Aqua Lung MDB Technical Manual page 8

8
Your buoyancy compensator is primarily designed to help you maintain neutral buoy-
ancy while in a comfortably balanced, face-down swimming position underwater. It is
also designed to provide you with flotation so that you can rest on the surface, but it
is not designed to function as a life preserver or personal flotation device (PFD). In or-
der to meet u.S. coast Guard regulations, a PFD must be designed so that it automati-
cally rights you to a face-up position and holds your head out of the water on the surface.
the design characteristics of a personal flotation device are different from those of a
buoyancy compensator. The ability of any flotation device to float you in a face-up po-
sition can also be affected by other diving equipment you wear, including a cylinder,
weight or exposure suit, and whether it can be inflated before you lose consciousness.
For this reason, it is important always to dive with a buddy and maintain close proximity with
them at all times. Do not depend on any flotation device to hold your face above the surface in
the event that you are rendered unconscious in the water while diving.
WARNING: Although this manual provides some basic guidelines for certain
buoyancy control techniques, it is not a substitute for training from a pro-
fessional diving instructor. Failure to weight yourself properly may create
a hazardous condition that could lead to serious injury or death. If you are
unsure how to weight yourself in order to achieve optimum buoyancy under-
water and on the surface, do not dive until you have obtained the necessary
instruction from your diving instructor.
If you have any questions regarding your
Buoyancy Compensator or these instructions, contact
an Aqua Lung technical Representative
mDB technical manual