Abandon weight belt?

[Fastmarc]

Hi. Just a quick question about something I'm considering.
When I first started diving, I used a typical dive set-up with BCD and weight belt. Not soon after I started, I got another BCD that had an integrated weight system, but I still continued to use the belt.
I eventually moved 5 lbs of the weight to a pair of weight pockets on the back of the BCD on either side of the tank to help with trim. This left me with a pair of 3 lbs on my belt.
I am now considering moving these weights to the integrated weight system on the BCD which can still be dumped if needed.
The only negative I can think of is that it may make donning my BCD a bit harder due to the added weight. Also, most of the dives I do is via a boat that I have to do a back roll out of. This would make it more difficult for the person I hand over my BCD with tank before getting into the boat. I figured I could remove the weight compartment prior and tossing it into the boat prior to handing it over. For putting on the BCD, maybe putting in the weight compartments after?
Does this make any sense?

 

[MantaRey]

It does make sense. My buddy always complains about having to pull up the camera and than my heavy setup right after. heh. Putting it on is easy, just put the weights in after you have the BC on. But the coming out of the water is a tough one. I've thought about pulling out the weights and tossing them into the boat. But there's a chance you'll drop the pockets. Maybe I should just get a ladder. heh.

But we just deal. At least my BC has a handle on the backplate part so it makes it a tad easier to grip. It is heavy, but it's a great workout.

IMO I definitely think the integrated is worth it though. It's one less thing to adjust, and it's still easy to ditch if needed.

 

[Scubaguy62]

You're on the right track Fastmarc. I stopped diving with a weight belt when I bought my first BC. What I do now is to place an amount equal to, or perhaps no more than 2 pounds heavier on the trim pockets than on the ditchable pockets. This way, if I ever have to ditch my weights to make an emergency ascent, I still have enough weight to prevent a runaway ascent, yet ascend as quickly as possible.

 

[Matsya]

Hi. Just a quick question about something I'm considering.
When I first started diving, I used a typical dive set-up with BCD and weight belt. Not soon after I started, I got another BCD that had an integrated weight system, but I still continued to use the belt.
I eventually moved 5 lbs of the weight to a pair of weight pockets on the back of the BCD on either side of the tank to help with trim. This left me with a pair of 3 lbs on my belt.
I am now considering moving these weights to the integrated weight system on the BCD which can still be dumped if needed.
The only negative I can think of is that it may make donning my BCD a bit harder due to the added weight. Also, most of the dives I do is via a boat that I have to do a back roll out of. This would make it more difficult for the person I hand over my BCD with tank before getting into the boat. I figured I could remove the weight compartment prior and tossing it into the boat prior to handing it over. For putting on the BCD, maybe putting in the weight compartments after?
Does this make any sense?

On dive boat I think it is considered a matter of courtesy to remove the integrated weights and hand them up to the boat crew before removing and handing over the BCD.
I carry around 12 pounds - 8 in the integrated weight system and 4 in the trim pockets.
I initially used to pull out the weights and hand them up to the boat but then I found that quite a few divers just haul themselves up into the boat BCD, tank, weights and all and I have started doing that now.
I found it a little difficult to put the weight pocket into the BCD after donning. So now I don the BCD after putting the weights in.
I definitely prefer an integrated BCD to a weight belt.

 

[boulderjohn]

As Ramsabi said, in the case where you are handing your BCD up to the crew, hand up the integrated weights first.

Also, if you are on a boat that has clips holding the tanks on the wall rather than bungees or a slot to put the tanks in, you might want to leave the integrated pockets out until the last minute, as the extra weight can pull the tank loose with the normal motion of the boat.

I once was on a boat where the DM told us that we should use weight belts because that way if we ever need a tourniquet, we could use the weight belt.

He was serious.

 

[BarryNL]

The only negative I can think of is that it may make donning my BCD a bit harder due to the added weight. Also, most of the dives I do is via a boat that I have to do a back roll out of. This would make it more difficult for the person I hand over my BCD with tank before getting into the boat. I figured I could remove the weight compartment prior and tossing it into the boat prior to handing it over. For putting on the BCD, maybe putting in the weight compartments after?
Does this make any sense?

I wouldn't worry too much. I dive with a steel backplate and 15 litre steel tank. The guys in the dive boat seem to get that on board without too many problems!

Hell, often I'm the only person on the boat NOT handing up a set of double steel 12s

 

[ocrmaster]

It should like your using a lot of weights.

The OMS SS Backplate is 6 lbs and the Single Tank Adaptor is 3 lbs.

Now if you add your Titanium Knife, BC Knife, SMB, Reel, Flashlight, and etc. wouldn't that be enough to sink you?

I found that quite a few divers just haul themselves up into the boat BCD, tank, weights and all

Yup that is what we do too.

 

[m3830431]

The only time I was on a dive boat charter they never gave me a chance to hand them the weights they had my BC off before my second foot hit the deck.

 

[MantaRey]

Well he did say on a boat that he has to do a back roll over. So I'm guessing that means a small boat with no board or ladder. In which I sure can't pull myself over the side of a boat like that. Although, on a very calm day I can come up by placing a foot on the engine mount and doing a pushup on the stern.

 

[Daner]

I wear 16 pounds on my beld and 8 pounds in my BC. (2 piece 7 mil and aluminum tank) I could put more in my BC but I like to hang my BC up between dives and the integrated weight means you need a super duty clothesline that isn't always available. I find it is just easier to have the lead on a belt than add and dump weight from the BC before and after every dive.