Aluminum BP in the tropics?

[buddhasummer]

Due to ever increasing airline weight restrictions, I use an Ali plate, Ali STA and Ali cam bands. I wear a 5mm in the tropics and put 2 kgs in trim weight pockets on top cam band and 2kg on a belt. In part I agree with parzdiver but in the end every kg adds up. I also use lightweight fins, takke only small lights, a small SMB, delrin spool. I take nothing dive related that is not absolutely needed. Together with clothing etc my bag weighs in at around 35lbs.

 

[lv2dive]

My luggage is so overweight that 4 lbs doesn't make a difference .

Anyway, with a 3 MM (and x-shorts) in tropic waters, with no can light, regardless of fins*, all I need for weight is a SS BP. I can run the tank down to less than 500 PSI with no need for additional lead although I did start out with 4 lbs in trim pockets before I was sure of this. (For clarification... I only ran the tank down while hanging under the boat or on 15-20 ft reefs). Just realized my avatar is a picture of the last time I was diving this way!

Of course YMMV - I just really like all the weight on my back.

*usually wear jetfins but I switched fins with a fellow traveler so they couldtry mine the last time I was diving this configuration and fin weight made no difference either.

 

[Splitlip]

If you are diving al 80's at your destination I suspect you will appreciate a steel plate.

 

[buddhasummer]

If you are diving al 80's at your destination I suspect you will appreciate a steel plate.

Agree.

I tend to go on diving safaris i.e. travel around a country diving 4-5 weeks, where I have to carry my bag everywhere and even 35lbs starts to get heavy after you've been carrying it for a while. If I was going to a single dive destination e.g airport, transfer, resort Id be more inclined to take my steel plate. I also like the decadence/fiscal stupidity of having two complete sets of dive gear. I like buying dive gear almost as much as I like diving.

 

[stargost]

it depends on the exposure required and how the feels with adding weigth on belts or not.
I second the motion on saving 4lbs as i always carry too much stuff. But it depends on people apparently.

With a 3mm wetsuit or less, I actually prefer to use an AL plate with aan AL tanks, and adjust with weigth, either on the side of the harness on pocket, on the tank itself, or using a belt.

If you are diving al 80's at your destination I suspect you will appreciate a steel plate.

 

[Doc Harry]

Tropical diving
3mm shorty wet suit
Aluminum backplate
8 pounds in cam bands
No weight belt

If I am wearing a 3 wet suit instead of a shorty, I wear an additional 2 pounds on a weight belt