Back inflate BCs

[love2godeep]

I just purchased a back-inflate BC (Scubapro Ladyhawk). It seemed like it would be just right for me, although the LDS said I'd have a hard time keeping my head up on the surface.

Actually, it worked beautifully, and I was fine on the surface. Below the surface, it was so comfortable, I hardly felt like I was wearing a BC. After a lot of awful rental BCs, it was such a pleasure to wear my LadyHawk.

I put all my weights in the integrated weight pouches, but now I'm wondering what would happen if I put a pound or so in each of the shoulder pockets. I tend to be very buoyant, and so use a fair amount of weight (6-7 kg with a 3ml wetsuit). I'm 5'6", 120 pounds.

I'd appreciate input from any of you who have used the back-inflate BCs.

 

[japan-diver]

Using the trim pockets may help you attain a better position in the water so go ahead and try it. I would also work on trimming a little of that weight off 6-7kg in a 3mil is a little heavy. As you dive more you will probably find that you can take a few kilos off. Experiment with a 1/2 kg to 1kg less and see how the dive goes.
Remember neutral at 15ft with 500psi or less in the tank is correct.

 

[anemony]

I am 5'6", 130 pound and also use Ladyhawk. I dive with 3mm long wetsuit and put 4 kg weight in my bc, 2 kg each side. The only time I have to be careful with buoyancy is when I do safty stop with little air left. But with experience, I can blow all air out of my body and maintain buoyancy at 5 meter safty stop. I would be hard if you need to use sausage.

 

[H2Andy]

i don't now how useful this will be to you, but here is a chart that breaks
down each component in your gear and how to weight yourself accordingly.

yes, it's from Rodales, but even they get it right sometimes.

:54:

Weight Chart

also, when i did my cavern training, i had a little bit of trouble staying
in horizontal trim, so the instructor asked me to put some weight on my
BC trim pockets and to move my BC down on the tank (lower).

i put four pounds on the trim pockets (2 lbs on each side) and lowered the
BC on the tank, and it worked. after that, staying horizontal was no
problem at all.