DIR Dumpable weight?

[fweber]

O.K.
I'm reading the fundementals book and they start to discuss non overhead, warm and wet dives. This combo will often times lead to a situation where you might want ditchable weight to allow swimming the rig up. There are pictures and mention of the Halcyon ACB weight system, complete with fastex buckles and weight pouches. Does this mean that such a system would be considered DIR or would some say no?
Fred

 

[Uncle Pug]

Not that I know. My fundamentals *book* doesn't have pictures (pre-publication copy) so I can't check but I have never heard that the ABCs are DIR.

 

[ElectricZombie]

There is some mention of the ACB pockets in the DIR-F book, but I don't consider them DIR at all. They are overly complicated and clutter the rig around the waist. When I need extra weight, I just use a weightbelt. As long as the rig is balanced and swimmable up from depth, the weight being ditchable doesn't really matter.

 

[BradJ]

I'm confussed. It seems like there's little "documented" DIR standards as it is: i.e. take the class and then you'll learn it. And yet a system that is not only described, but illustrated and refered to by individual manufacturer and model in the only DIR manual I know of isn't DIR.
Please explain.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Don't get wrapped too tight about 'Doing It Right'. Wet, warm, clear, shallow, fun non-overhead-type dives require different equipment than cold, dark, deep, overhead-oriented dives. Read what Jarrod is saying. If you need weight, you need the weight. If you want it ditchable, wear a weightbelt. If you don't care, wear a weighted STA, a heavy plate, or put it in those silly pockets.

'Doing it Right' in one environment will necessarily be somewhat different from 'Doing it Right' in another. No one specific set of equipment is ideal for any and all diving. Diving a drysuit is 'DIR' in a cave. Diving a drysuit is not necessarily 'DIR' in Cozumel.

I think Jarrod was pretty clear in the book. I assume that he meant what he said - he's pretty articulate. Among all the folks out there qualified to identify what is DIR and what is not, I suspect Jarrod is right up there. Therefore, I'd pay more attention to what he has to say than what others may tell you. Among several basics is the primary idea that 'if you don't need it, don't take it'.

 

[Uncle Pug]

Brad,
The fundamentals class started as a remedial class to prepare students for GUE's Cave and Technical classes. Using a drysuit and double steel 104s there is no need for extra weight, ditchable or otherwise.

Meeting the weighting needs of single tank divers interested in DIR is something that is addressed in the fundamentals manual. The principles of correct weighting are spelled out and several solutions as to the addition of ditchable weight are offered including ditchable canister light and weight belt.

While the discussion of proper weighting principles in Chapter Six makes no mention of the Halcyon ACB system it does give some ways to weight the diving rig:
"There are several ways to weight a diving rig; these include weight belts, canister lights, v-weights...., and keel weights."

It goes on to talk about a combination of ditchable and non-ditchable weight and several paragraphs latter states:
"Most divers carry this weight in the form of a belt..."

Now as for the confusion that is troubling you because of the inclusion of a picture of the ACBs.... Duct Tape over it.

 

[jplacson]

fweber, I heard that the basic rule of DIR is that you should be able to swim up with your rig in the event of a complete BC failure. If weighted this way, ditchable weight is not a consideration.

If you're neutral at 15ft with 500psi left in your tank, there shouldn't be a need to have ditchable weight at all... unless your BC fails at the beginning of the dive, and you're already at 100 ft with a 6.5mm suit that compressed and lost all its buoyancy as well at depth.

But, if you really would like to have ditchable weight, a weight belt would be your best bet... the ACB is just way too expensive for what is basically just a nylon pouch with a velcro flap.

 

[FreeFloat]

On a similar point then - what is the best way to wear a weightbelt in conjunction with a harness?

Let me explain. I've seen divers wear it over the crotch strap both front and back, as well as over the crotch strap at the back but fastened under the harness buckle at the front (apparently it makes it "neater").

I still require a little weight on the belt, and have tried wearing it both ways. My standard-size ss bp is at the borderline of being a bit too tall for me, so necessarily my weight belt rides just a little lower than I prefer it to.

My main question is: under or over the harness strap at the front?

 

[eod]

There is a reason for having it under the strap in front, if you accidentaly release it the crotch strap will catch it. And if you really are serious about dropping the belt it wont be much of a problem to untangle it from the strap.

 

[lamont]

If you're neutral at 15ft with 500psi left in your tank, there shouldn't be a need to have ditchable weight at all... unless your BC fails at the beginning of the dive, and you're already at 100 ft with a 6.5mm suit that compressed and lost all its buoyancy as well at depth.

What if you manage to tear your BC and tear and flood your drysuit? If its at the beginning of a dive that would probably put you about 20-30 lbs negative, wouldn't it?