During a buoyant emergency ascent, which action helps you reach the surface more effectively?

• A. Drop your weight belt
• B. Keep your weight belt on
• C. Hold your breath until surface
• D. Breathe through regulator while ascending

Answer: (A)

In a buoyant emergency ascent, your goal is to become positively buoyant so you can reach the surface quickly with the least effort. Releasing your weight belt accomplishes this by removing ballast that keeps you down. With less weight, the same buoyant forces from your lungs’ air and your suit become enough to push you upward, so you rise more efficiently. Keeping the weight belt on would keep you negatively buoyant and slow your ascent, making you work harder to reach the surface. Holding your breath during ascent is dangerous because lung air can expand as you rise, risking a lung overexpansion injury. You should breathe normally through your regulator while ascending. Breathing through the regulator is important for safe ascent, but dropping the weight belt has the biggest impact on how quickly you reach the surface.