Life saving weight belt

[Cacia]

yea, thats true. I liked the post about belts falling off, that does happen when the bucket is hit.....haven't thought too much about that one.

 

[alo100]

So does it mean that if a person is using BP/W and in particular, he/she doesn't need much weight on his/her weight belt, then, he/she is actually in danger under the same situation? Cause he/she cannot easily remove his/her back plate?

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

I think the point is: if your wearing ditchable weight whether on a belt or weight integrated BC it needs to be to be quickly and easily ditched. This is simply achieved by a "single release point" e.g. the quick release buckle on a standard weight belt or a ripcord weight system on an integrated BC or BP/W

 

[Soggy]

So does it mean that if a person is using BP/W and in particular, he/she doesn't need much weight on his/her weight belt, then, he/she is actually in danger under the same situation? Cause he/she cannot easily remove his/her back plate?

Only if you are horrendously overweighted. Correctly weighted, there is never a reason to ditch weight underwater.

 

[matt_unique]

The problem wasn't the belt, the problem was being exceedingly overweighted. With an 80 cft tank, one should never be more than 6 lbs overweight...an easy amount to swim up. Solve the overweighting problem and the ditchable weight problem goes away.

I'm sure you know this Sogman but the 6lbs overweight on the surface to account for the tank lift delta will increase with depth (neo compression).

--Matt

 

[Cacia]

I think the only time I can imagine wanting to ditch would be ...on surface wait in rough seas or failing BC or on a rescue tow....Am I forgeting something?

 

[Sideband]

Why didn't he drop his own belt? If one believes the story, I think it comes down to a lot of points other than belt vs integrated. Proper training, proper weighting, equipment checks, buddy awareness/ solo diving, lack of experience (put reg in mouth) ... If these other points aren't addressed he could juggle the weight and still have the same problem.

Joe

 

[Soggy]

I'm sure you know this Sogman but the 6lbs overweight on the surface to account for the tank lift delta will increase with depth (neo compression).

--Matt

You're right. I tend to forget that some people still dive thick wetsuits deep. With a 3mm, this isn't really an issue, but with a 2 piece 7mm, you might lose some substantial lift, in which case I suppose you could have some need to ditch a few pounds to offset the delta caused by suit compression if you decide to rip the hose out of your BC.

Or, like what many of us do...don't dive deep in a thick wetsuit unless you know you can swim yourself up.

In this particular instance, however, it sounds like the diver was near the surface, in which case they were clearly way overweighted.

 

[Vayu]

Soggy is right. Seems to be a 14 yr old diving solo on scuba should be able to initiate a self rescue if needed. Also, even if you let go he should not have drowned, since he could have just released the weight himself.

This doesn't make ditchable weight seem any safer to me. In some conditions it is needed, in others it isn't. Don't tell me that 6#'s on my belt or on my back is gonna make a difference between life and death on the surface.

Like others have said... its much more dangerous to release the weight belt at depth and cork to the surface.

Just another reason discretion should be used before certifying 14 yr olds.

-V

 

[*Floater*]

How deep was the bottom? If it was within recreational limits then presumably the 14 year old could have fallen down there, figured out how to ditch his weights whether they were integrated or on a belt and then ascended calmly back to the surface. I don't see the urgency unless the bottom was very deep down.