DM said "Don't worry about it".

[lv2dive]

When I started diving integrated weights were the new "it" thing but a lot of people ended up with problems with them because some of them were attached with Velcro and they fell out of the pockets very easily. I never became a fan of them for this reason.

As I mentioned earlier I use a backplate/wing - most of my diving is with steel tanks so I don't need additional weight. The only times I've needed to dive with ditchable weights were as a volunteer driver at an aquarium - I used a weight belt for those dives. I think weight belts are a pretty decent tool.

 

[KeithG]

What percentage of drowned divers are found at the bottom with weights intact? Too much.

Does it make sense to enter the water wearing ballast that you can not ditch?

 

[JimJam2]

Ha! My own alternate air source was leaking as we prepared to dive the Blue Hole. DM disconnected it and said "Don't worry about it". So I didn't and had a fantastic dive!

 

[Bubblesong]

An opinion you didn't ask for (I hate that...) is--If I dived so infrequently that owning my own stuff was financially stupid, I would not dive at all since I would constantly feel rusty. But that's just me.

I am glad you mentioned this. I have been diving since 1988, yet maybe one or two short trips per year, always to new places and often to new conditions, new types of challenges.

I feel like Thee Eternal Noob.

I wouldn't consider giving up diving, but I do refreshers, throw myself into studying up for new challenges, and basically I've been getting that "First Dive Excitement" all along.

Here is my challenge, I live and dive northeast 7mm diving, but vacation to 3mm shorty, diveskin, or bathing suit conditions. Next up I'll be getting dry suit cert. so the idea of buying equipment for all these is out-I don't have the storage!

Plus, I would rather just keep renting from reputable dive businesses, and not have to lug stuff through airports, store it all, or pay yearly maintenance costs on all of it.

This is not the last word, I may get to dive more, as an empty nester, and then I will invest in my own, "go anywhere" kit.

 

[MichaelMc]

Diving with faulty gear works out often enough for some DMs or operators to say not to worry about it. But it is not the way to bet overall. The odds wind up catching up with you, or stuff gets unnecessarily exciting. I'd rather my excitement underwater be limited to the fish I came to see.

 

[TMHeimer]

I am glad you mentioned this. I have been diving since 1988, yet maybe one or two short trips per year, always to new places and often to new conditions, new types of challenges.

I feel like Thee Eternal Noob.

I wouldn't consider giving up diving, but I do refreshers, throw myself into studying up for new challenges, and basically I've been getting that "First Dive Excitement" all along.

Here is my challenge, I live and dive northeast 7mm diving, but vacation to 3mm shorty, diveskin, or bathing suit conditions. Next up I'll be getting dry suit cert. so the idea of buying equipment for all these is out-I don't have the storage!

Plus, I would rather just keep renting from reputable dive businesses, and not have to lug stuff through airports, store it all, or pay yearly maintenance costs on all of it.

This is not the last word, I may get to dive more, as an empty nester, and then I will invest in my own, "go anywhere" kit.

Apparently you are in a minority--at least from the ugly reports I read on scubaboard. You take refreshers and study up, so you are not the "dreaded vacation diver". Not really sure what you mean by buying equipment for all these--I am just North of you and dive 7 mil farmer john here in NS and at times shorty in the South, and once just body suit in Panama. Only difference (for me) in those 3 is amount of weight. Most people rent weights and tanks anyway if they fly places. I don't dive dry, but assume again it's just weight that varies unless you get into tech. diving. I've only flown twice to dive locations and took my stuff minus tanks, but agree that any extra luggage
/weight nowadays could mean half the cost of your trip in baggage fees.

