emeshuris
Registered
I use these, they thread easily and bolt into the plate. No movement at all. Also you get a D ring on each. http://shop.scubatude.com/images/jt-wp-5 tech weight pocket(1).jpg
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So I waded through this thread, interesting discussions for sure. But... I look at the OP situation. He was diving in the Caribbean, using a DSS steel plate and then adding 10 lbs?
He never mentioned what wetsuit he was diving, or at least I don't remember seeing it.
It sounds to me like the OP is a bit over weighted. At 20 dives I went to Cozumel. I was using 14 in an Oceanic Excursion II (buoyant BC with no weight) and that was more than enough. (2 mil shorty) Went to Hawaii after that and cut that down to 12.
Fast forward to this year, went diving out of Panama City Beach. Now a steel plate, 5.5 lbs, and used 4 lbs and had no issue holding a safety stop, may have been able to drop another 2, but seemed pretty dialed in. Those 4 lbs were non ditchable. Actually threaded them on the lower cam band.
As a side note, does anyone else do that? I don't really see the need to attach pockets to the cam band when I can thread the weight right on the band.
In my regular cold water diving with more exposure protection, I then go to 10 lbs. on a rubber weight belt, love that.
So I waded through this thread, interesting discussions for sure. But... I look at the OP situation. He was diving in the Caribbean, using a DSS steel plate and then adding 10 lbs?
I use these, they thread easily and bolt into the plate. No movement at all. Also you get a D ring on each. http://shop.scubatude.com/images/jt-wp-5 tech weight pocket(1).jpg
Threading the weights directly on the cam band impacts the grip it has on the tank much more than a pocket would. In addition, it can damage the finish on the tank.
Yes they are a bit expensive, but they are well made. I paid 50$ for both. The xscuba pockets break very quickly if you use them.
I was wearing a new 3/2 full suit. I did 4 ocean dives. I started with 6 pounds. I was swimming head down to hold a SS at the end. I went to 8 pounds for the next dive and that seemed okay, but it was so shallow, I didn't really have to do a SS at the end, and I ended up getting out with close to 1000 psi left, so I though 8 was okay. The next dive (2 days later), I went with 8 #. At the end, I was down to about 400 psi and I ended up gradually floating to the surface when I should have been holding my SS. It was difficult to swim back down. A full exhale was not enough by itself. The last dive, I went with 10 # and it seemed perfect. No trouble at all just hanging out at 15' depth at the end.
So, I don't *think* I was overweighted. I was definitely surprised it took that much weight. I took the exact same rig to the pool before I went to MX and in the pool I had no weight at all (other than the SS BP, obviously) and seemed slightly overweighted. Though, in the pool, I did not dump my air to get the tank down to 500 psi. I got out of the pool with 1300 - 1400 psi left. Based on that and input from here on SB, I was expecting to only use 4 - 6 # in the ocean - which is why I started with 6 on the first dive.
My suit seems to seal very well, so it may also be the case that I was swimming with some air trapped in it. The very first dive, as I was trying to get down (with 6 #), the DM swam up behind me and pulled on the back of the neck of my suit to "burp" it. I could feel a decent little chunk of air come out then.
air doesn't insulate particularly well, water does
I think in time you will shed a couple more pounds of lead. But don't sweat it. You seem to be doing GREAT.