Is a crotch strap needed on a harness

[Rick Murchison]

Lost Yooper and I are just gonna disagree on this one. I do not endorse having anything outside a weightbelt in open water. Nothing. Zip. Nada.
Two buckles is a good idea, as they can be just as easily released by a rescuer as one, but other than that, I say nothing outside the weight belt.
(in a cave, or inside a wreck is a different matter - I'm talking to our open water folks here)
Rick

 

[Lost Yooper]

Ain't the first time is it Rick?!



Mike

 

[AquaTec]

I used to only have one plastic buckle on my weight belt, and I have my crotch strap on the outside

Then one day as I was ascending through a tight spot inside a wreck I found my weight belt dangling from my crotch strap.
Because of the spot I was in I could not put it back on until I got to the next deck. this wasn't a result of the plastic it just hit something. I just stay away from plastic connectors in general if i can

I wasn't to worried about rocketing to the surface because there was a ceiling above that I would just slam agains. my concern was how to get back down and retrieve my belt if it fell. oh and also the fact that it would probly land on my buddies head.

I since made two changes
1 - two SS buckles on my weight belt
2 - got rid of the flimsy connector on my crotch strap. I now use weight belt webing and SS weight belt buckle to secure it. I loop it through the ring and back onto itself.
This has worked out very well so far

If I need to ditch my weight belt all the bukles are the same and I just undo all three. I don't were a very big belt 10#
I think I can eleiminate most of that by getting riid of my aluminum side mounts and going to a steel like the Fabers

 

[VTWarrenG]

AquaTec,

IMO, being too buoyant in an overhead environment is extremely, extremely dangerous. You'll likely screw up your equipment by banging it repeatedly against the ceiling, and you'll likely hurt yourself, too. It'll just add stress to an already overly stressful situation.

If you're in an overhead or are doing deco dives, the weight belt MUST BE inside the harness. If you're doing OW, it doesn't really matter one iota either way. However, I'd just assume always dive the same equipment the same way -- I see no reason to have an "OW configuration" and an "overhead configuration." IMO, you're better off establishing one system that works, and then always using that system.

Having your harness over your weight belt always works, in OW and in an overhead.

- Warren

 

[DocRCH]

I definately believe that a crotch strap will make you more comfortable and give you greater control over your rig. Essentially, the waist belt and crotch strap hold the backplate next to you. The shoulder straps should not be tight and stabilize the rig. I do not like the backplate riding up and/or getting hit in the back of my head by the isolator valve.

Robert

 

[Uncle Pug]

TMD...
Crotch strap - yes.....
Pink crotch strap - no, please, no....

Weight belt must be on inside of crotch strap for all the reasons already cited....

If you need extra weight beyond the tank/ BP / STA then it is a good idea to have it on a belt... not for dropping... but to balance your rig.... this way you can use a smaller wing. If the wing has to carry all the weight when you take it off in the water then it has to be bigger than if some of the weight is carried by your drysuit.

If you are Sherp then you do not need weight...

Sherp you asked for solutions to your negativity:
Quit diving air.... get some helium in those tanks and you will lighten up

 

[Lost Yooper]

That reminds me of a story. There was a guy up here diving double HP 120's (I think), had an OMS IQ BC, and had a steel deco bottle attached to his BC. He took it off (or was putting it on) while in the water without fully inflating the wing. It sunk like brick in like 300' of water -- bye bye .

That's a funny one .

Mike

 

[DocRCH]

Good Point!! That's why I use wings (Scubapro) that have 110 lbs. of lift. If I have to take off my rig before I get on the boat, I don't want it to make a gurggling noise as it plummets to the bottom.

Robert

 

[jimholcomb]

Originally posted by Rick Murchison
Lost Yooper and I are just gonna disagree on this one. I do not endorse having anything outside a weightbelt in open water. Nothing. Zip. Nada.
Two buckles is a good idea, as they can be just as easily released by a rescuer as one, but other than that, I say nothing outside the weight belt.
(in a cave, or inside a wreck is a different matter - I'm talking to our open water folks here)
Rick

The consequences of an accidental release of a belt are much worse than of a rescuer taking a extra few seconds to release. In this particular forum (technical) we are speaking of overhead (cave or wreck), decompression diving, or diving below 130'. An accidental release happens far too often and can become fatal quickly. Although the extra few seconds a rescuer would take COULD result in death - that particular event doesn't (or a least shouldn't) occur often and when it does you've got bigger problems already going on and are facing a life and death situation to start with.

 

[Divesherpa]

I agree with Jim. If you must wear a weight belt and crotch strap in a "technical":whack: environment, the belt has to be on the inside. Frothy blood is not good, OK.

Will someone explain why they think a crotch strap is necessary? I can't logically deduct why a crotch strap is needed outside of scootering, or having to lower stages below you (in a very small entrance), or situations of that nature.