enroll, allowing them to demand the high-quality instruction they rightfully deserve.
I went into the course with an awareness of the need for a proper weight check and was frustrated and disappointed that the instructor didn’t ensure we all went through the process or even provide an explanation of the hazards of incorrect weighting. The focus was strictly on how to ditch our weight belts. Given how overweighted we all were, had anyone actually ditched their weight belt, they could have been in serious trouble. I’m grateful to channels like yours that put out solid fundamental skills videos and especially WHY such skills are important (and the issues that can arise if a diver doesn’t perform the skill correctly). 👍🏻
@@philipdstudio I totally understand. I’ve done a lot of research before my OW, but there’s no guaranteeing what/ how the instructor will teach. Which is a bit unnerving. But…
I’ve come to realise, getting certified is just a ticket to get in the water. I will be taking further/ more detailed training straight after OW, using DIR approach.
8kg??? I put less when diving with my dry suit!
Yeah, we all sank like we were strapped to a boat anchor. No big surprise that people had issues with the safety stop.
Your videos make everything look bad ass, I love it. Please keep making content, your channel will take off with consistency.
Thank you, we appreciate your feedback!
Excellent video! I appreciate how you breakdown the considerations and how to account for everything. Furthermore you also clearly demonstrate the effects of excess weight. Please continue with this series. It is a fantastic resource for divers looking to improve. Thanks again!
Thanks a million, glad you find it useful :) Stay tuned,, lots more coming !
Accurate explanation and top notch footage quality. Thanks for sharing! 👌
Much appreciated! Thanks for watching!
Easily the best material I’ve ever seen on diving fundamentals.
Just discover your channel. You doing amazing job! Perfect form sharing knowledge. Have share channel @ my all groups. Well done guys!👍Poland watching!
Thanks!!!
@flowstatedivers, I hope you appreciate that this is my first RUclips comment ever. I like your videos and I am learning so much that my instructors don’t teach about diving. Please give us more tips and lessons that the general instructor will not teach students.
Fantastic!! I'm pleased to hear that you're finding our videos valuable. It's disheartening that, in many instances, instructors nowadays tend to overlook teaching the fundamentals.. mainly due to a lack of expertise.
As always perfectly made and really informative! I hope many instructors see it and stop overweighting their OWD students
Thanks a lot! Yeah, there should be more awareness from professionals' on this subject... unfortunately, we very rarely see correctly weighted divers
I’ve dive in may places in the Caribbean and with only 1 dive center (in Turks & Caicos) was a weight check at surface before starting our descent. Everywhere else I have to ask and they always make me look like I don’t know how much weight I need and I’m slowing down the group
@@jean-philippebelisle2552 every dive center should facilitate weight check for divers that are unsure or seemingly overweighted, if not just ask your money back next time
I have been refreshing your channel for the past week, waiting for a new upload, and here it is! Amazing video! Thank you.
Thanks! We are trying to stick to a consistent schedule with our releases but it's no always working out as planned. Aiming for a video / week anyways :)
Excellent, logically laid out, video and explanation of technique and reasoning behind weighting.
Your channel is fast becoming THE definitive source of SCUBA diving knowledge and theroretical breakdown.
Sam, I want to express my gratitude for your support; it means a lot. I'm hopeful that our efforts will eventually gain momentum, allowing us to dedicate ourselves fully to creating these videos. The possibilities for the topics we can explore are boundless.
Best by far diving channel, clear explanations and direct to point. Congratulations and keep the good work
Thank you! Much appreciated.
YEEEEESSSSSSSSS. This video alone will get me through my Thursday. It really speaks to the quality of these videos, both in terms of production and content, that I look forward to them so much. 👌👌👌
We hope it will live up to your expectations :)
It absolutely did! Love the way you folks approach your content.
brief, fluent and well explained physics. Bull's eye to whow starving of.
Thanks a lot.
Man this is some really useful and thorough educational content. its really impressive how this channel just produced top tier content right from the start. Keep it up!
Thank you!!
You are skyrocketing the game, again! I wish you great success on YT and at the end IRL. You deserve it 👏🏼 👏🏼👏🏼
Much appreciated. Thanks for tuning in!
You've got yourself a super fan. Awesome content, awesome presentation style, zero bs and straight to the point. Looking forward to more like this!
Thank you, we are constantly working on new videos!
