I've just started using a harness and wondering whether or not I should wear my weight belt under or over the crotch strap.
If I wear it over the crotch strap then I can ditch it quickly. On the other hand, it's easier to lose and that won't do me much good if I need to do 30 minutes of deco.
If I wear the weight belt under the crotch strap then it removes any danger of losing it but it makes it more difficult, though not impossible, to ditch.
I can't find many recommendations on the web about this subject. I started off with the GUE/DIR sites but it seems to be about the only thing they don't have an opinion on.
Interested in any opinions/information.
Thanks,
Paul
Hallmac
October 7th, 2003, 10:56 PM
Ditching should be a last option and done intentionally. under the strap it is a little more secure but still removable if necessary.
Hallmac
PaulNZ
October 7th, 2003, 11:02 PM
Thanks Hallmac,
That's my gut feeling on the issue. I just want to make sure that it's not a dumb idea.
Paul
Hallmac
October 7th, 2003, 11:08 PM
Keep asking
Hallmac
bwerb
October 8th, 2003, 12:57 AM
Weight belt goes under...if the buckle gets opened accidentally, you don't lose your weights but they are still easy to ditch with one more step.
Dryglove
October 8th, 2003, 01:37 AM
Here is what i was told
If you wear a wetsuit place it over the crotch strap so it is easily ditchable at the surface in case of a bc failure.
If using a drysuit wear it under the crotch strap as you have the drysuit for use in case of bc failure.
My opinion is that ditching a weightbelt at depth should be a last ditch option. If you are properly weighted with a single tank you should be able to easily swim up your rig and ditch your weightbelt at the surface.
Genesis
October 8th, 2003, 08:25 AM
is that you should dive with it under the strap ALWAYS, wet or dry.
You can ditch a belt under the strap. Yes, it is a bit more difficult. But that's a good thing, not a bad thing. An ACCIDENTAL ditch is disasterous, particularly when diving dry or with a heavy wetsuit.
You have to balance the risks when making this choice. It is very unlikely you will need to ditch intentionally, and in my way of thinking, you should basically NEVER need to do so at depth. At the surface, you can ditch the KIT (if its negative - say, due to a BC failure), not just the belt - after all, you have AIR at the surface to breathe!
I have seen several accidental ditches at depth, some of which could have turned out VERY badly. I have personally had my buckle come loose and nearly lost my belt. It was at that point that I switched to diving with it under my harness.
I have yet to see a need to ditch intentionally. Oh sure, there are plenty of such cases, but you have to go with the highest probability event here, IMHO.
Wear it under the strap and make sure your kit is balanced, or you have redundancy, so there is no reason to have to ditch at depth.
DeepScuba
October 8th, 2003, 02:16 PM
I THINK, "George's" opinion on it is over the crotch strap in open water, for ditching purposes, and under for caves/overhead for the "accidental" ditch reason.
But I'm a stroke in his opinion too :-)
He's probably right.
Greg Barlow
October 8th, 2003, 04:04 PM
I wear my weight belt under my harness at all times, irregardless of whether I am diving dry or wet.
A few years back, I had a buckle instantly fail. The belt was under my harness, but was still lost. I had an elevator ride that ended only when I was able to reach the descent line. The real scary part was that I had more than 30 minutes of deco ahead of me. Had I not had that descent line, it could have been a very bad situation. I literally locked onto the line, and completed the deco. That is one dive that I will never forget.
I now wear two ScubaPro stainless steel buckles on the belt. It remains under the harness and will continue to do so.
When your life literally hinges on a piece of gear, then take TWO.
Greg Barlow
BigJetDriver
October 9th, 2003, 12:00 AM
I used to wear the weight belt under the crotch strap at all times for security. Now I wear the DUI Weight and Trim II. Much more secure. Much more comfortable. You can ditch half of your weight if you need to. Great set-up.:D
victoriawtx
October 9th, 2003, 10:38 AM
and it is still ditchable.
Epinephelus
October 9th, 2003, 10:54 AM
My ability to ditch the weight is not nearly so important as a rescuer's ability to ditch the weight. Reality is that most divers are unfamiliar with crotch straps and in an emergency wouldn't realize why they couldn't (or may not even notice that they didn't) ditch the weights.
If you intend for the weight in your weightbelt to be ditchable, wear it outside your crotch strap.
E.
Genesis
October 9th, 2003, 10:57 AM
You ditch it the same way you ditch it if its on top.
You release the buckle, PULL THE BUCKLE END until it is free of the diver, and drop it.
It WILL come out from behind the crotch strap. Oh yeah, it means you have to actually pull it out before letting go.
You have to do that ANYWAY if you're ditching it correctly, because otherwise it may get hung up in the diver's gear, legs or fins.
If the rescuer has no brain, then you're doomed anyway.
scuba-punk
October 9th, 2003, 12:26 PM
I wear mine under the strap wet or dry. That way, my gear configuration and the steps that I would go through to accomplish a task (ditching said weight belt in this situation) is the same during every dive. That being said however, with steel doubles and a drysuit, I don't wear a weight belt... :) However, wetsuit and alumnim doubles, weight belt. Drysuit and aluminum doubles, weight belt...
-Frank =-)
BigJetDriver
October 10th, 2003, 10:41 PM
If you wear a weight harness, like the DUI Weight and Trim II, it does not matter! The unit is good for either wet or dry diving. Works with either BC's or backplate/wing set-ups. It handles a lot of weight, if you need it, is extremely comfortable to wear, and it really stays out of the way of the rest of your rig!
I wear mine a little higher up the torso than some do, but to remove either side it's just a straight thrust with my thumb hooked around one handle or the other.:D
Rick Murchison
October 10th, 2003, 11:17 PM
I wear mine outside the crotch strap.
Rick
IzzyTahil
October 11th, 2003, 09:31 PM
When i usd a weight belt I wore it under the crotch strap. I use a DUI harness now and also wear under my crotch strap. I find the harness much better for stability - ie it doesnt shift the weight all around. With the harness, ditching weight is not an issue since you can just pull on the handles and dictch half or the entire load you are wearing. I wear the harness pockets just below my waist straps. i dive dry
Jesus Irazabal
October 12th, 2003, 02:54 PM
The worst case scenario for me is being unable to stay at a certain depth because of positive bouyancy. That's why I use the weigth belt under the crotch strap.
TRIG
October 12th, 2003, 04:22 PM
I Like the DUI weight harness, it' great. In addition to the
reasons mentioned above, it doesn't fall down around my knees,
doesn't matter whether it's inside or out. Has two pockets on
each side for distribution, with flaps that close over with velcro.
With my current setup, I use 5LB soft weights, one to each
side. When I sling my 19CF pony, I just remove a 5LB from that
side and slip in a 2LB with the pony making up the difference.
If I switch from my 95CF steel tank, to my 80CF aluminum,
I just drop in a 5LB soft weight on each side, smooth, neat,
like it.
