Hi. A few questions for you:

(1) When you vent from the inflator hose (SS1), do you see bubbles venting?
(2) How often are you venting when from 30′ to the surface?
(3) Are you ascending by kicking up?

Regarding bend in the hose, a bend is okay as long as the bend is L shaped and not U shaped. For newer divers, it’s not uncommon to not expend their arms fully, thereby not creating a straight enough path for air to escape.

It could be possible that the BC is trapping air, though the Aeris Reef Rider’s BC looks pretty compact. If you’re ascending in the vertical position, it’s very unlikely that trapped air is occurring though. In the vertical position, the inflator hose should be at the highest point. You can check that in the BC.

Thanks.

-Don

Could my BC be trapping air. It’s a back inflate Aeris Reef Rider. Can you help?

thanks, Joe

@Brian: 30′ per minute ascent rate is the DAN recommended ascent rate. Like you, I’m much slower the last 20′. Using MDL Ascent profiles, I’m 1 minute at 30′, 1 minute at 20′, and 1 minute at 10′. As the result, my shallows are slower too.

Btw, we’re overdue for a dive together!

I like your sequence on ascent.

Do you consider thirty ft per minute ideal or a maximum? I try to go much slower the last 20 ft or so.

Thanks for posting! Your article on controled ascents is helpful!

Thank you for reading the article.

Regarding venting of a BC, it is ideal to use the back dump. The best way to find the butt dump is to grab the dump, and then feel towards the center to get the string.

However, using the inflator hose is possible as well. Just insure that you are extending the hose up fully and do a slight roll to bring the left shoulder up. The most common issue is that the hose is not fully extended, and it’s not the highest point on the body.