Happy to see a female diver in your (amazing) videos! ✊🏽🥰
Yup, she's half the team :)
My new favorite dive channel, extraordinary Good content from you guy's! Thank you for sharing this with us
One problem the most recreational divers like me have , is that you checking in at the dive center for some dives and nobody will ever do a proper weight check with you. They just say "aahh you need XY kg you will be fine with that"
Thank you very much! We're delighted to know that you find our videos useful. The situation you've described is unfortunately quite common. However, it's important to remember that as a customer, you have the right to request them to facilitate your weight check, irrespective of their initial stance. They should bring extra weights and be prepared to store the ones you remove in case you find yourself overweighted, it should not be your problem but theirs. Diving while carrying excess weight is both unacceptable and extremely hazardous. Since many individuals may not fully grasp the seriousness of this problem, you now have the opportunity to educate them right then and there.
Beautiful video work.
And great series.
Thank you!
Superb video once again. 👍
Thanks very much!
the more I watch the FlowState videos, the more I appreciate the channel... and not only for the content, but also for the production quality incl. the quality of the video. Great job and thanks for running this channel!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this. Good video !
Glad you liked it!
I don’t what you said and it dramatically proved my trim and buoyancy! I’m a new diver, and on my tests I had too much weight. I kept sinking and using lots of air, now I can stay horizontal and move up and down by using my breath.
Thanks for the tips. I just need to practice breathing now, and other things, but one step closer to improving.
🎉you just hit the 10 of 10💪💪💪 golden video with what all divers should start❤
Thank you! Agree 100%!
Every OW scuba instructor needs to see this! When properly weighted, none of the OW students would be on their knees.
💯 exactly
Amazing content! Really useful videos
Glad you think so! Thanks for watching!
Thank you, thank you and one more time thank you for this explanation! Holly cow, now it rings the bell, now I can figure it at the lake on platform how much really weight do I need.
Fantastic video wow. It's by far the most important stuff that EVERY diver should take care of first and foremost
Excellent videos, I love that there is no fluff, content is rich and concise. I've watched the trim video as well as this correct weighting video. I have a question about the distribution of weight, in respect to having to jettison weight in an emergency, or is your approach to achieve correct weight instead?
I'm curious to know if you can test your weight in a pool before you start to dive in the ocean. I would imagine pool water and ocean water have different densities due to the salt in the ocean. Does this mean you can't check your weight in a pool before hand? or is the difference insignificant?
Hey, good question. Saltwater is denser than freshwater because the presence of dissolved salts increases the overall mass of the water without significantly changing its volume. The density of water increases as the salt concentration (salinity) increases. Typically, at room temperature (around 20°C or 68°F), freshwater has a density of approximately 1.000 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³), while seawater, which is salty, has a density of about 1.025 g/cm³. This means that for an equal volume of water, seawater is about 2.5% denser than freshwater.
This means if you do your weight check in the pool, you can increase the measured amount by 2.5% and it will work the same in the sea. However, keep in mind that the exact density of both freshwater and seawater can vary depending on factors like temperature and the specific composition of salts in the water, but the general trend is that saltwater is denser than freshwater.
The method we show in the video to carry out a proper weight check is easy enough to be done prior to the dive so your best and most accurate option is to do a weight check in the sea when you get there :)
Excellent Video. Way beyond anything that is tought in commercial OWD Courses 👍🏼
Fantástic vídeo 🤿🥰👌
Thanks!
Great information. More videos please
More to come!
Excellent videos!
I only have one question. Why switch to the octopus and purge with primary? Tks
We exclusively employ long hose configuration as opposed to the conventional recreational regulator setup, which includes the presence of an octopus. In the extended hose arrangement, your backup regulator is positioned around your neck and secured with a necklace bungee, making it impossible for you or any panicked divers to inadvertently detach it. Purging this backup regulator instead of the primary second stage could result in bubbles being directed towards your face. Additionally, another advantage of this setup is that it provides superior control over the potential occurrence of freeflow, as the primary reg is kept clear of your body.
Fantastic vedio as usual, I still have question though, it is the air weight in the beginning of the dive, if I have to be on eye level in the beginning of the dive then I need to add the extra weight of the air to reach a control ascend in the end of the dive with 50bar. Now if I add that weight from the beginning then I loss the ability to stay afloat eye level with 80% lung capacity. I dive with 15l steel tank and that is around 3kg of air. Any thoughts on that? Love what you are doing and I wish you can talk about weight position and trim soon.
