almost tragic ending

[rdunncpa]

I surfaced from a dive yesterday and I used a weight belt though my BC has weight pockets front and rear. My belt turned around and the heaviest weights were in front of my. With my BC full of air, I was being forced into a face down position, breathing on a snorkel, waiting for the pick-up on a drift dive. Thank goodness my buddy steadied me so I could keep my head up. I couldn't drop my weights because the buckle was around the back and I couldn't turn the belt. I had 500psi left and didn't want to go to the air until the boat came; I was unsure about how much air I'd use whilw waiting.

Has anyone ever seen this problem before. I wanted to use the weight belt because lifting the loaded BC over the tank with 10-12lbs of lead is difficult at best on a pitching boat.

I think had I readjusted the belt at the bottom, I'd have been fine. Maybe I should put some weight in the "trim" pockets (non-droppable) in the back of the BC to compenaste for the positive push of a near-empty cylinder.

Thaoughts and comments appreciated.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I surfaced from a dive yesterday and I used a weight belt though my BC has weight pockets front and rear. My belt turned around and the heaviest weights were in front of my. With my BC full of air, I was being forced into a face down position, breathing on a snorkel, waiting for the pick-up on a drift dive. Thank goodness my buddy steadied me so I could keep my head up. I couldn't drop my weights because the buckle was around the back and I couldn't turn the belt. I had 500psi left and didn't want to go to the air until the boat came; I was unsure about how much air I'd use whilw waiting.

Has anyone ever seen this problem before. I wanted to use the weight belt because lifting the loaded BC over the tank with 10-12lbs of lead is difficult at best on a pitching boat.

I think had I readjusted the belt at the bottom, I'd have been fine. Maybe I should put some weight in the "trim" pockets (non-droppable) in the back of the BC to compenaste for the positive push of a near-empty cylinder.

Thaoughts and comments appreciated.

First thought: Are you correctly weighted? Does your BC have a crotch strap? Over weighed at the surface + too much air in the BC, with no crotch strap often makes the BC rise out of the water without lifting you.

Second thought: Your buddy couldn't reach the weight belt buckle? No knife, z knife, no shears?


Maybe some pool time to sort out your setup.



Regards,



Tobin

 

[opiniongirl]

Here here!

But - I hate weightbelts, so...

Try putting the bc on the tank first, and then putting the weights in (then you don't have to lift the weighted bc for assembly)

You can put on your unit while in a sitting position, so your buddy dosen't have to lift the unit up for you.

Once you've ended the dive, you can climb up the swim ladder with everything on, or just pass your weights up to the crew, then get out.

 

[jamiep3]

A couple of thiughts.

1. If you are using a back inflation BC, I would suggest using 20 - 25% of your weight in the trim pockets for balance. I use 18 - 20 pounds with my 7mm suit and usually put a 3 pound weight in each trim pocket, leaving me 14 to drop if needed.

2. If you need your BC full of air at the end of the dive, you are probably over weighted. Again if you are using a back inflation model, you might try letting out some air.

Finally, if you can get to a pool, or even a more controlled open water enviroment, (lake, quarry, etc.) you may just need to play around with your weights. I know that with my first back style bc, it took probably 6-8 dives, before I really had weight distribution dialed in.

Hope this helps.

 

[ShakaZulu]

Don't put so much air in your BC, just enough to float head out of the water. Don't know how much weight you are diving, but it sounds like a lot if you could not get yourself verticle. Remove at least 100lbs from your belt.

 

[scubasean]

Remove at least 100lbs from your belt.

:banana:

 

[jagfish]

Glad you can chalk this one up to experience relatively unscathed. Also looks like you have lots of good advice on how to suss out your weighting options.

On this...

I had 500psi left and didn't want to go to the air until the boat came; I was unsure about how much air I'd use whilw waiting.

It seems like you were avoiding using your air, though I am not clear why you would need it when the boat came. Anyway, if you are ever in a situation like that again, use your air so you can take your time to fix your problem with your head underwater (to turn the weight belt, ditch it, or just breath and relax to think about your next step). If you were saving your last 500 psi for a "rainy day", it sounds like it was coming down pretty good as you described...use your air until you can get your situation stabilized.

Remember, as unbeliveable as it seems, most serious problems for divers happen on the surface.

JAG

 

[theskull]

1. Should be able to adjust weight belt at surface or at depth--remove, replace, twist.

2. When at surface with back-inflate lean back and float on your back. As has been said, do not overinflate. This does presuppose you are not overweighted.

3. Spend some time practicing your basic skills and adjusting weight in an easy open water environment before going boat diving.

Dive safe,
theskull

 

[So Cal Divin]

rdunncpa

To address your belt problem you should think about this
http://www.spearfishinggear.com/Mer...reen=PROD&Product_Code=MWB57&Category_Code=WB
Freedivers use them.
The problem is that your nylon weight belt doesn't compensate for your suit compressing at depth, which causes the belt to shift around. Rubber belts don't have that problem. They're also easier to don and doff. Donning is as easy as putting on a belt, no buckle to search for. Doffing is as simple as tugging on the belt. It has a springy tongue and the rubber springs the belt off and away.
Some freedivers will release the belt on ascent from a deep dive in case they encounter Shallow Water Blackout. This way if they blackout before they surface the belt will drop and they'll float to the surface.
I've wondered why more divers and DIR haven't adopted it as a safety device.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

 

[verona]

Thank goodness my buddy steadied me so I could keep my head up. I couldn't drop my weights because the buckle was around the back and I couldn't turn the belt..

Why did you not get your buddy to sort the belt or at least drop weights?