What is Trim?

Sinking feet

Sinking feet is common with most new divers and directly related to kicking and weight. A diver may be over weighted and to compensate they kick downward, a simple weight check at the beginning and end of the dive can fix that. As stated above, kicking from the knees can cause this. I often video students in the pool that do the Peak Performance Buoyancy class so they can see how they kick. Kicking from the hips is important not just for trim but for swim efficiency, it also protects the coral and your buddy.

If you're kicking from the hip and you still find your legs sinking, there are a few other things you can try:

• Weight check. If you have a lot of air in your BCD to stay neutral buoyant it affects your trim.
• Shift your tank up a little. A little nudge may be all you need to fix the problem.
• Arm position. Try holing your arms out in front of you in a relaxed position, hand over hand. This acts as a counter balance.
• Equipment. Are your fins tanks? My warm water fins weight 3 pounds while my cold water fins weight 11. Those 11 pounders will throw off my trim in warm water due to less gear
• Trim pockets. Try putting a few pounds in trim pockets or on the cam band of your tank. Don't put all your weight there because you need to be able to ditch some at the surface in an emergency.
• 5mm boots. 5mm neoprene will make your feet more buoyant.
• Diving full face mask? That can add 2 pounds or more of positive buoyancy to your upper body. Compensate with a shoulder weight.

Floaty Feet

Floaty feet is not as common as sinking feet but it happens. I have seen this with bodybuilders who have well developed torsos (don't skip leg day). Dry suit divers experience this issue when the air from the suit goes to their feet.

Things you can try:

• Moving weights from your trim pockets, if you have weight in them, to your waist.
• Try shifting your tank down.
• Keep your arms at your sides, many hold the bottom of the tank as a reminder
• Fins. Those 3 pound travel fins may be great, but a 5 pound pair could solve the issue
• Boots. Wearing 5mm in warm water, try 2 or 3mm.
• Ankle weights. I'm not a fan but many swear by them.
• Dry suit divers try using gators. They slow the travel of air to your feet. Of course a well fitted dry suits helps too.

Dangalies

Loose hanging items are not only bad for environment, they cause a lot of drag and the swaying motion of those items affect your body position in the water. A console with a spg, depth gauge and compass is pretty heavy. Unsecured it could cause you to lean to one side. Shifting your body to compensate causes unnecessary movement further affecting your trim. If there is surge the issue is compounded.

Keep items secured close to your body. Store something like a heavy console closer to the center of your body, perhaps tucked in your waist strap. Octos should always be secured in the "triangle". Diving with a camera affects your trim, especially if its in a medium to large size waterproof housing or you are using a Go Pro floaty handle. Placement of things like knives, lights smbs and reels should be taken into account too. They should be distributed evenly, not all on 1 side