Freedive belt for scuba.

[Frosty]

Im asking this in Basic rather than elsewhere because I think theres something odvious Im missing here.
I dive tropical with 2kg slung in band pockets and 2kg in the bc.
I just plum hate a normal weight belt dang thing gets loose or rolls around.
Why couldn't I use a rubber freedive belt instead of a normal bebbing belt if only carrying 2kg?

 

[fisheater]

You can! (Heck, you probably SHOULD!)

I use a rubber weight belt for both tropical and cold water diving.

 

[Keith.M]

I just recently picked up the Mako rubber freediving belt. I have yet to use it but it comes highly recommended!

 

[fdog]

Tropics? Nothing but a rubber belt for me.

All the best, James

 

[RickyF]

I don't use anything else!

 

[Frosty]

thanks guys--I just thought I was missing something odvious.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I have only used rubber belts for scuba and freedving now for like 20 years. They are far superior and it is not just for light weight belts either. The benefits are even more dramatic when you use a heavier belt.

 

[Colliam7]

thanks guys--I just thought I was missing something odvious.

Well, you are! You are missing the entire next phase of the 'discussion', including: a) what buckle should I use - a wire buckle like the old, er, I mean, 'mature and experienced' guys have always used, or a conventional compression buckle (like the now discontinued Cressi belt), or a free diving / spearfishing belt with a Marseille buckle (with a tang); and b) what brand of belt is best - Omer, or Mako (with the quick release on the tang), or Cressi, or Riffe (which is less expensive) or Salvimar . . .?

There's a whole 'nother world of debate out there, just waiting.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I bought my GF a Mako belt for her birthday. She loves it. Enough that I am likely to get one for myself even though thanks to being an instructor I have a few regular belts of my own. The Mako belt also comes with the emergency ditch replacement guarantee. If you have to ditch the belt in an emergency they don't want you to think twice about doing it. So if you do have to ditch it they'll replace it for free.

Here's their policy copied from their website:

MAKO FREE REPLACEMENT/SAFETY POLICY

To our valued customers: MAKO Spearguns recognizes that diving (both freediving and SCUBA) are potentially dangerous activities. We have all heard of tragic accidents where a diver is found on the bottom while still wearing a weight belt. We hope and pray that should any of our customers find themselves in a situation where ditching a belt may be necessary, that there is no delay and the belt is dropped immediately.

In many situations a belt is recoverable, however if your MAKO belt and lead and/or Tinman weights are ditched (and lost) in a true emergency…. MAKO will replace them at our cost.

The last thing we want is our customers considering the cost of a lost belt in an emergency. The only thing we ask is that the individual shares with us (and our friends and customers) some sort of write-up about how the situation developed and how it was resolved. That way, we can all learn and be reminded to keep safety in the forefront of our minds.

Dive safe

Dano

 

[TSandM]

I love my Mako belt, and I use 20 lbs on mine. Dumpster Diver convinced me to try it, and I owe him one . . .