Boyancy Question regarding extra equipment

[EvaL]

I echo the other posters above. My 4 D-cell flashlight and camera+strobe are nearly neutrally buoyant. In fact the latter is slightly buoyant. Unless you're using professional UW photo equipment or lights, I doubt if they need to be factored into your calculations. The only piece of gear I add to my calculations is my pony tank (4 pounds negative). I do try to distribute the weights and camera, light, and pony tank (all clipped to my BCD's D-rings at different places) evenly so I am balanced.
In an emergency (such as BC failure), I'll release my weights, and if I really need to, my pony (assuming air supply is not an issue). I won't bother with dumping items of of negligible buoyancy so long as they are clipped to me, unless they are in my way.
Dive safely.

 

[SuSexFulDiver]

Hmmm, Very interesting. I was just wondering how most deal with this type of situation. I have not encountered it yet obviously, but I was wondering. Thanks for the replys.

 

[spectrum]

Hmmm, Very interesting. I was just wondering how most deal with this type of situation. I have not encountered it yet obviously, but I was wondering. Thanks for the replys.

Keep thinking about theses sorts of details, that's how we learn. Have you started classes yet?

To reiterate a point, be sure you understand the difference between buoyancy and weight.

Pete

 

[halocline]

Reducing the amount of ditchable lead will not make a difference if you need "emergency" buoyancy; you're still left with zero lead after you ditch. If you need to drop the camera/light in order to surface, you'll need to do that whether you've left 5 or 25Lbs on the bottom.

As many have said, you want to adjust weight for neutral buoyancy at the end of the dive; this makes you (more or less) 4 lbs negative at the beginning. There's almost never a reason you would need to drop that 4 lbs. Maybe the most common one would be forgetting to turn your air on, then getting in the water, realizing you can't inflate the BC, and having a small panic. Still, unless you're severly overweighted or otherwise impaired, you should be able to fin enough to stay surfaced long enough to orally inflate the BC. Of course this whole scenario can be avoided simply by remembering to check your air and partially inflate your BC before entering the water.

Most divers, when they get some experience, realize that ditchable weights are simply not needed in most recreational diving situations; in fact, you're more likely to get injured from a runaway ascent from accidentally dropping weights than getting pinned under the surface because you couldn't ditch weights.