Re: Scuba
 

It wasn’t mentioned at all but I assume that basically to gain buoyancy and ascend you breathe so you go from a full set of lungs on the inhale to half full on the exhale. To descend you go from half full to empty. I don’t remember seeing that in the manual or DVD and the instructor didn’t mention it but I cannot really think what else you could do.

I think the fact that it takes a while for a breath to take effect but then once it does it takes a few seconds before you can stop it by doing the opposite is hard to get used to. So I was over compensating, using the BCD and making the movements even more pronounced.

Re: Scuba
 

Yeah that's exactly it, and it really is a lot easier to do in deeper water than it is in the pool. It's also the sort of thing that takes a bit of practice but once you get it it just sort of clicks.

It's actually a great feeling when you're out diving and can control your buoyancy well so that if your drifting along slowly and need to ascend a bit to go over some coral, you can just keep still in your relaxed position and move over it just by inhaling.

And as for getting a wetsuit on, there's a few things you can try. Talc, or a plastic bag have already been mentioned. We also sometimes use K-Y Jelly (:o) for our drysuit wrist seals because they're so tight. They really do slide on really easily then, it definitely works (and doesn't damage the seals).