Weight Pockets

[Silty Sam]

Yeah, but - while intentionally dumping your weights in an emergency situation may be rare, it's not too unusual to jump off a boat without properly securing them, and have one fall to the bottom of the dive site, or a similar scenario, especially if you are relatively new to diving.

So, you could spend the money and carry an extra set, and we are not scuba divers if we don't like to spend money, or as boulderjohn says above, a weight belt is almost always a close-at-hand substitute that works just as well.

 

[stever2002]

... and we are not scuba divers if we don't like to spend money...

True That!

And don't forget "Gadget Freaks!"

Thanks again for the great feedback.

-PH

 

[dmaziuk]

Some weight pockets (e.g., Zeagle) have a zippered top which you unzip to add the weight and then zip back up. The bottom of the pocket is a flap that is held closed by a velcro strap. If you need to drop the weight you just pull the velcro strap open and the weight falls out. pocket does not go anywhere. Bottom can be closed up again for your next dive.

I think there's also a system where a cable keeps that flap closed, you pull it, the weights fall out. You re-thread the cable afterwards.
Cressi aquapro pockets are open-end that kind of "roll up". When you pull the release it "rolls down" under its weight and the lead falls out.

 

[boulderjohn]

I think there's also a system where a cable keeps that flap closed, you pull it, the weights fall out. You re-thread the cable afterwards.
Cressi aquapro pockets are open-end that kind of "roll up". When you pull the release it "rolls down" under its weight and the lead falls out.

Actually, it is the Zeagle that has the cable woven through the bottom of the pockets so that when you pull out the cable, the weights fall out the bottom.

 

[mi000ke]

Actually, it is the Zeagle that has the cable woven through the bottom of the pockets so that when you pull out the cable, the weights fall out the bottom.

Zeagle offers both the standard velcro pouch ("ziptouch") and the cable release ("ripcord"). I opted for simplicity of ziptouch and the ability to dump just one pocket if needed.

 

[jonhall]

Has anyone purchased a spare set of pockets, or am I over thinking this?

Think you're overthinking it. Not saying it doesn't happen, but in all of the trips I've been on, I've never seen anyone have to dump their integrated weights (pockets.) I did catch another diver's pocket that somehow came out near the end of a dive once. Not sure they had the pouch clicked in, but it was accidental and not an emergency weight dump. Figured if I ever had to dump mine, someone would go back down and retrieve them. In 7 years, I guess I've saved $50 by not purchasing spares. As I try to travel light, I'm also not carrying extra stuff just to back up what I do my best to take care of.

If I lost one of my integrated weight pockets, I would probably try and improvise by putting weights in the BC pocket or attaching them somewhere around BC so trim is not too affected. If you're diving from a boat, the op usually has a spare belt along with the weights.

 

[decompression]

Here's another view point.......it's called a balanced rig.......your equipment and lead are balanced so there is no need to ditch weights. Although, using this technique you can rig it so it does have some ditch-able weights but far less than the 20 to 30 lbs of most bcds. The accent rate of ditching 2 lbs vs 30 lbs is considerable as you can imagine.

 

[Alastor]

It happened that, when my buddy recovered the BCD from the boat in the evening, one of the pocket was missing ... we continue the days without it..
Once at home she bought another set (2) of pockets ...
Now we use the third one as spare...