Thanks for your question! The initial weight check at the start of the dive must encompass the total weight, including the gas weight. If you can maintain a buoyant position at eye level with a casual full breath (~80%), you're ready to proceed. However, if you find yourself too heavy and have no additional weight to shed, perhaps because your cylinder is inherently heavy (assuming the 15L steel tank has a substantial weight), you have to start introducing something more buoyant, like opting for a thicker exposure protection suit or change the tank that's managable to be correctly weigted with. The key is to balance your equipment (positive, negative) until you are able to perform the weight check successfully as shown in the video.
@@flowstatediversGreat content. I share OP’s question and rephrasing in my words: let X be weight of the air to be used down to reserve (2.5kg, 5.5 pounds, or whatever it happens to be).
At the start of the dive you start out with weights where a 50% full lung will put your head just below the surface. You have neutral buoyancy WITH the weight of air, X.
At the end of the dive, when you and your gear are X kg or pounds lighter, a 50% full lung is supposed to ALSO keep you neutrally buoyant. How I be neutrally buoyant both with and without that X amount of air weight?
My question, and I think OP’s, is: if I set my weights to reach neutral buoyancy with 50% lung capacity at the start of the dive then won’t I find at the end of the dive that I am X kg or pounds too light to be neutrally buoyant with 50% full lungs?
Am I misunderstanding? To continue, from the post dive safety stop check, will I find that I have to add X kg or pounds of weight for future dives in order to be neutrally buoyant with 50% full lungs at the end of the dive …. but will that extra X of weight still allow my head to be just under the surface at the start of the dive with 50% lungs and no air in the BCD?
Sorry for going on and being so detailed. I’m just trying to figure out where my misunderstanding may be. I don’t think OP’s tank was actually a factor in the original question, to my understanding (or misunderstanding).
Great info! Divey has an awesome buoyancy calculator. Supports more advanced setups than just the normal wetsuit rec setup. I like having it on my phone.
@christianhower8059 This just can not be realistically calculated no matter how 'advanced' the calculator is. The video only illustrated the concept of neutral buoyancy on paper, but we strongly suggest to skip the math math and do an in water weight check.
@@flowstatedivers Oh yeah, nothing beats a water test. It's still an interesting tool to play with. I want to learn doubles and sidemount so I've been experimenting with it to see what happens when I vary tanks and exposure suit. I'll be sure to do a water test when I get the gear :) someday....
But how do you calculate how much displacement myself and my gear have? Your 10kg vs 12kg example is great, but how do you get those numbers?
We don't exactly know and that's the beauty of the weight checking procedure outlined in the video. It doesn't matter how much is the displacement, following these methods you will always end up in the +/-1kg range which you can further refine during the end of the dive check. Once you did your weight check in a specific configuration you will know how much weight you and the gear displaces
@@flowstatediversGreat(!!) video. Technically, "you will know how much weight you and the gear displace" really means ‘you will know how positively buoyant you and your gear are’, right?
finally catching up on videos after my break!
Welcome back!
Great video!
Thanks!
Thank you!
Hey man! I love your videos. Great work, and kudos for sharing your knowledge.
I have two questions:
1. How do you check the weight with a twinset and dry suit (should I follow the same steps you demonstrated)?
2. I can stay at a specific depth, but I keep moving forward. What could be the issue?
Thanks, yeah, it's pretty much the same process with a twinset and drysuit, with the difference being that when you inhale to 80%, only the top of your head should be sticking out of the water.
Without seeing an actual video of you, I would suggest correcting your trim to stop the minor fin kicks that are moving you forward. It's one of those typical beginner mistakes that our students make.
Awesome videos,thanks first....I understood the calculation of negative version of the calculation but how the positive values can be known? how I know the exposure suit value or my bcd? any clue?
You don't need to know exact numbers-these are just rough estimates. The purpose of showing these numbers is purely for demonstration so that everyone can understand the concept of positive versus negative buoyancy. If you follow the outlined in-water technique for a weight check, you'll be properly weighted, so don't worry about the specific numbers. It shouldn't feel like a math problem, and you can't reliably calculate the exact weight due to the many variables that differ for each person, such as equipment, body composition, and so on. Instead, use the in-water technique to determine how much weight you actually need.
