Peak Performance Buoyancy Course

When you think about it, scuba diving offers the participant two unique and exciting experiences.  There is, of course, the opportunity to leave the land and visit a world vastly different from the one we inhabit on a day-to-day basis.  It’s a chance to personally see animals and areas many only view in books and on television.  The experience of swimming above a colorful coral reef, playing with a pod of friendly dolphins or gazing on as a shark swims silently by is something to share with friends and treasure forever.

But scuba diving isn’t simply about what you encounter – it’s also the way you go about it, which is just as thrilling.  Moving through liquid space is an amazing feeling like no other in the world, a chance to swim like a fish and effortlessly execute maneuvers that would be impossible on the surface.  In fact, diving is the closest a human being can get to flying (without the inconvenience of stepping out of a moving airplane, that is).

As easy as it all looks, however, hovering above the sea floor and gliding through the water can be tricky.  At Scuba Lessons Jax, some of Jacksonville’s best scuba instructors can help you become one with the water and master the moves with our peak performance buoyancy course.

Why is a peak performance buoyancy course important?

Neutral buoyancy is the state an object is in when it is neither floating nor sinking.  This constitutes an optimal condition for a scuba diver to achieve, because when they attain neutral buoyancy they are in good control of how they move through the water. The benefits of this are twofold:

• Making the most of your experience:  The best way to enjoy a dive is to “blend in” with your surroundings as much as possible and avoid disrupting marine life.  This way you can witness life underwater as it takes place naturally.  Flailing about can scare fish, change feeding patterns, and possibly injure animals (not to mention ruin the dive for others).  And a rapid, uncontrolled descent or the ability to stop could send you crashing into fragile coral.
• Keeping safe underwater: Safety is paramount to any dive, and being out of balance buoyancy-wise can put you in serious risk.  Loading up too many weights on your belt can cause you to sink quickly and exhaust yourself on the way up.  Lacking proper trim while swimming can also tire you as you struggle to avoid rolling or floating upwards.  Plus, it’s no fun to thrash your way into a school of jellyfish (we also have it on good authority that barracuda hate to be bumped into).

What exactly will I learn in the course?

Although you were taught the basics of buoyancy in your open water dive course, these advanced lessons cover the nuances of mastering control underwater and will be helpful if you choose to take any of our additional courses. Topics include:

• Weight: Every diver uses it, but many don’t know how much to strap on.  We can help you find the perfect amount.
• Trim: This refers to the way your gear is positioned on your body.  We’ll show you how to wear your equipment to achieve the best balance.
• Streamlining: While we can’t make you as sleek as a sailfish, there are ways to tidy up your gear to get you moving better. 
• Hovering: Whether vertically or horizontally, let us teach you how to stop and see the sights under the sea.

What is required for me to take the course?

Participants must be at least ten years old and have completed the open water dive course.  No special equipment is necessary.