Adobo
Contributor
You can also reduce the amount of lead you dive by diving a rig (bc or a backplate and wing) that has less inherent buoyancy. BCs with lots of buoyancy will require you to carry additional lead.
From the April issue of Scuba Diving magazine, the 10 BCs tested range between 1 to 3 lbs of inherent buoyancy. For comparison, let's look at one of the SeaQuest BCs:
Dry weight = 7lbs 5 ozs
Inherent buoyancy = <1lbs (let's say neutral to keep it easy)
Compare that to a garden variety backplate and wing system for a single tank set up(all the numbers below are SWAGs but I am reasonable confident):
Dryweight = 8lbs
Inherent bouyancy = -5lbs
While these two rigs will be within 3/4 lbs of each other in terms of dry weight, the backplate system will contribute 5lbs. of ballast to you and your exposure suit. Net net, you will wind up needing 4lbs less lead if you switch to a backplate system.
There is obviously an expense required to do a switch like this if you do not already dive a backplate system. But if you suffer from back pain, then every ounce is saved is definitely worthwhile.
Edit: BTW, with tanks, you are not necessarily just looking for steel tanks. Instead, you are looking for tanks that minimize the amount of lead you need to carry. In many cases, cold water divers who use a lot of exposure protection (and therefore have lots of inherent buoyancy) are better off using tanks that remain negative even when empty. Not all steel tanks are this way so shop carefully.
From the April issue of Scuba Diving magazine, the 10 BCs tested range between 1 to 3 lbs of inherent buoyancy. For comparison, let's look at one of the SeaQuest BCs:
Dry weight = 7lbs 5 ozs
Inherent buoyancy = <1lbs (let's say neutral to keep it easy)
Compare that to a garden variety backplate and wing system for a single tank set up(all the numbers below are SWAGs but I am reasonable confident):
Dryweight = 8lbs
Inherent bouyancy = -5lbs
While these two rigs will be within 3/4 lbs of each other in terms of dry weight, the backplate system will contribute 5lbs. of ballast to you and your exposure suit. Net net, you will wind up needing 4lbs less lead if you switch to a backplate system.
There is obviously an expense required to do a switch like this if you do not already dive a backplate system. But if you suffer from back pain, then every ounce is saved is definitely worthwhile.
Edit: BTW, with tanks, you are not necessarily just looking for steel tanks. Instead, you are looking for tanks that minimize the amount of lead you need to carry. In many cases, cold water divers who use a lot of exposure protection (and therefore have lots of inherent buoyancy) are better off using tanks that remain negative even when empty. Not all steel tanks are this way so shop carefully.
