Ankle weights?

[NTSilver]

floridasungirl
I had the same issue and when I started in my DM class recently the instructor told me "I need to get it under control." When we were doing skills my fins (scubapro twin jets) were flying up behind me. I came home crying to my husband that I needed to get ankle weights and he suggested I try a pair of scubapro jetfin classics that he had gotten on ebay that were too small for him. For me - problem solved - $25.

 

[Thalassamania]

Kind of an old thread but I think I might try pulling some of your weight out of the integrated pockets and putting it on a belt, then wear the belt slung low over the ... um... buoyant area. Total cost about $12-15 for three feet of webbing and a steel buckle.

Try 2# in each front pocket. Put the balance of the weight on the belt and snug it around towards the back against the tank. From there move a couple of pounds at a time toward trim pockets or tank straps as needed to balance you out horizontally. It may take a couple of dives to get it sorted out like you like.

The suggested Jet fins with spring straps are a good idea as well but significantly more expensive and your legs and finning technique may not be in good enough shape to handle them yet.

Please ... don't use those death traps. Get a rubber belt with a wire buckle, self compensating too boot.

 

[ZzzKing]

Please ... don't use those death traps. Get a rubber belt with a wire buckle, self compensating too boot.

I learned on the internet that you'd die if you used a rubber weight belt.

 

[Thalassamania]

I'm exaggerating a little for effect. Over the years we've had so many failures (well, maybe a half dozen) of the thread through buckles (usually the tongue falling out) that we banned them. Instead we use either a rubber belt with a wire buckle or the SeaQuest style buckle. Both are available through any dive shop from the Trident catalog.

 

[40Fathoms]

I have dived with both the webbing style belts and the rubber ones with wire buckles (the latter is called a Marseillese in France as they believe them originate from there) and I must say that I definitely prefer the latter. One, the rubber belt is much more comfortable, two, I've seen a couple of failures on the webbing ones, but never on the rubber ones.

As for the ankle weights question, floridasungirl, I agree with the above answers. Ankle weights can be a solution, but try adjusting other things, such as tank placement etc. before buying new gear.

 

[Thalassamania]

The Marseillese typically has a standard belt buckle with holes in the belt, the belts I'm referring to are somewhat stretchier and use a bent wire buckle on both sides.

 

[cmburch]

The easiest cheapest solution may be the ankle weights and/or weight belt. But these can be borrowed and tried out rather than purchasing. I have used ankle weights because I had so much weight on my belt to get some of the weight redistributed off my waist when hiking to the water. The nylon/velcro ankle weights were not very noticeable underwater, but flopped around a bit when surface swimming. As for neutral to negatively buoyant fins, I tend to like the heavier negatively buoyant fins, but have been also using the neutrally buoyant fin and have not noticed much difference in trim.

As for weight belts mentioned. It seems somewhat confusing. Obviously the rubber belts come in different qualities from different manufacturers and will crack/rot over time. So the nylon webbing belts may last longer. The Marseilles belts in the US for freediving really come in varying prices and qualities. Some crack very early, but still seem to last.

Rubber Belt Wire Buckle

Marseilles Weightbelt

I just have a rubber with steel quick release

 

[ZzzKing]

I'm exaggerating a little for effect. Over the years we've had so many failures (well, maybe a half dozen) of the thread through buckles (usually the tongue falling out) that we banned them. Instead we use either a rubber belt with a wire buckle or the SeaQuest style buckle. Both are available through any dive shop from the Trident catalog.

Were those failures with a steel buckle or a plastic one? Both? Mine all seem pretty secure. I don't typically have more than 4-6# on there so they don't get much stress. I'll probably be using a little more belt weight in the future w/ a drysuit so I'll monitor it closely.

Seems we've wandered pretty far afield of the OP's question here...

PS - That OMER belt looks quite stylish. You could dive it all day then wear it to dinner in the evening!

 

[Thalassamania]

Both, the problem is the wings that come up and capture the prongs on the tongue spread over time and then the tongue falls out.

 

[Cathy Church]

If you still have not solved the problem of your legs floating higher than your head, let me add a few more cents worth. You are subject to gravity, so look at your system and ask what floats and what sinks. If you are wearing booties with your fins, your feet may float unless you use ankle weights. Use small ones--one pound on each ankle and then take the equivalent weight off of your belt. If you are always head down, then you may need to add a little weight. Are you holding a camera? That may also pull you down in the front and the solution may again be to use the ankle weights. Keep the weight at your waist, but not up near the top of the tank.