I recently took the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy class and improved my overall diving skills immensely. However, to achieve a horizontal position in the water, I moved my weight belt high up on my torso (think of old man/nerd pants).
View attachment 196896
Is there a BCD out there that will hold weights in the upper part of the jacket? FYI - I had 6 lbs in each BCD pocket, 10 lbs on my weight belt & 2 lbs on my tank strap. I was diving in warm salt water with a 3mm full wetsuit. I'm about 6'1" & 230 lbs, average build.
Or is there another solution?
The vast majority of back-inflate weight-integrated BCDs have trim pockets in the back, about midway up. Putting some weight up where your lungs are really helps with trim.
However, of course, I'll jump on the BP/W bandwagon with both feet.
A typical BCD is about 4lbs POSITIVE in and of itself. A BP/W with a steel plate is about 6lbs NEGATIVE. Right there you'll take 10lbs off your weightbelt. Then, as someone pointed out above, the weight of the plate is right where your lungs are. So in addition to ditching some lead, you'll improve your trim, since you've not only ditched lead, but also shifted the center of gravity of the lead that remains from your waist to your torso.
Then there's the streamlining benefit of something like this...
as compared to something like THIS...
I'm a NJ wreck diver... and even I don't carry enough crap on a dive to warrant all those clips and straps and buckles and d-rings and pockets!
Last edited: