Can BC compensate for weight?....

[Deano2]

Greetings everyone. I haven't dived for a few months but the last time was in a warm water climate. I used a light weight BC (Mares light weight Vector type) for tropical water that was easier to travel with as it is small and light weight. Worked great too. I'd like to use it at home but dive buddies and stores give conflicting information.

Is this same BC capable of bouyancy with more weight when diving with a dry suit in colder water? I am not sure what the considerations are so if anyone has any words of advise......

 

[kidspot]

Depending which vector, the Vector Origin has 26lbs of lift, the Pro has 30lbs of lift and the MRS has 37lbs of lift. You might need to specify which of these you have for folks to give you a better idea of your needs, along with how much lead you wear, and type of tanks, etc..

Aloha, Tim

 

[Deano2]

As far as I know it says Vector but I will go to the garage and check. I'll let you know tomorrow.

 

[miketsp]

All the BCs in our family, including my son's Vector have a label with the lift capacity which will depend on the size, S, M, L, XL.

 

[Deano2]

Aloha Tim,

I checked it's a Mares Vector Orgin (large size and black to be more specific). Any idea what the load/lift is for this BC?

 

[Deano2]

Thanks Mike, I didn't know that. I'll have a look in my BC.

 

[kidspot]

12 kilogram lift or 26.4554715 pounds (according to Googles weight conversion calculator )

So you'd have to figure out if that is enough to support all your gear at the surface without you in it (If I remember the advice given to me by others on the SB correctly) If it cannot support your gear, then it's not enough. I don't dive dry, and don't know the weighting considerations - however I do believe there are several Pacific NW divers on the board that dive dry and use the venture wing, which is 30 pounds of lift. Hopefully some of them chime in with more practical advice based upon personal experience.

Tim

P.S. you might do a search on "wing size" or "wing lift" because I believe there was a discussion about this very thing on one of those threads. And lift should be lift weather it's a back inflate or jacket style BC.

 

[donacheson]

12 kilogram lift or 26.4554715 pounds (according to Googles weight conversion calculator )

So you'd have to figure out if that is enough to support all your gear at the surface without you in it (If I remember the advice given to me by others on the SB correctly) If it cannot support your gear, then it's not enough. I don't dive dry, and don't know the weighting considerations - however I do believe there are several Pacific NW divers on the board that dive dry and use the venture wing, which is 30 pounds of lift. Hopefully some of them chime in with more practical advice based upon personal experience.

...

Actually, worst case is probably at the beginning of a deep dive. The diver's tank(s) will be nearly full of air (5 or 6 pounds) and wet suit compression maximum (15 or more pounds for a 6mm suit at 100 feet). Assuming the diver is minimally weighted (neutral with an empty BC and near empty tank just below the surface), the BC would have to provide at least 20 pounds of buoyancy early in the dive. More for a heavier or very large wet suit, doubles, etc. The situation is more complex if diving with a drysuit, but even more lift could be required.

 

[kidspot]

Just curious but with a drysuit, wouldn't there be little/no compression? I'm not saying one way or another, just trying to learn myself (which is why I was hoping someone with more experience would chime in)

Thanks, Tim

 

[donacheson]

Just curious but with a drysuit, wouldn't there be little/no compression? I'm not saying one way or another, just trying to learn myself (which is why I was hoping someone with more experience would chime in)

Thanks, Tim

If the drysuit is made of foam, then that compresses as well whatever gas is in the suit. If a shell suit, the gas in the suit (used/needed for insulation) will compress.