Lost weight belt at 100 feet

[Splitlip]

TSandM, is there something we can read or watch to learn to shoot a bag from depth?

I have an SMB and a finger spool, but have never put them together. I have heard of people getting tangled up while learning how to shoot a bag, so I've never tried. Any tips? Thanks...

There are a lot of videos here and on YouTube. Do some searches. You'll see the good, bad and ugly. Keep in mind, IMO, you don't have to do it in perfect trim while neutrally buoyant. That is easy when shooting a little, teeny 6# marker. In Jupiter the DSMB's of choice are 5 to 6 ft. 50# or more.

I get negative and vertical, finning to maintain depth before I shoot.

 

[matt_w]

I get negative and vertical, finning to maintain depth before I shoot.

Why? While I agree you don't need to be perfect, why would you intentionally blow your buoyancy while task loading yourself. If you practice doing it neutral, it will become easier. It is much easier (for me anyway) to shoot a bag while neatly buoyant. Assuming we agree that standing on the bottom is undesirable.

It really doesn't matter if it is a 6 foot SMB, 20 lb bag, or 50 gallon drum...Ok the drum takes a bit of technique modification.

 

[Blue Sparkle]

TSandM, is there something we can read or watch to learn to shoot a bag from depth?

I have an SMB and a finger spool, but have never put them together. I have heard of people getting tangled up while learning how to shoot a bag, so I've never tried. Any tips? Thanks...

I'm not TSandM, but I watched this one before trying it myself. One additional emphasis/tip I read (I think from NWGratefulDiver) was to make sure to hold the SMB/spool/line as far out in front of you (i.e. away from you) as practicable. That way there is less chance of entanglement for you. I also got some good info on smaller vs. larger and deployment practice at depth vs. shallow in some other threads here on SB.

One thing I would change about the way I tried it would be to use a smaller SMB. I was practicing in shallow water with a larger SMB and it was difficult to not either get dragged up (if I had inflated it enough to be properly inflated on the surface) or maintain buoyancy but end up with a limp SMB at the surface (which is what I did).

This seems to have commentary the one I watched did not, but the video is the same one.

SCUBA: SMB Deployment - YouTube

 

[Bombay High]

For 16 lbs a harness is way overkill, try either the "SeaQuest" style belt (now sold by Trident) or a rubber belt with a wire buckle, you will be very pleasantly surprised.

Do you have any pictures or links to those products ? I used to use a rubber belt with a regular belt style buckle (not quick release) but have stopped now. They were great, because the elasticity compensated with depth.

 

[CuNanoTube]

My father had a similar incident with his old school weight belt a few months ago. Fortunately we were just at 30' doing a local get wet dive, but he still shot up when the buckle (same plastic one, same failure) snapped. I should note he learned in the 80s and his gear at that point was just as old, so the 32lb weight belt what he learned with (old whites commercial dry suit, regular 7mm neoprene). We were not happy about losing the belt however as that was over $100 of plastic coated lead. We did eventually find the belt so that is a plus. He now dives a BP&W with about half his weight in integrated pockets, and the other half on a (non ditch-able belt).

 

[Splitlip]

Why? While I agree you don't need to be perfect, why would you intentionally blow your buoyancy while task loading yourself. If you practice doing it neutral, it will become easier. It is much easier (for me anyway) to shoot a bag while neatly buoyant. Assuming we agree that standing on the bottom is undesirable.

It really doesn't matter if it is a 6 foot SMB, 20 lb bag, or 50 gallon drum...Ok the drum takes a bit of technique modification.

Sorry I missed this.

Agree..standing on the bottom is undesirable. LOL

Depending on the depth, I may or may not got a fully inflated marker if I shoot while neutral. By getting negative, I can get more gas in the marker. Getting negative, I go verticle to fin and maintain depth. I always shoot the marker before I leave the bottom, whether 100 ft or 40 ft. I use the same technique all the time. If I shoot my marker from 40 ft while neutral, it won't be full at the surface.

 

[Thalassamania]

Do you have any pictures or links to those products ? I used to use a rubber belt with a regular belt style buckle (not quick release) but have stopped now. They were great, because the elasticity compensated with depth.

The distributor for them in the US is Trident. There are photos in my gallery on ScubaBoard. You were using a free diving belt know as a Marseille Belt, available from a Omer, Sporasub and any number of free diving companies.

 

[Golfer38]

New Diver here.. Just reading all the mishaps and corrective actions. A quick question... If you are at 60'-100' and lost your belt, how do you slow down you rapid ascent to the top? Thanks, Jim (Maryland).

BTW, I will now buy one of these belts. I currently have one of those plastic buckles...

 

[Thalassamania]

... flare with arms and legs spread, dump BC and/or suit and exhale gently all the way to the surface, that'll keep your ascent to about 60 fpm.

 

[TSandM]

If you have lost a significant amount of weight at depth, you may not be able to completely control your ascent. But you can do a few things. One is exhale as much as possible, and keep your lungs as empty as you can. Two, get horizontal and flare your body out, to present the highest resistance to vertical movement in the water that you can. Three, use ANYTHING in your environment that you can, to stop your ascent. I lost five pounds out of a weight belt once (pocketed belt) and I did the last few minutes of the dive hanging onto kelp stipes, head down. Picking up a big rock, if you have any nearby, or working your way hand over hand up a wall -- anything you can do to avoid going ballistic. IF your buddy has the ability to get negative, they can help as well, but if you've lost a big weight belt, it's unlikely a buddy can stop you, and one should never make two victims.

BTW, through Dumpster Diver's graciousness, I ended up with one of the spearfishing belts. They're GREAT! I haven't quite figured out how to secure big weights so they don't slide on the rubber, but the buckle with the tongue is secure and extremely easy to release when you want to.