How much dumpable weight is needed

[Potapko]

I recently purchased a backplate and wings set-up and I am trying to figure out the best way to situate the weights. I am a relatively new diver. I have done around 30 dives so far. I have a PADI aowd + nitrox cert. I did my basic owd course here in the Czech Republic and my advanced in the Red Sea.

My situation is this. I dive wet and use 9 kilo's in fresh water. I have tried using both the weight belt and the waist belt from the backplate but it is clumsy and cumbersome. It was suggested to me that I put one 3 kilo weight solidly on the left side, non-removeable. on the waist belt from the backplate. Then on the right I could put either the other 3 kilo weight or my canister light and 1.5 kilo's. The things on the right side I could discard in an emergency. The question is, is this enough? The two belts don't work well, and if I buy the offered weight pockets it keeps me from placing the canister light on the belt.

Opinions welcome :06:

 

[redacted]

Why don't you see how much of that non-ditchable weight you can fit in the BP channel. As far as how much ditchable, I'm probably a bad one to ask. In warm fresh water, I don't carry any lead and still come in 5 or 6 lb negative. Sure is nice in warm SW to only wear 2 lb.

 

[Potapko]

That must be nice!. I am diving in fresh water quarries where the temp year round is around 40 degrees when we go below 20 meters. I use a double 7mm Bare wet. Someday I'll go for the drysuit, but will need to save for a while first.

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

Ditchable weight isn't a mandatory practice, but it is certainly a safe idea.

2-3 lbs ditched when neutral will be plenty to make you positive, in a real emergency you're getting cut out of the entire kit so the point of ditchable weight is moot. I'm like awap with my doubles in freshwater wear no ditchable ballast. Worst case scenario I'm dumping the can light and hoping it's enough.

There are plenty of alternatives in weighting, steel tanks, ankle weights (If used to trim out a drysuit, not create a rototiller), can lights, etc. I know guys that used to put 2-4 lbs on the upper cam band of a single, I never liked putting weight there but YMMV. I would humbly suggest you keep wearing some ditchable weight until comfort levels and gear configurations progress to a point that allows otherwise,

*As for wearing a weight belt and a BP I've never had it be an issue, I usually wear the weightbelt under the crotch strap in salt water. What are you finding cumbersome about it?*
CD

 

[Potapko]

It seems that the two belts want to try and occupy the same space around my waist. Either the weights were pushing the plate up, or in the second situation I was trying to find my small knife on the backplate belt while fumbling with two loose ends and buckles. I also put the weight belt under the crotch strap the first time, but found that removing it from that configuration was difficult.

The point is, I tried it with the weights on the backplate strap and it was excellent. My question has more to do with the risks involved with this system.

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

IMHO the risks are as great as your doubts about it, but not as real.

I think the only time weight should be dumped from a living diver, not including a full equipment removal for rescue or other reasons, is when at the surface and panicky. Ditching weight at the surface ensure enough positive buoyancy that the diver is not drowning if the reg comes out.

The scenario where you swim half way up and then ditch 'cuz your about to black-out that they teach in "self-rescue" doesn't really sit well with me because I know if I start swimming up from any point at which I was neutrally buoyant I will become more positive as I ascend. If no air is dumped why would there be the need to dump weight?

If the only real risk is surface panic, then do your risk/reward analysis. IMHO ditchable weight becomes more and more optional as experience is gained.

There's plenty of argument and disagreement to be found on this point, but that's my take on it. If the two belts are a PITA that is a very real frustration, don't sweat the weight - As long as you can swim your rig up you don't require ditchable weight.

CD

 

[bcsean]

I'm wearing a weight belt with 4 bullets on it (10lbs total), and my bp over it. No issues with harness getting in the way. It sits over top and is just fine. I've never been in a situation I ever considered dumping weight anyway, and initially I had a P-weight in the channel, it just didn't trim me out well, so I put the weight belt back on.

The only issue with weights on the harness is it can get in the way of other pieces, and it gets akward to manhandle around. Plus, it tends to wear the webbing in the lower slot as it puts a lot more stress on it when moving it around. There was a diver in our DIR-F course with this setup and he was recommended to get a weightbelt.

 

[CALI68]

I'm wearing a weight belt with 4 bullets on it (10lbs total), and my bp over it. No issues with harness getting in the way. It sits over top and is just fine. I've never been in a situation I ever considered dumping weight anyway, and initially I had a P-weight in the channel, it just didn't trim me out well, so I put the weight belt back on.

The only issue with weights on the harness is it can get in the way of other pieces, and it gets akward to manhandle around. Plus, it tends to wear the webbing in the lower slot as it puts a lot more stress on it when moving it around. There was a diver in our DIR-F course with this setup and he was recommended to get a weightbelt.

Do you wear the weight belt under the harness or on top of it? In other words do you put on the BP/W first or do you put on the weight belt first?

Thanks!

 

[Snowbear]

Do you wear the weight belt under the harness or on top of it? In other words do you put on the BP/W first or do you put on the weight belt first?

Thanks!

I put the weight belt on first and the harness, including crotch strap, goes over it. Much harder to lose that way
As for ditchable, with doubles I don't use any. With a single, 6# on the belt.

 

[Jersey Chris]

I guess I never even think about ditchable weight. The more I spend time here alot of people talk about having weight to ditch. Maybe I am in the wrong by not worrying about it. I would like to go down with no weight if I could. I am extremely anal with my gages and find myself checking my air every 200-300 lbs. We also carry 19 cuft ponys here so I think it would be an extremy rare case to make dump accent. I was taught that as long as you have air you can do anything and I take every precaution to make sure I always have enough air.