BC without weight integration.

[av8er23]

My BC is not weight integrated. I have always worn a weightbelt and was thinking about putting some of that weight in my bc pockets in the form of soft weights because it is more comfortable. Is this a bad idea? The way I look at it is even if all the weight was in the bc pockets and worse case say I could not get it out to acomplish an emergency decent, fully inflating my bc and kicking towards the surface will get me up quickly.

 

[DennisS]

As long as you have a plan B when the BC dumps the air as fast as you put it in. Rip, torn hose, stuck valve etc

 

[waterwraith]

My BC is not weight integrated. I have always worn a weightbelt and was thinking about putting some of that weight in my bc pockets in the form of soft weights because it is more comfortable. Is this a bad idea? The way I look at it is even if all the weight was in the bc pockets and worse case say I could not get it out to acomplish an emergency decent, fully inflating my bc and kicking towards the surface will get me up quickly.

If your BC fails and you start sinking you would be hard pressed to open those pockets and get the weight out. I have yet to encounter a BC that has pockets that are easy to get into especially if you are wearing gloves. Your comfort is not worth risking your life over.

 

[av8er23]

What are the chances of the bc getting torn at the same time you run out of air. you would have to be an idot to run out of air in the first place. Is there any other reason to do an emergency decent besides running out of air?

 

[av8er23]

water wraith,

You do have a good point there. but don't you think that you can maintain netural or even postive bouncey by just kicking your fins?

 

[damsel]

My BC has non-dumpable weight pockets in addition to the integrated weight pockets, as do some others I've seen. They help distribute weight, keeping you horizontal. I don't see why putting weights in your BC pocket shouldn't be precisely the same, in principle, as long as you still wear most of the weight on a belt. Out of curiosity, how much are you diving with, and have you considered trying a padded weightbelt instead?

 

[DeepTrip]

I agree with damsel. Some BC has non-ditchable weight pocket, with ditchable pocket. if you really use a lot of weight, then it might be worth distributing your weight, say, 50% to the pocket and 50% in the belt. Just make sure that you will gain positive buoyancy when you dump your belt.

But if you only use small ammount of weight, which might make it imposible to distribute, then it will depends on how much you value comfort vs security.

 

[MechDiver]

BC pockets aren't made to carry weights. They're not strong enough, and in most cases, difficult to access. And, as most rec BCs have bladders under the pockets, the weights will keep the BC from fully inflating.

Either get a WI BC or use a weightbelt. Or, better yet, get a SS backplate and weighted STA. You could also get a DUI weight harness. A little searching on the board would give you many better options.

Right tool for the job.

MD

 

[jbichsel]

Personally, I see no reason to EVER perform an "emergency decent" (SP - descent).

Now an emergency 'ascent' would be a different matter.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

As earlier suggested, try a padded belt. Are you currently using the standard 2-inch with hard weights? There are belts with pockets made for holding soft weights, and they also have some pretty good padding. Try one of those before you try your idea.