Have you dropped your weights lately?

[Drew Sailbum]

The latest incident report through BSAC references 17 fatalities in the UK from OCt 04 to Sept 05. The point that stuck out to me was

Three cases involved divers who were, or who became, negatively buoyant and sank. In two cases divers were at the surface, in difficulties, but were unable to remain at the surface and sank before they could be recovered. Last year 8 out of the 25 fatalities were affected in this way.

In dive training, a lot of focus seems to revolve around oral inflation of a BCD to sustain positive buoyancy at the surface if experienceing a problem.

My question to you... have you dropped your weights lately? Just to practice? Do you know how to release your buddy's weights in an emergency.

Dive safe out there.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Sometimes I drop them on my toes before I get to the water but yes, as an instructor I drop my weights every week

The one skill most divers seem to lack is a proper shared air ascent.

 

[fishb0y]

The latest incident report through BSAC references 17 fatalities in the UK from OCt 04 to Sept 05. The point that stuck out to me was

In dive training, a lot of focus seems to revolve around oral inflation of a BCD to sustain positive buoyancy at the surface if experienceing a problem.

My question to you... have you dropped your weights lately? Just to practice? Do you know how to release your buddy's weights in an emergency.

Dive safe out there.

I think the best question would be "Are you properly weighted?". It seems to me that if you cannot tread water at the surface with no air in your BC, you may have too much lead.

 

[Greg D.]

On our SAR team we have annual skills check when we have to do just that, and I like to practice my basic scuba skills at least two or three times a year. I think the practice of basic skills is one of the more over looked aspects of diving.

 

[MikeFerrara]

I think the best question would be "Are you properly weighted?". It seems to me that if you cannot tread water at the surface with no air in your BC, you may have too much lead.

Yes!

In most recreational diving situations you should only be negative by the amount of gas you carry. Unless you are carrying LOTS of gas which most recreational divers aren't, staying at the surface shouldn't be a problem. If you have to be at the surface for an extended period or want to ditch for the sake of comfort you should, of course, but it should never be a life or death situation.

 

[Rick Inman]

In two cases divers were at the surface, in difficulties, but were unable to remain at the surface and sank before they could be recovered. Last year 8 out of the 25 fatalities were affected in this way.

You have to do three things wrong at the same time for this to happen:

1. Enter water with air turned off.
   
2. Enter water with BC and/or drysuit completely deflated.
   
3. Over-weighted.

 

[Halthron]

You have to do three things wrong at the same time for this to happen:

1. Enter water with air turned off.
   
2. Enter water with BC and/or drysuit completely deflated.
   
3. Over-weighted.

And forget that you can manually inflate the BC

Of course, overweighted and having a hole in your BC's bladder (rare) would do it as well.

 

[Mike Veitch]

Actually that should be SERIOUSLY overweighted...

 

[IceBergSlim]

I have no ditchable weight on most dives.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Another skill I can practice tomorrow at the pool. Ditching weights, and also seeing if I can stay at the surface with a deflated BC, and if I can't can I manually inflate my BC, as long as I grab a deep breath at the surface before being dragged back down.