Question Do you ever practice dropping weights and handling the unexpected ascent?

[high_order1]

Are you guys talking about what the trainees appear to be doing here at 4:30?


They look like they are dropping everything but the BC, and then heading up. Then they go back down and redon it all.

 

[WillieJustice]

They can. Takes just a few minutes. You need to remove the lower band, and unhook the Velcro tabs that are secured to the slot just above the lower band. Then flip the trim pockets over to install on the upper band. The Velcro tabs will now secure to the slot just below the upper band.

Thanks. Yesterday's dives had me thinking about this, and I was tail heavy once I started thinking about it. Overnight, I also thought about what it means in cold water. I use heavier weight in the ditchable pockets and a belt. Top heavy shouldn't be an issue. The tank band pockets will get repositioned. Thanks for all the advice. It makes a difference to a relative rookie like me.

 

[Zach The Diver]

I was on a dive recently with a rental BCD which had all my weight in the two drop pockets. Not how I usually dive but it's what they had for me. We descended somewhat quickly to the bottom at 30 feet due to wanting to get under the moderate current.

Right when I stopped by descent at the bottom, I felt both pockets slip right out! I spotted them on the bottom under me and realized I was headed right back up to the surface. I dumped by BCD's air and kicked downward to slow my ascent, and was able to make a fairly safe return to the surface. Thankfully I was only under for about 2 minutes total and did not suffer any decompression symptoms.

This got me thinking though: While I've been taught theoretically about how to drop weights and ascend, I realized I have never actually practiced it and was not very well prepared for the situation. So I'm curious fellow divers:, do you ever take time to go to a pool or maybe 20ft deep open water area and just practice dropping your weights and handling the quick decisions required to keep the situation safe?

Ideally you should be diving a properly balanced and weighted rig- in other words, you should be able to swim you and your equipment up with a failed BCD or wing with no redundant buoyancy. The whole “dump your weights” instruction is hogwash in my opinion and a poorly-construed method for emergency ascents, feeding into the common practice of lazy instructors overweighting their students during initial OW training.

This doesn’t exactly apply in your specific case as your weight pockets fell out, but the lesson learned here is to make sure your equipment is maintained properly and secured. I’m glad that you are unscathed.

 

[CRT2]

Just picked up a Zeagle Ranger so for me this thread is timely. Zeagle reports no malfunctions and the system is restorable in minutes.

 

[Scott G. Bonser]

Are you guys talking about what the trainees appear to be doing here at 4:30?


They look like they are dropping everything but the BC, and then heading up. Then they go back down and redon it all.

Now, YEAH !!! That’s the maneuver… Oh how I remember from ‘back in the day’ w/Mac’s Scuba AND SeaCamp…..it takes planning. When donning, the weightbelt helps you stay ‘heavy’ as you re-don your other gear. W B goes on last……then swim to the surface…..