 

[Bubblesong]

@TMHeimer since I am squeamish about peed-in wetsuits my first thought is to buy every type of exposure protection, so my wetsuits are, well, ALL mine.
Since I'll be starting dry suit, I will have to choose regs that work with that, which would not necessarily be best to travel with. Same for bp/w set up from cold water to travel to warm water. I have a lot more research to do!
Edit to add: you don't dive dry in Canada? Maybe Gulf Stream brings you warmer water to Nova Scotia? But still, off Mass, we get cold.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

IMHO most new divers have almost been programmed to accept the advice of the Instructor and DM. They lack the experience to know their limits. They are entering a new, challenging environment, feeling a bit apprehensive and relying on someone who is supposed to have the experience they lack to help them make good choices. Essentially they are doing "Trust Me dives". There are many variables that will determine how many "Trust me dives" they will do when they get off course. The OP did a "Trust Me dive". The fact that you checked your gear, questioned it and came to ask the question here indicates that you are indeed a thinking diver and not likely to do a lot of trust me dives.

Diving with faulty gear works out often enough for some DMs or operators to say not to worry about it. But it is not the way to bet overall. The odds wind up catching up with you, or stuff gets unnecessarily exciting. I'd rather my excitement underwater be limited to the fish I came to see.

I would like to point out something not mentioned so far. The general opinion seems to be that new divers are most likely to be the subject of dive accidents but that is not necessarily the case. There is a disproportionate number of experienced divers in the list of diver deaths and injuries. The police Diver who interviewed us after Quero's death told us. "This is not the first time a highly qualified and experienced diver died on a benign dive under benign conditions and unfortunately it won't be the last!"

The reason for that is found in MichaelMc's post about things working out often enough..... Experienced divers develop confidence things will work out based on all the times that things "worked out ok". Gradually they forget that we are in a foreign environment where a small mistake combined with another small mistake and a little bad luck can quickly escalate into a disaster even they can't handle. Getting advice from experienced divers is a good idea BUT don't count on their advice to keep you safe. What will keep new divers safe is careful consideration of that advice before applying it to your experience, comfort levels and skill set.

I am glad you mentioned this. I have been diving since 1988, yet maybe one or two short trips per year, always to new places and often to new conditions, new types of challenges.

I feel like Thee Eternal Noob.

That attitude will keep you safe no matter how many dives you do or don't do!

All that said. Would I have done that dive when I had as many dives as you do? I suspect not. Would I have done that dive midway in my "dive career" it is possible. Would I do it now? No. I currently dive a BPW with no additional weight with my steel tanks. Tropical with aluminium I need a little weight and it is dumpable.

My biggest concern would be that if the pockets were in bad shape the rest of the gear may not be reliable in spite of passing pre dive checks. I would not do a dive where I wasn't confident that I could reach the surface and remain there without struggling to do so.

The most important skill a diver needs to develop is the ability to call a dive!

Keep safe, keep post and keep blowing bubbles...

 

[Diving Dubai]

My advice for people renting gear:

Just take the time before your gear gets packed for the boat to give it a quick inspection. When you try on the BCD, orally inflate it, check the dumps and ensure it doesn't leak (by squeezing it when inflated)

It's easier to get a replacement at the shop than on the boat. Similarly make sure your mask fits by holding to you face and inhaling through your nose, look at the mouth pieces of the regs and try them in your mouth for fit.

Obviously some things you can't do until you have a cylinder, but you can make some basic checks to satisfy yourself before hand. It's all stuff covered in your open water course.

Don't allow yourself to be rushed when getting your kit (arrive with plenty of time)

I personally get guests to do this when I give them gear. I try the regs on a cylinder to make sure all is good. Often I have to cajole the customer to check their gear themselves and not just trust my say so.

While I have spares on the boat, I'd rather find out about issues before hand. Often people renting are newer divers, and a kit issue can "unnerve" them just before a dive. I'd rather everything be good before we depart, makes my life less stressful too

 

[Bubblesong]

Recently there was a woman who dove even though her inflator hose did not match her BCD. While technically she should have been able to orally inflate, or swim herself up, then she had some kind of medical problem as she swum up, and did not have inflated bcd to save her.
This thread discusses the details: Feb 19 2017 Cozumel diving fatality
Attempts to retrieve her body were also stymied by non-functioning equipment.