weight belt

[rstofer]

Only concern I'd have is the "40lbs maximum" For someone who is 440lbs, I assume in salt water and a wetsuit, I can't see this getting him down, even with steel tanks. I don't know this for fact, but I know that (with aluminum tanks) it took nearly 40 to get me down and I'm less than half his weight. If he got this belt, he may still need significant integrated weight into the BCD.

True enough! The OP isn't planning to dive cold water. He's previously posted re: a 3mm wetsuit and Florida.

The 8# backplate weights may be applicable and the OP was planning to dive with a HP 130.

It's hard to say how much weight is required. People tend to be nearly neutral. It's the neoprene that required the ballast.

Another 'guess' is 10% of total weight including all gear plus a couple of pounds. In this case it could be as much as 50#. So, 40# in the harness, 8# on the backplate, a 6# backplate and he would be 4# overweighted. And that's assuming the tank isn't also negative at the end of the dive.

Best to just try it in the water.

Richard

 

[bigtim6656]

I talked with a guy at scubatoys he was my weight when he started diving he thought i would need around 30 he said that what he need at my weight.

Only concern I'd have is the "40lbs maximum" For someone who is 440lbs, I assume in salt water and a wetsuit, I can't see this getting him down, even with steel tanks. I don't know this for fact, but I know that (with aluminum tanks) it took nearly 40 to get me down and I'm less than half his weight. If he got this belt, he may still need significant integrated weight into the BCD.

 

[bamamedic]

I talked with a guy at scubatoys he was my weight when he started diving he thought i would need around 30 he said that what he need at my weight.

bigtim,

You might need more weight, or you might need less.

For example, a diving friend of mine, who's actually smaller in size than I am, needs quite a bit more weight in order to sink her particular BC and exposure suit.

Part of your OW class will involve teaching you how to perform a weight check...that's where you'll get a ballpark idea of how much weight you need. During your next few dives, you'll might very well find that you need less weight, as you grow more comfortable in the water, and more familiar with your weighting requirements.

 

[Coldwater_Canuck]

True enough! The OP isn't planning to dive cold water. He's previously posted re: a 3mm wetsuit and Florida.

It's tough to tell, he changes his mind every day. I remember hearing about coldwater diving, but who knows.

I talked with a guy at scubatoys he was my weight when he started diving he thought i would need around 30 he said that what he need at my weight.

It all depends on how you're diving. Fresh water without an exposure suit and steel tanks: ya it will probably be 30 or less. But if you dive like I do (I don't know if this is the case or not) with a 7mm in salt water, no way you could get away with 30 at your weight.

 

[bigtim6656]

I talked with tobin today and i might have this wrong. he said with a 3mm suit, the bp\w setup and the way we figured the weight the tank steel 130 would be -2 the bp\w rig would be -12 with the 3mm suit the in salt water i would need 2 to 4 pounds and 6 to 8 with a 5mm suit. That does not include weight need to sink my body.

True enough! The OP isn't planning to dive cold water. He's previously posted re: a 3mm wetsuit and Florida.

The 8# backplate weights may be applicable and the OP was planning to dive with a HP 130.

It's hard to say how much weight is required. People tend to be nearly neutral. It's the neoprene that required the ballast.

Another 'guess' is 10% of total weight including all gear plus a couple of pounds. In this case it could be as much as 50#. So, 40# in the harness, 8# on the backplate, a 6# backplate and he would be 4# overweighted. And that's assuming the tank isn't also negative at the end of the dive.

Best to just try it in the water.

Richard

 

[TSandM]

I would also highly recommend the DUI Weight and Trim. My husband finds it impossible to keep a weight belt up, and really likes the harness. Although I am not, in general, a fan of integrated weight systems, the weights in the DUI harness are VERY unlikely to go walkabout.

 

[sambolino44]

I've been real happy with my DSS BP/W with weight plates, a steel cylinder and a rubber weight belt. I weigh about 150 lbs and I dive in water from 45 - 55F in a neoprene drysuit. I also have 4 lbs in ankle weights. My BP/W with weights is about 15 lbs, my cylinder (empty) is about 2.5 lbs, and I carry 12 lbs on my belt. Let's estimate another 4 lbs for regulators, lights, knife, etc. So, it looks like I'm diving with a total of about 38 lbs. WOW! I didn't realize how much it was until just now.

Anyway, here's a thread I started about weight harnesses that you may find interesting.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bu...ht-harness-dui-vs-seasoft-vs-best-divers.html

While you may find the harness the best solution for you, I've been real happy with the simple rubber weight belt. Good luck!

 

[bigtim6656]

I do not intend to dive colder then 60 properly closer to 65. Most of the time 70 or higher. I did talk about cold diving that was before i found out that most mean 30s or 40s when talking about cold diving. I also do not see me needing a suit thicker then 5mm. I am custom to cold water but do not plan on diving it. I have said this in many of my post. I guest it is just one of those things i will need to deal with when i get my ow cert. IF nothing else i might have to wear two belts i doubt that will be a issue with my waist. I could always get plates for the bp\w and wear a belt.

It's tough to tell, he changes his mind every day. I remember hearing about coldwater diving, but who knows.


It all depends on how you're diving. Fresh water without an exposure suit and steel tanks: ya it will probably be 30 or less. But if you dive like I do (I don't know if this is the case or not) with a 7mm in salt water, no way you could get away with 30 at your weight.

 

[bigtim6656]

I like the idea of the harness but the price is high but you get what you pay for.

What i am thinking is do the class stuff and pool dives here then i should have a idea what i need to do for weight.

I would also highly recommend the DUI Weight and Trim. My husband finds it impossible to keep a weight belt up, and really likes the harness. Although I am not, in general, a fan of integrated weight systems, the weights in the DUI harness are VERY unlikely to go walkabout.

 

[mselenaous]

What i am thinking is do the class stuff and pool dives here then i should have a idea what i need to do.

Tim
That is the wisest course of action for just about all the issues you have brought up. Glad you came to that decision.

PS I weigh 1/3 of what you weigh and use 20 lbs lead with 7mm wetsuit & aluminum tank in the pacific ocean...I use a 18 lbs in the atlantic ocean & 22lbs in the Sea of Cortez...not all salt water has the same salinity content/density which will affect bouyancy even in the same configuration.