Lead dive weights in public swimming pools? What about stainless or tungsten shot weights?
- Thread starter pwoolf
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broncobowsher
Contributor
What grade of stainless steel? Some are a lot more prone to rusting and others are a lot more immune.
That’s what neutralizes the lead.
Its hard to tell, between this discussion thread and the one about using US nickle coins, why you are ringing such alarm bells about the use of lead as a standard for dive balast....but it would it seem that you are biased given your financial interest as the founder of a company that manufactures and sells alternative weights for diving:
Its hard to tell, between this discussion thread and the one about using US nickle coins, why you are ringing such alarm bells and pushing so hard with your arguments about the use of lead as a standard for dive balast....but then it would seem there may be some bias given your financial interest as the founder of a company that manufactures and sells alternative weights for diving:
#Disingenuous
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#Disingenuous
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I appreciate you raising this point about potential bias. Let me be fully transparent about my journey here: I started exploring lead alternatives during my scuba certification when, as a chemical engineer, I was struck by how we handle lead weights compared to lead handling protocols in other industries. This led me down a path of researching various alternatives - not just stainless steel, but also coins, alternative shot materials, and other options.Its hard to tell, between this discussion thread and the one about using US nickle coins, why you are ringing such alarm bells and pushing so hard with your arguments about the use of lead as a standard for dive balast....but then it would seem there may be some bias given your financial interest as the founder of a company that manufactures and sells alternative weights for diving:
#Disingenuous
-Z
Yes, I founded Dive Steel to offer one solution - precision-crafted stainless steel weights. But my broader mission is to encourage any viable move away from lead in diving. That's why I'm sharing research about shot alternatives and coin weights too, even though these compete with my products. If a diver chooses cupronickel coins or stainless shot over my weights, I consider that a win because it's one less set of lead weights in our oceans.
In this thread specifically, I'm sharing pool water analysis because it highlights an often-overlooked aspect of lead exposure in diving. As someone with a background in water chemistry, I felt compelled to contribute these calculations to our community's understanding, regardless of what solution divers ultimately choose.
The diving industry has relied on lead weights because they were historically the best option available. My goal isn't to fearmonger but to highlight that we now have multiple viable alternatives and to encourage discussion about their adoption. I'm genuinely interested in hearing about other alternatives or approaches you've encountered in your diving experience.
Its hard to tell, between this discussion thread and the one about using US nickle coins, why you are ringing such alarm bells and pushing so hard with your arguments about the use of lead as a standard for dive balast....but then it would seem there may be some bias given your financial interest as the founder of a company that manufactures and sells alternative weights for diving:
#Disingenuous
-Z
Holy crap, $250 for 6lbs?
I commend the effort to remove lead but @pwoolf , you're going to need a much more efficient manufacturing process and cheaper prices to get people on board.
Are those machined and laser etched?
Great question about stainless steel grades. In swimming pools, the corrosion resistance of stainless steel depends heavily on both the grade and the pool chemistry. Pool environments can actually be more challenging for stainless steel than seawater because of the high chlorine levels and frequent pH adjustments.
The ballcone media I mentioned is 304 stainless, which offers good corrosion resistance but can be susceptible to pitting in chlorinated environments, particularly if chlorine levels spike during shock treatments. 316 stainless would be preferable for pool use because it contains molybdenum, which significantly improves resistance to chloride attack. However, I haven't found a source of 316 shot.
Even with 304 stainless, corrosion risk can be managed through proper care - thorough rinsing after use and complete drying before storage. The shot's smooth surface finish actually helps here, as smoother surfaces tend to resist corrosion better than rough ones.
For anyone interested in the technical details: Pool water typically has free chlorine levels between 1-3 ppm and pH 7.2-7.8. At these levels, 304 stainless forms a stable passive oxide layer. However, in stagnant conditions or with concentrated chlorine contact (like water drying on the surface), this passive layer can break down locally, leading to pitting. 316 stainless better maintains its passive layer under these conditions.
Fun fact, there are companies such as Diamond Spas that build whole pools and hot tubs from 316 stainless leaving the stainless as the final interior finish. You see these on rooftop pools and cruse ship pools in particular because they are lighter than their concrete alternatives.
Has anyone found a source for 316 or duplex stainless shot that might work for dive weights? I'd be very interested in testing those options.
Your question about price gets to the heart of something I've been thinking deeply about as a diver. When we dive, we enter into a kind of contract with the ocean - it lets us explore its depths, but we must be prepared to release our weights in an emergency. With traditional lead weights, we're essentially saying we'll trade poison for our lives if needed. I wanted to reimagine this relationship.
The Reef Offering weights are crafted with the idea that anything we might leave in the ocean should be both beautiful and harmless. Each weight is precision-milled from marine-grade 316 stainless steel, with patterns inspired by brain coral and marine life etched into its surface. The steel is so stable that these weights could last centuries underwater, becoming artifacts that tell stories of our diving adventures through their digital markings and the Sea Bottle Network.
Think of them like a message in a bottle, but one that could be found and still used by divers generations from now. The price reflects not just the premium materials and precise manufacturing, but this longer-term vision of creating diving equipment that respects the ocean rather than treating it as a dumping ground.
That said, I completely understand this philosophical approach and price point isn't for everyone. That's exactly why I'm actively researching and sharing information about more affordable alternatives like cupronickel coins ($18.15 for 4 pounds using US nickels) or stainless steel shot ($4-20 per pound). These options also eliminate lead while remaining practical and accessible.
The goal isn't just to sell premium weights - it's to demonstrate what's possible when we rethink our relationship with diving equipment and the ocean environment. Whether someone chooses a Reef Offering weight, coins, or shot weights, each represents a step away from treating our oceans as a convenient place to abandon toxic materials.
Reading through your two discussion threads, it seems Like you wantonly brush aside and ignore the information/data that does not agree with your position and elevate the data that does, all the while shrouding your position in an "Ecco friendly" wrapper.
#Virtue Signaling
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#Virtue Signaling
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