BP/W Help me with weight pockets

[llyamah]

Hi all

I've taken the advice of the forum and have purchased a BP/W setup with a SS backplate. Now need to choose weight pockets.

I have lost a lot of fat since I last dived (now only a little podgy) so don't know how much extra weight I'll need to get down.

In a 3mm wetsuit (or maybe even just rash vest) should I be okay just using cam trim pockets (like the ones below, which hold up to 2kg each) or should I also have something I can ditch too?

Tecline Trim Pockets 2Kg (2un.) - Gidive Store

 

[drk5036]

Have you dove with the backplate yet? With a stainless steel backplate and 3 mm suit, there’s a good chance you won’t need any extra weight. I’d bed serious money you wouldn’t need more than 4 kg, so going with cam band pockets would be my suggestion.

for me with a small stainless steel freedom plate I don’t need any extra lead to dive with an Al80 in a 3 mm.

 

[llyamah]

Have you dove with the backplate yet? With a stainless steel backplate and 3 mm suit, there’s a good chance you won’t need any extra weight. I’d bed serious money you wouldn’t need more than 4 kg, so going with cam band pockets would be my suggestion.

for me with a small stainless steel freedom plate I don’t need any extra lead to dive with an Al80 in a 3 mm.

Thanks for the reply. Not had a chance to dive with it yet, so maybe I should just buy a couple of small trim weight pockets (that carry up to 1.4kg each) and see how I go?

 

[drk5036]

Thanks for the reply. Not had a chance to dive with it yet, so maybe I should just buy a couple of small trim weight pockets (that carry up to 1.4kg each) and see how I go?

Personally that’s what I would go with. I like the DGX small weight pockets. Fits 1 kg weights perfectly and are small.

 

[dmaziuk]

Are they that much cheaper than the 2kg teclines?

Personally I like to be a bit heavy: easier to steady the camera etc., so I prefer to have 1-3 kilos of lead in trim pockets even if I could manage without it. As for ditching it, 3 kg is not enough to make that much difference. Except maybe in some very special circumstances.

 

[FreeFlyFreak]

How much weight do you currently use with a 3mm and BC?
Take that number, subtract the weight of the plate, subtract another couple of pounds for less buoyant construction.
That'll give you a ballpark starting weight.
Then do a weight check, 15' only reserve gas in the tank. Once you have your weight dialed in.
Find out the correct distribution for good trim.
Could be on tank band(s), could be on harness, on the plate, or on a belt. Wherever you need it for good trim throughout tge dive with varying buoyancy of the tank.

 

[loosenit2]

If you want ditchable weight pockets these are the least expensive ones out there I have found. They slide over 2” webbing well and you can pull the Velcro open to dump weight if desired. I’ve used them this whole season and they work well.

Cave Adventurers - XS Scuba Quick-Release Single Weight Pocket - Marianna, Florida USA - Never Undersold!

 

[llyamah]

How much weight do you currently use with a 3mm and BC?

Honestly I don't know. I could checkmy logbook when I am back home and have access to it but I think it will be pointless anyway as I have lost 15kg of bodyfat since my last dive.

If memory serves me correctly I used about 8kg with a 5mm wet suit but that could be way off the mark.

 

[FreeFlyFreak]

Yeah, if you have lost that much weight since your last dive you are starting from scratch with a bunch of weight checks.

For reference, I am 6' 185lbs with a 3mm rental wetsuit and Al80 I use 7-8 lbs with my 5lb stainless plate.

 

[Fastmarc]

Here's a great tool to help you go in the right direct. It helped need figure out the amount of weight I needed when I switched to BP/W.

Optimal Buoyancy Computer