I have been playing around with the placement of my weights and as I picked up a weight belt I got into a discussion with the shop owner about my weight placement; it got me to thinking that I need more opinions. So here goes....
currently I have a Hog BP/W, 32 lb lift. So my total weight is 6 lb plate, then threaded directly to the BP/W waist band ar two 2 lb bullets against the back, then one XS scuba dump able pocket with a 4 lb hard weight, then threaded directly onto the waist belt is a 4 lb weight. Same configure on right and left side. This is the config when diving my drysu it in Puget Sound. When in Hawaii, only the two pockets switch 3 lb weights are used. This gives me a total of 26 lbs ( not counting any misc. items) of weight when dry and 12 lbs when in warm water.
im pretty sure the weight is spot on as all weight checks and objective actions such dropping at beginning of dive, holding a se and ability to swim it all up with an empty bladder at the end of a dive are all good. whew! Now to the question....
how ow should I config these weights. I will tell you I have tried to place some weight on the tank bands and it was no good. Very top heavy so I abandonded that.
my objective is two fold, ability to dump weight at depth if needed and ability to dump weight on surface so I can float in an emergency, all must be easy, straightforward and safe.
FIRST: my current config I think allows quick, easy and safe dumping of weight at depth. I can dump 4 or 8 lbs quickly and easily. I did not want to dump more than that at depth so as not to rocket up but can do so controlled. However this may not allow me to dump enough if on the surface if needed. I could undo the BP/W waist belt and dump anothe 4 lbs if needed.
OPTION TWO: keep weight pockets on BP/W waist belt. Then under this put a separate waist belt with others weights. This would give me ability to dump 4 or 8 then is it hits the fan, unbuckle other belt and drop another 12 lbs in one shot. This would require undoing the BP/W belt first. Not very intuitive.
OPTION THREE: get bigger pockets on each side, place 10 lbs of weight in each. This would allow me to dump 10 or 20 lbs quickly in any situation. I seem to have a prejudice against this since I think dumping 40 % of my weight at depth could be bad news as I could go up too fast, but would be good on the surface if needed.
if you have made it this far in my post, thank you. So these are my struggles and would love to hear others suggestions about my options or other options I have not considered. I think the issue is primarily when diving dry since all of my goals are met when diving in warm waters.
thanks in advance for any help you could provide.
currently I have a Hog BP/W, 32 lb lift. So my total weight is 6 lb plate, then threaded directly to the BP/W waist band ar two 2 lb bullets against the back, then one XS scuba dump able pocket with a 4 lb hard weight, then threaded directly onto the waist belt is a 4 lb weight. Same configure on right and left side. This is the config when diving my drysu it in Puget Sound. When in Hawaii, only the two pockets switch 3 lb weights are used. This gives me a total of 26 lbs ( not counting any misc. items) of weight when dry and 12 lbs when in warm water.
im pretty sure the weight is spot on as all weight checks and objective actions such dropping at beginning of dive, holding a se and ability to swim it all up with an empty bladder at the end of a dive are all good. whew! Now to the question....
how ow should I config these weights. I will tell you I have tried to place some weight on the tank bands and it was no good. Very top heavy so I abandonded that.
my objective is two fold, ability to dump weight at depth if needed and ability to dump weight on surface so I can float in an emergency, all must be easy, straightforward and safe.
FIRST: my current config I think allows quick, easy and safe dumping of weight at depth. I can dump 4 or 8 lbs quickly and easily. I did not want to dump more than that at depth so as not to rocket up but can do so controlled. However this may not allow me to dump enough if on the surface if needed. I could undo the BP/W waist belt and dump anothe 4 lbs if needed.
OPTION TWO: keep weight pockets on BP/W waist belt. Then under this put a separate waist belt with others weights. This would give me ability to dump 4 or 8 then is it hits the fan, unbuckle other belt and drop another 12 lbs in one shot. This would require undoing the BP/W belt first. Not very intuitive.
OPTION THREE: get bigger pockets on each side, place 10 lbs of weight in each. This would allow me to dump 10 or 20 lbs quickly in any situation. I seem to have a prejudice against this since I think dumping 40 % of my weight at depth could be bad news as I could go up too fast, but would be good on the surface if needed.
if you have made it this far in my post, thank you. So these are my struggles and would love to hear others suggestions about my options or other options I have not considered. I think the issue is primarily when diving dry since all of my goals are met when diving in warm waters.
thanks in advance for any help you could provide.