Top 5 Buoyancy Games To Improve Buoyancy
Any diver will tell you that one of the best things about being able to scuba dive is the feeling of pure freedom and weightlessness under the water. There’s just something about being able to glide so effortlessly through the water that makes it such an enjoyable and magical experience. In order to achieve this though, you first need to be able to master neutral buoyancy.
Maintaining neutral buoyancy isn’t as easy as you think and can take a while to accomplish, therefore it’s important to practise whenever possible! Not only does it help you to consume less air and to conserve energy (especially for deep dives) but it also aids in the little things, like focusing on getting that perfect shot of the clownfish you just spotted. Or helping you to navigate wrecks at a slow, steady pace without damaging any coral or marine life along the way.
Maintaining neutral buoyancy is one of the most important skills a diver can have, no matter what level you are, so here are 5 buoyancy games to help you achieve your goal (and have a little fun at the same time!)…
The Hover
You probably remember that during both your Open Water Course (and possibly during your Advanced Open Water Course) you had to complete a series of skills. One of those skills is ‘The Hover’. The aim of the game is to achieve neutral buoyancy by shifting yourself into a horizontal position, adding a tiny bit of air to your BCD and relying on your breath intake to determine your movement underwater. Breathing in should make you rise up from the bottom and breathing out should help you sink back down. This game can also be played by resting on your knees with your torso vertical.
Obstacle Course
This one is a slightly more challenging version of ‘The Hover’. Basically, the idea is to set up an obstacle course underwater consisting of hoops held at different levels. You’ll then be tasked with having to swim through the hoops in the circuit without inflating your BCD but keeping complete control of your buoyancy by breathing slowly and steadily around the course. This game introduces more movement and reminds you to keep your arms tucked in so as not to rely on touching the hoops. This helps enormously with managing your arms in the ocean where there is the possibility of damaging corals.
Backwards Finning
This challenge is one that comes in handy when you spot marine life and need to keep extra still, especially when taking pictures. It does take a little time to master (I’ll be honest, I still haven’t!) but the goal is to keep neutral whilst edging forwards then gently retreating backwards. The transition needs to be smooth and gentle so as not to disturb or frighten any marine life. Imagine a huge Hawksbill Sea Turtle right in front of you and you manage to get close enough to take the perfect photo but once you’ve taken it, how do you move on? You need to be able to retreat safely and steadily in a backwards motion so as not to alarm him so that he can enjoy the rest of his day and you can enjoy the rest of yours!
Catch!
Better played in a team, this game introduces an object such as a weighted ball, weighted block or even a diving weight. All you have to do is simply pass the object to one another in a spacious circle trying to stay neutrally buoyant at all times and not let the weighted object determine your buoyancy. Heavier items can be introduced then taken away to implement quick thinking and balance.
Close Your Eyes
It’s literally as the title says, close your eyes. Once you close your eyes you’ll lose the sense of your immediate environment and your breathing may quicken. Try to breathe steadily and calmly so that once you open your eyes again, you are in the same spot as when you started. This fun little game catches a lot of divers out especially when having to clear masks etc because your immediate thoughts are the fact that you cannot see therefore your breathing becomes altered. It is essential to do this in a controlled environment with your buddy right on hand to redirect you if you begin to rise.
So there you have it! 5 buoyancy games to help get your buoyancy under control and get the most out of your scuba adventures!
Remember, anything can affect your weight underwater whether it be changing from a wetsuit to a rash vest or switching up your weight belt for integrated ones. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what level you are, maintaining neutral buoyancy is a major skill to have.
Practise is key!
