Related to the Integrated Weight Question: Boat Etiquette- Remove Weight or not?

[00wabbit]

Let's say you are carrying 10 pounds each in your weight pockets with an integrated BCD. 20 pounds total - Would you remove them and hand them up to the boat in order to make getting on the boat a little easier?
I have a scuba pro nighthawk with the clip in system so I'm not worried about wearing out the releases. I guess the main concern would be accidentally dropping the pocket.

[al248005]

I don't. I got enough to worry about in rough seas in just getting on the boat let alone hand things up to the guys on the boat. I think it would b very easy to drop them while still hanging on for dear life to the ladder.

[mselenaous]

Not usually, but that depends totally on the boat and the crew. Follow their directions. When diving a dry suit, I have to add so much weight that it becomes difficult for me to climb some ladders, so then I do pass up the weight pouches.

However, it is a good idea to take your loaded weight pockets out and place them on the floor while your gear is assembled on the tank. Removing the weight will help keep the tank from coming out of it's holder/bungees, etc and tilting on a bouncing boat, etc.

[Diogenesdemar]

To each boat his own . . .

I've been on boats where they asked everyone with integrated setups to hand up their weight pockets (and then their fins) and then climb the ladder with their BCD/tank on. I've been on boats where they asked you to hand up your weight pockets, and then the divemaster/crew pulled your BCD/tank on board. And, I've been on boats where they asked you not to hand up your weight pockets and the divemaster/crew hoisted your weighted BCD/tank on board.

It may depend on the bottom depth, the currents, the swell, the height of the boat deck above the water, and the age/physical conditioning of the divemasters and crew.

Probably best never to assume any one way or the other. If the topic isn't covered in the briefing for the first dive, then it is a great question that should be asked.

[Scuba_Noob]

I don't. It's just too much of a risk of dropping the weight and losing it. I'm not carrying too much weight, even with a drysuit, and my body doesn't have much trouble with ladders.

The only time I'd remove the weights while in the water is for an emergency. Or if it's the boat charter's request that all diver's do it (and the water isn't too rough).

I hand my camera rig up, but it's easier for both me and the crew member to get a good grip on the handle (as opposed to an integrated weight).

[Kryssa]

When I'm diving dry in cold water, I have 12 lbs in each pocket and will usually hand the weight up first. I have easy clip in pockets.

[freewillie]

I've never been asked to remove weights before exiting. To me just one more thing might lose getting out of water. I usually hand my fins up but leave weights in pockets and just climb out water.

There may be times depending on conditions where crew may want weights out when exiting. If not specifically mentioned during briefing I just assume you don't need to remove the weights.

[BluewaterSail]

One small boat that I have dove out of has a really hard to climb ladder. Even though its not their policy, there have been times when I have removed my rig in the water and handed it up to guys already on the boat. In order to make it easier for them, I have removed integrated weights first if I am using the weight pockets. However, I have started to use a weight belt when on boats anyhow, because keeping the weight out of the bc itself makes the tank changes easier. I think that this is a case of doing what works in the situation, if the crew hasn't given you specific instructions.

In the case I described, the staff is just the captain, who doesn't tend to do alot of heavy lifting, and the DM, who is generally the last out of the water. So if I need to ask other paying customers for help, I want to make it as easy as possible for them.

[FinnMom]

I wouldn't unless you've been asked to do so or you really need to minimize you load (injury etc).
Because (1) Too much chance of dropping the weights or some other mishap. (2) If you can carry the load without risk of injury, never be lazy because the extra muscle training might help you avoid injury in the future.

[DukeAMO]

However, it is a good idea to take your loaded weight pockets out and place them on the floor while your gear is assembled on the tank. Removing the weight will help keep the tank from coming out of it's holder/bungees, etc and tilting on a bouncing boat, etc.

+1 to that. We've already seen a couple of mishaps when scuba gear fell over, hard, because of the weight in the pockets. Once the falling scuba unit nearly pulled me off the side of a table with it! It's easier to load the weights right after you strap on and secure the scuba unit, and remove them right before you remove the scuba unit. (The exception is the trim weights - I leave those on the BCD's tank bands so I don't forget them.) You might need your buddy to help load the weights into the pockets. We put on all of our gear except for the scuba unit, weights, mask/fins/snorkel and line those up in easy reach. We also test our BCDs and regs before putting on the scuba unit. Then I help DH get his scuba unit and weights on, before he helps me get my gear on. He can handle shoving my weight pockets in while he's geared up. Then we get the mask/fins/snorkel on, do the buddy check, inflate our BCDs, and we're ready to go.