How loose is too loose

[KC5UX]

Sunday, after a giant stride entry, i found that I had a hard time breathing, and couldn't take a full breath, so I headed to a place where I could stand in about 3 feet of water. Another diver noticed my discomfort, and noted that I had my BC chest strap too tight. after loosening it up a bit, I was able to catch my breath and complete the dive with no additional problems. My Question: How tight should a BC be on a diver? I don't want it so loose that there is a danger of slipping out of it, but what is a good happy medium. I'll shut up and listen now. Thanks, jim

 

[terrasmak]

Should fit snug , before i made the swap to BP/w, when i wore a thick wetsuit i would tighten my cumberbun after i decended about 15 feet so i wouldnt have to loose and wobbly of a BC.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Your instructor should have covered this in your open water class but here goes. Your chest strap does not hold the bc on you. Many do not have one. What holds the bc on is your cummerbund and shoulder straps to a degree. When you put one on it should fit snugbut not tight to the point of restriction of breathing or movement. First thing when you put it on is fasten the cummerbund, this should be fairly snug and if it's depth compensating it works better if you actually take up some of the elastic slack. Next fasten the buckle and just pull it to where it still has a little play. Then tighten your shoulder straps so that the bc is nice and snug. Then fasten the sternum/chest strap so that it is just tight enough to keep the shoulder straps from slipping sideways. You do not need to pull this so tight that it actually feels tight. just take out the slack. If you feel that there is a chance of coming out of it then you've got the wrong size. Many divers will add a crotch strap to keep one from riding up but with proper fit and adjustment as well as weights if it's integrated and the weight of the tank it's really not needed in most cases. Go to your lds and ask to try on a couple and ask them if it's a proper fit for you. They will be glad to help you adjust it properly because they may make a sale! A bc is life support equipment just like your reg and should be treated as such. Don't worry about looking like a new diver, you are! As such you have questions and the answers to them could keep you from getting hurt. So ask away here and at your lds. And ask your instructor as well. This may be one of those things that got missed somehow. How is irrelevant but the answer is important so ask.

 

[alcina]

The chest strap does not hold the bc to you really. That is the job of the cumberbund and it should be snug, adjusting once underwater is a good thing to do if you feel you didn't get it quite right before entry. The chest strap stops the two sides from flopping around and should just be relatively tight when the bc is fully inflated - not super taut really.

 

[spectrum]

If I have released my shoulder staps I set them first to get the righ at the right height.

Then I close the cummerbund, mine is depth compensating (elastic) so I pull a little preload on it. The tension is soon un-noticed and goes away entirely when hoizontal in the water. It also lets the BC hang tight when suit compresion begins to happen.

Clip the the wais strap, but leave it a bit loose. This will let the air sell expand without it binding tight to you.

Last close the sternum strap and just barely take up on it. If the BC fits right you should be able to dive without it. It is a nice secuity blanket in the way it keeps the shoulder straps from spreading at all.

Was it tight before you puffed it up to make a buoyant entry or was it air cell compression that caused the distress?

Pete

 

[Walter]

I don't use the chest strap. They serve no useful purpose. If you have a cummerbund, replace it, if possible with nylon webbing, you'll be more streamlined.

 

[Argos]

I only wear a BCD when I'm doing classes it doesn't have a chest strap cos I took the useless thing off..........Don't adjust your BCD properly until your underwater. That way you'll know how it should feel so that its properly adjusted. Ask your Instr to show you how it should be done.........

 

[String]

I tend to adjust mine after reaching about 10m. I also tighten my weight belt.
With my BC it wasnt too bad but with the wing i find i need to tighten pretty regulary presumably due to webbing stretching.
Its not abnormal, especially when im abroad and wear a wetsuit which will compress.

 

[DiveMaven]

I fasten the bottom of my BC prior to adjusting the shoulder straps. At that point, everything gets fastened loosely, but tight enough to stay in the proper position. Once I hit about 15'-20 I tighten everything down, starting at the bottom and working my way up, doing the shoulder straps last (I do this in a horizontal position). I've found that if you tighten the shoulder straps first, it's too easy to have the BC in the wrong position and riding too high.

Since I dive with a Zena, I don't have a cumberbun, and have 2 fastening points on my torso vs. one. However, both my DH and I follow the same procedures for adjusting our BCs and he has a ProQD+, which has a cumberbun.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I don't use the chest strap. They serve no useful purpose. If you have a cummerbund, replace it, if possible with nylon webbing, you'll be more streamlined.

I have to use mine or the bc shoulder straps slip off of my shoulders (need to get one for my bra straps too). I keep the chest strap just tight enough to keep the shoulder straps where I want them. When I wear my drysuit that means it's let out as far as it will go.
Ber :lilbunny: