This is a useful thread for newer divers, in particular, and hopefully a number of them will read it. Thanks for starting the discussion by sharing your experience.
But, what else can you do, in addition to purchasing a traditional web belt, going forward?
1. The trim pockets you have already ordered are a GREAT idea. In addition to moving weight off the belt, you are moving it 'up', toward your head which should help with your trim. Most / many new divers, end up training in, and adopting after certification (because they don't know any better, and weren't taught any better), a 45 degree head up posture in the water, which is simply poor form (and extensively discussed elsewhere on SB in other threads). But, it is an understandable consequence of putting possibly too much weight on the waist, so that weight is lower on the body than the point (center) of primary lift. Many divers benefit from shifting weight off their waist, to a position higher on their body. Trim pockets on the cylinder cam bands are a good way of doing that.
2. If you were using an AL80, consider moving to a steel cylinder (LP or HP) which will also reduce the 'added weight' requirement, essentially shifting some weight from your belt to your back, and also to a point higher on your body.
3. Move to a less inherently buoyant BCD. I am not trying to open once again the BPW vs jacket BCD debate, instead just pointing out that some units add unnecessarily to your weight requirement, and there are ways to adjust that. You are not diving in warm tropical water, in a shorty. You are in cold water with thick neoprene, so you don't have to worry about being intrinsically over-weighted using a steel plate, or a non-buoyant BCD unit. Many divers unwittingly add substantially to their weight requirement by buying / using a BCD that is uselessly buoyant. It is not a matter of the lift capacity of the BCD at all, rather it is the inherent buoyancy of the unit
4. As an aside, I am not sure which Trident belt you were using - there are three (http://www.tridentdive.com/361-end.pdf) that come to mind. a. The more common one I see (unfortunately), particularly with newer divers, is the neoprene belt. It is a piece of junk, and (like more than a few Trident items, unfortunately) the construction is a bit cheesy, so I would not be altogether surprised if it failed. b. Trident also distributes a somewhat more durable cordura, zippered belt, but that is still a Trident product. c. The other Trident belt is the one with more durable pocket construction. Failure of this one would be less likely, but still possible. In addition, depending on which model - of any of the three - you were using, you may have been exceeding the belt capacity - according to your post, you were wearing 14 kgs, which put you right at / above, the capacity for most of the models. In any event, you were probably pushing the limits of the equipment and I would suggest you are fortunate it failed under relatively controlled conditions, because it gives you the opportunity to move to a better gear configuration.
First, I will echo the comments of others - kudos to you on how you and your buddy handled the situation! It sounds like you kept your wits about you, didn't panic, made a reasonably controlled ascent, and after determining the belt was not repairable, called the dive. So, from my perspective, you handled it appropriately, and I don't know what you might have done differently. While a catastrophic weight belt failure is very uncommon, it does happen.XJJoe01:
If I understood the original question correctly, you asked if you should have handled the situation differently, at the time it occurred. But, at the same time, if your question was (also) directed to your subsequent decision to purchase a 'traditional' web belt, I will add my thoughts to some of the very good suggestions already made.XJJoe01:
As several posters have stated, the goal is to optimize BOTH the actual amount of weight you carry AND the distribution of that weight. You are wearing a moderate amount of neoprene, and that certainly contributes to your weight requirement. I did not see in the thread a more specific description what BCD you are using (other than the initial 'regular BCD' comment), but there are a number of units - jacket and back-inflate alike - that possess inherent, and substantial, positive buoyancy - they have a lot of needless padding, etc., - and that probably added to your weight requirement. I did not see mention of the cylinder you are diving, but as a new diver there is at least a reasonable possibility that you were using an AL80. In any event, I am reluctant to conclude from afar that you were over-weighted - maybe you were (14 kg is quite a bit), maybe you weren't. Recommending a proper weight check is the best course with regard to that issue.XJJoe01:
But, what else can you do, in addition to purchasing a traditional web belt, going forward?
1. The trim pockets you have already ordered are a GREAT idea. In addition to moving weight off the belt, you are moving it 'up', toward your head which should help with your trim. Most / many new divers, end up training in, and adopting after certification (because they don't know any better, and weren't taught any better), a 45 degree head up posture in the water, which is simply poor form (and extensively discussed elsewhere on SB in other threads). But, it is an understandable consequence of putting possibly too much weight on the waist, so that weight is lower on the body than the point (center) of primary lift. Many divers benefit from shifting weight off their waist, to a position higher on their body. Trim pockets on the cylinder cam bands are a good way of doing that.
2. If you were using an AL80, consider moving to a steel cylinder (LP or HP) which will also reduce the 'added weight' requirement, essentially shifting some weight from your belt to your back, and also to a point higher on your body.
3. Move to a less inherently buoyant BCD. I am not trying to open once again the BPW vs jacket BCD debate, instead just pointing out that some units add unnecessarily to your weight requirement, and there are ways to adjust that. You are not diving in warm tropical water, in a shorty. You are in cold water with thick neoprene, so you don't have to worry about being intrinsically over-weighted using a steel plate, or a non-buoyant BCD unit. Many divers unwittingly add substantially to their weight requirement by buying / using a BCD that is uselessly buoyant. It is not a matter of the lift capacity of the BCD at all, rather it is the inherent buoyancy of the unit
4. As an aside, I am not sure which Trident belt you were using - there are three (http://www.tridentdive.com/361-end.pdf) that come to mind. a. The more common one I see (unfortunately), particularly with newer divers, is the neoprene belt. It is a piece of junk, and (like more than a few Trident items, unfortunately) the construction is a bit cheesy, so I would not be altogether surprised if it failed. b. Trident also distributes a somewhat more durable cordura, zippered belt, but that is still a Trident product. c. The other Trident belt is the one with more durable pocket construction. Failure of this one would be less likely, but still possible. In addition, depending on which model - of any of the three - you were using, you may have been exceeding the belt capacity - according to your post, you were wearing 14 kgs, which put you right at / above, the capacity for most of the models. In any event, you were probably pushing the limits of the equipment and I would suggest you are fortunate it failed under relatively controlled conditions, because it gives you the opportunity to move to a better gear configuration.
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