@@flowstatedivers thanks for the reply.Yes I am totally ok how I can check my balance with your delightful videos,but this was only a cruiosity to learn more ,that was my aim to ask ☺
Hello again, thank you for the latest video that brought me back to this one. I was thinking and testing the theory for the last 5 months now regarding the proper weight. I found that if I will be in the eye level in the beginning of the dive, I will be positive in the end of the dive (air weight in the cylinder of course). Now if I add the air weight in the beginning of the dive with everything is equal, I can't hold eye level with 80% lung capacity. How you solve this since you will want to be naturally buoyant in the end of the dive. In simple math. I am at eye level with 10 kg lead with air around 2.7 kg. If I add 2.7 kg in the beginning. I dive with 13kg lead and sink more then slow but not fast. What is your recommendations? Best Regards
You have to work on your breathing it's as simple as that. If you learn how to shallow breathe you will have no problem staying neutral at the end of the dive if you follow our guide on weighting. We observe the very same issue with all our students when they start out, being correctly weighted is a challenge if you never learned correct breathing in the first place. Look at our 'Learn The Correct Breathing Technique Underwater' and the concept is explained there. Good luck!
@@flowstatedivers Hello! Thank you very much for your videos. I have the same question as @AceGreb. Because I think you did not fully answer his question or there is some misunderstanding. For example, when I have a full tank while conducting the weight check, this method will guarantee that I will be to light once use up some of the gas in my tank. So you can not compensate it by only breathing technique underwater. You have to be overloaded by adding additional amount of weight to compensate the remaining gas in your tank from the beginning. It is also highlighted in manual of PADI. As an example I dive with 15L single tank 200 bar. 15*200*1.28g=3840gramm. Almost 4kg weight of air I have at the beginning of my dive. So I would have positive buoyancy at the end of my diving. So I have to put this amount of weight at the start of diving. Are you agree with me?
Your weight check at the end of the dive at 50 bars makes sense and is what is generally recommended. But it seems to me that if one day you finish your dive at 30 bars (that can happen), then you will have problem to stay neutral at your 3 m stop. Maybe it could be a better idea to make your check at 30 bars (less would be too much on the side of insecurity). You would then carry between 300 and 400 g more depending of the tank size. Is that enough to make you sink at the beginning of the dive with 80 % full lung ? It could be, then in this case to keep in mind the security aspect you were advocating in your video, we can remember it would be nice to have at least 1 kg ditchable. Your thoughts ?
Thank you for sharing your insights. When conducting a weight check, it's essential to ensure optimal breathing. With half of your lung capacity available (if you are correctly weighted), you have ample reserve in case it's needed, as in the scenario you mentioned. A grown human typically would have about 3/4L available lung capacity to play with, well beyond the 400g that -20-30 bar would result, so holding your stop should pose no problems even with a near-empty cylinder as long as you shallow breathe a tiny bit
Just great info here!
I have a question, though. Is there a way to calculate the difference of weight we use in fresh water compared to the ocean?
Everything being equal, but the type of water we dive in.
Where do you distribute the weights? On the belt? I don’t see any weight pockets. Thanks!
@cristisst12 Hey, check our trim related video, and it's all explained there :)
Thanks for these amazing lesson. As I am starting diving. Can we make this weight checks in the pool? 2.5m deep. Also, can we hold the breath for 1 or 2 seconds to level up the buoyancy? As well as exale for level down?
Note: I understand that holding breath is not recommended in any case.
Thanks in advance
What undersuit does the drysuit diver use? What was the water temperature? I did some 40-45m dives in the Mediterranean a couple of weeks ago and felt I could’ve used less exposure protection than my 100gsm thinsulate. Related question: I guess for a drysuit diver you need to have the same amount of gas in the drysuit as what you can normally obtain at the end of the dive just by raising the shoulder. No point in doing a weight check with a fully empty and squeezed drysuit (as would happen when you first jump in the water).
We don't normally use traditional undergarments here in Tenerife. A simple thin long sleeve rash guard over a t-shirt and sweatpants are usually just enough for diving here most of the year. water temp is around 21-24 all year round
Regarding the weighting procedure in a drysuit, you are right. You need to add an adequate amount of gas to get the correct result. This usually goes sideways for a lot of divers as "adequate" can mean anything, so correctly using a drysuit is essential.
I hate you for making everything look so easy. I watch your videos with envy and remember how I didn't know how to do anything right in the previous dives and I don't think I will achieve anything in the next ones either.
It's never too late to improve your skills, and you can find the right people to train with and help you achieve your goals!!
@@sidsid8867Most likely is because you are severely overweighted. Correct buoyancy is nothing but correct weighting.
Read your open water dive book about weighting. Practise in a pool. Wear exact same gear for 3- 5 dives. Set a dive strictly on weighting. Use less weight and add as necessary. Good to practise at 5 or 6 foot depth. I don't really understand the frustration as your Instructor should have helped in the initial course. Log it !!
