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>  I was intrigued by the information about body position during
>  decompression - that being vertical reduces the ability of the
>  lungs to filter nitrogen out.  [...] I was taught (though that 
>  doesn't necessarily make it right) that you should keep yourself 
>  neutral and fin your way up, which you can't do if you're
>  horizontal.

A lot of OW classes teach new divers to fin up, and not to use 
your inflator "like an elevator".  The rationale is that out of
control ascents are very dangerous, and that risk is greatest
for new divers who have lousy buoyancy control and minimal
awareness of their airway/breathing.  (The effectiveness of
this approach is questionable -- how many times have you seen
overweighted divers start their ascent, dump all their gas, 
and start kicking like mad while dropping like a rock?)

In any event, if you're considering "technical" diving, you
really need to have a good handle on buoyancy control first.
The ability to safely use your inflator "like an elevator" is
an important skill -- you reduce your exertion and maintain a
superior body position.  Further, in many contexts, directing
a fin blast downward is just begging for a siltout.

Bottom line, there is no substitute for mastering the basics.
It makes no sense at all to be afraid to use your buoyancy
compensator -- it just perpetuates your inability to exercise
complete control.  The only sound approach is to practice in
the pool and on relatively forgiving dives until you get it
right.  Either that, or stop diving.

- Todd

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