Drop weights

[adm3745]

What depth is most common for hanging drop weights so that a smooth transition can be made to safety stop. Maybe more appropriately, what depth gap should I leave for suit buoyancy to safely get to 15 ft. At what point does it get to difficult to safely switch? I'm diving SS BP LP 108, 5mm full, and maybe a weighted STA. I'm reluctant to add the STA because on a full tank at 100 ft, I could be close to 25-30lbs negative.
Right now I max out at -14 lbs (3mm shorty). Anyway, all opinions on drop weights would be appreciated.

 

[Dive-aholic]

You seem very overweighted, especially in a 5mm. As for drop weights, I don't use them. I dive a harness pack and my bottles and am still slightly overweighted. I have no weight I can drop.

 

[UCFKnightDiver]

As Dive-aholic said, I am already overweighted so dont use drop weights.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I use a Lp95, SS plate and no weights in a 5mm and like the others I'm heavy. What are your personal stats- height, weight, body type, etc. What method are you using for determining your weighting requirements?

 

[Meng_Tze]

Is this in the right section : Cave Diving?

 

[adm3745]

I put in Cave section because I thought it was most common place to use Drop weights.

I havn't dove my 5mm full yet so I very well could be overweighted on an empty tank.
I'm 6' 0'' , 195, athletic...

If when I get it, i'm neutral There shouldn't be a problem. For a better example say I'm in a semi dry or 2 piece 7mm. You know you'll be positive at surface wthout weight, and you'll also be extremely negative at +100 ft.

Then how would you handle taking weight off the rig and applying drop weights to avoid both of those bad situations.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I know of one person who uses drop-weights in caves, and he's not exactly trained to current American standards.

I used to dive an Aluminum BP with doubles and a 3mm, then a 5mm, and was always plenty heavy.




I'm thinking this is a non-issue all together.

 

[ucfdiver]

I put in Cave section because I thought it was most common place to use Drop weights.

I havn't dove my 5mm full yet so I very well could be overweighted on an empty tank.
I'm 6' 0'' , 195, athletic...

If when I get it, i'm neutral There shouldn't be a problem. For a better example say I'm in a semi dry or 2 piece 7mm. You know you'll be positive at surface wthout weight, and you'll also be extremely negative at +100 ft.

Then how would you handle taking weight off the rig and applying drop weights to avoid both of those bad situations.

There seem to be two methods cave divers use.

A- Ignore the fact that you're overweight (This is a very popular choice, see above posts).
B- Seek redundant buoyancy with a dual bladder wing or drysuit.

 

[theskull]

Being a little overweighted often comes in quite handy in cave diving -- as many caves have a strong outward flow of water that you need to push down through to get into the cave, and that same flow wanting to kick you out of the cave during your safety/deco stop.

Drop weights were in favor for Cave divers back in the days before buoyancy compensators were common. So the weight used to descend became a liability when you wanted to swim at depth and maintain good control with your compressed wet suit. With a good BC, wing, or drysuit it simply is not an issue any more.

theskull

 

[Dive-aholic]

I put in Cave section because I thought it was most common place to use Drop weights.

I havn't dove my 5mm full yet so I very well could be overweighted on an empty tank.
I'm 6' 0'' , 195, athletic...

If when I get it, i'm neutral There shouldn't be a problem. For a better example say I'm in a semi dry or 2 piece 7mm. You know you'll be positive at surface wthout weight, and you'll also be extremely negative at +100 ft.

Then how would you handle taking weight off the rig and applying drop weights to avoid both of those bad situations.

I'm 6'0" 205 and...okay not so athletic... and I am not positive at the surface in my 8/6 with 85s or even in my dry suit with no air in it. My advice is to put the buoyancy calculation worksheet away and get in the water in the different suits. You should find you won't have any weights you can drop.