I just finished my open water confined water dive with my bp/w. I have a DSS SS backplate with a 30 pound wing and bolt on 8 pound weights and a backplate attached quick release weight system on my hogarthian harness at the waist. Dove with 7mm wetsuit and boots. Instructor told me to put a total of 20 pounds into my weight system which I did. Certain parts of the test was horrible with this setup. Getting in and out of the bcd on the surface was okay but taking the weights out of the quick release and putting them back in was difficult. Took me a few minutes to really get it in correctly and snap on (Maybe I should ditch this weight system and just use a weight belt?). Doing the entire bcd removal under water was difficult because all the weight was on the bcd and I had to really struggle and balance to stay in place on the ground. I had to do this twice because I coudn't get out of the harness and had to loosen it up first at the surface so that I can complete the test. Everyone with the jacket bcd seems to do it fine without any struggle. Am I doing something wrong? What is your experience? Any recommendations? If it is this difficult to get in and out of the harness, especially underwater, why do people use it?
Thanks!
Thanks!