Honestly I’m quickly improving by watching his videos lol. Rather than be jealous/hating, just learn from him. I can’t quite do a back kick yet, mostly due to anatomy of my hips and practice, but I’m mastering everything else
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How to Perfect Your Trim Underwater? ruclips.net/video/x5AoGrKqWCg/видео.html
How to determine how many kilos contribute a neoprene drysuit?
Don't try to do the math, no point! Do an in-water weight check that's the point we make in the video :) Be sure never to dive in a 7mm wetsuit deeper than 18 meters as you will get critically overweight due to the compression other than that just go in and do a proper weight check before the dive and verify it with an end of dive check
@@flowstatediverstotally agree with you! However a compressed neoprene drysuit is different to a 7mm wetsuit which can suffer a big compression under the pressure!
Amazing video! Good to bring this to the table! It's sad to see that so many people were overweighted or underweighted!
Just one tiny bit of critism which made me a bit disappointed:
The hand signal for 50 bar is a fist.. and not a stop, followed by an OK signal....
Thank you for your valuable feedback. The hand signals we employ are widely recognized in technical diving, and our numerical system differs from what the two most prominent recreational agencies teach. When a diver displays five fingers, it actually represents the number 'five,' followed by a zero, equating to 50. We're considering creating a video on this topic to ensure everyone is aligned in their understanding.
I've been taught the way shown in the video through GUE (ie a tech agency), and a fist through PADI. Hand signals for gas pressure seem to vary a lot. So flowstatedivers aren't wrong, just following one method. Here is where it's important to agree with your dive buddies on what hand signals mean what.
Many agencies are teaching this system such as GUE, UTD, TDI, IANTD etc.. and it makes much more sense as you can communicate numbers granularly with one hand
Have to spend plenty of time in the water and document for each gear setup
I wonder, how do you know what is 20%, 50 %, and 80% of your lung volume?
Hi, please check this video we explain this clearly there. Hope this helps ruclips.net/video/Ygr43vN5aZk/видео.html&ab_channel=FlowStateDivers
Diving with steel twin 12l will make me 6kg overweight at the start of a dive.
Hi, when it comes to diving with twins, the dynamics change a bit, but carrying an extra 6kg of weight still seems way too much. If a BCD failure were to occur at the start of your dive, it would be impossible to ascend just by swimming up, so please exercise caution. I also hope you are equipped with a dry suit or have a backup BC such as dual bladder or similar equipment. Use a lighter backplate or change to a thicker exposure suit but it's important that you are never 2kg heavier than needed for the reasons mentioned in the video.
actually, this gave us the idea to make a separate video that would be focused on precise weighting with doubles, whether it be sidemount or twins / with or without stages
@@flowstatediversthanks. I am diving a dry suit with thick undergarments en dry gloves etc. The waters in Sweden aren’t so warm. In order for me to do a safety stop comfortably at 4 ish meters with 50 bars I need 10 kilos of weight 😂.
@@flowstatediversthat would be great
2:20 Sorry for the nitpicking, on the most impeckable instruction videos on youtube. These calculation are perfectly comprehensible, technically better would be
150bar/1bar x 11.1l = 1665l
1665l x 1.29g/l = 2.15kg
Liked and subscribed !
Very good video, but it's avoidable to talk about other divers and instructors. Just present what you have to present
Thanks. I feel that it's important to raise awareness on neglected fundamentals so the viewer understands the seriousness and importance of it. Not bashing anyone or pointing fingers to any specific agency just stating reality.
@@flowstatedivers I'm not talking about agencies... If people who watch your video feels that he raises awareness about the importance of fundamentals, and feel you are right - which i think you are - they'll know who failed in their instruction... no need for you to point fingers. You'll get more friends this way...
@canaltecandrec I get your point and good advice. We will take your suggestion into consideration for our upcoming videos
Exemplary.
Thank you!
I have a question, as far as know fat people gave problems with weights. Am I Right?
the method to weight someone is the same regardless of body composition. Yes, fat tends to float so heavier people will require more weight but the method demonstrated in the video applies to everyone
Re-read your open water dive book about weighting. Practise in a pool. Wear exact same gear for next 3- 5 dives. Set a dive strictly on weighting. Use less weight and add as necessary. Good to practise at 5 or 6 foot depth. I don't really understand the frustration as your Instructor should have helped in the initial course. Log it somewhere for reference!! [ Note your bodyweight too, if lost or gained (body) weight. for future dives ]