I am sure ditchable weights have been debated a ton here, but I cannot find any old threads on this. I dive a BP&W. When I am not using an HP100, I have been adding two 2lbs weights to trim pockets attached to my cam bands. Works great with an AL80. I prefer not to use an STA, because I far prefer how the single tank sits on the backplate compared to how it sits on an STA. Recently, I bought a new 3mm suit and after a couple of dives, I upped my weight for an AL80 from 4lbs to 6lbs. Seemed like the new suit was much more positively buoyant than my very old and worn 3mm. I wore a weight belt with 4 lbs and placed two 1lbs in the trim pockets.
My preference is to just put any needed weight in my trim pockets rather than using a belt. I suppose I could get these and see how it goes. I am wondering how much ditchable weight is good to have have compared to overall weight. Some questions:
My preference is to just put any needed weight in my trim pockets rather than using a belt. I suppose I could get these and see how it goes. I am wondering how much ditchable weight is good to have have compared to overall weight. Some questions:
- Is the amount of ditchable weight really just a matter of what each individual is comfortable with?
- Is there a way people like to calculate this beyond just "How much weight can you kick up with?" For example, "Make 50% of your weight ditchable"
- If I dive an HP100 and HP117 without any weight, then is my question over two additional pounds when diving an AL80 moot? Essentially, is putting two 3lbs in my trim pockets compared to two 2lbs about the same as diving an HP100 or HP117?
- An AL80 weights about 31.5 lbs
- An HP100 weighs about 34lbs
- An HP117 weighs about 37.5lbs