fnfalman
Contributor
Find another shop because I think it's unreasonable to ask for students to provide their own belts & weights. The standard industry practice are mask, snorkel & fins. Booties & gloves may be added if water is too cool.
newbie question about weights and weight belt
- Thread starter s.s.seafan
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
OP
s.s.seafan
Contributor
- Messages
- 108
- Reaction score
- 0
thanks for the replies, it makes more sense to me now, especially with those pictures.
as I'll be only diving on vacations, I wonder how many people bring their weights to travel? that's 12-16lbs of weights for me to add to the luggage - does it make sense to buy and bring the weights to fly? or would it be eaiser to rent at destination? I could still buy a belt though. considering one of these:
Buy XS Scuba cordura weight belt WB104 with reviews at scuba.com
Pinnacle Cumfo Weight Belt AC11NNY13 with reviews at scuba.com
is it worth the extra $20 to get the second one?
(two out of the four LDS that's close to where I live in Houston states weights and belt is personal gear that I need to bring to the class in their flyer. haven't inquired the other two yet)
as I'll be only diving on vacations, I wonder how many people bring their weights to travel? that's 12-16lbs of weights for me to add to the luggage - does it make sense to buy and bring the weights to fly? or would it be eaiser to rent at destination? I could still buy a belt though. considering one of these:
Buy XS Scuba cordura weight belt WB104 with reviews at scuba.com
Pinnacle Cumfo Weight Belt AC11NNY13 with reviews at scuba.com
is it worth the extra $20 to get the second one?
(two out of the four LDS that's close to where I live in Houston states weights and belt is personal gear that I need to bring to the class in their flyer. haven't inquired the other two yet)
fisheater
Contributor
Not many folks (read "no one") brings their own weights when traveling by air.
Many of us tote our weights and belt when we travel by ground.
When it comes to weight belts, think secure. You don't want your belt coming lose as you descend.
If you need enough weight to have to worry about comfort, the chances are that your exposure protection will be thick enough that you won't have to worry about comfort.
Many of us tote our weights and belt when we travel by ground.
When it comes to weight belts, think secure. You don't want your belt coming lose as you descend.
If you need enough weight to have to worry about comfort, the chances are that your exposure protection will be thick enough that you won't have to worry about comfort.
OP
s.s.seafan
Contributor
- Messages
- 108
- Reaction score
- 0
I see Steve answered my question regarding travelling before my last post.
Crush
Contributor
About 1/3 of my dives are taken at work destinations where I have flown to get there. I bring all of my own gear, save for weights and air tanks. Rent the lead.
fnfalman
Contributor
That's total BS and shame on them for wanting to milk you even before you're a certified diver.
I'd suggest go down to the Texas subforum and see if you can find some local divers who have weight belt & weight to lend you through the class.
Weight belts and weights are available in such myriad ways that as a non-diver, you can't be expected to know.
Some swear by soft weight (myself) and weight belts that handle these weights. Some swear by simple weight belt and threaded-through hard weights. Some prefer rubber weight belts. Some prefer stainless steel buckles. Some prefer stainless steel buckles with depth compensation spring. Some prefer plastic coated weights. The list goes on and on.
OP
s.s.seafan
Contributor
- Messages
- 108
- Reaction score
- 0
just read their web site, make that 3 out of 4 requiring weights and belt.
one left to ask
BarrelRoll
Contributor
I'm up in Dallas man, and every shop up here provides weights to students. Even the independent guys who freelance training have rental deals worked out with the local LDSs, and weights and belts or pockets are always provided as far as I know. There's 2 reasons:
1. Every LDS who's been in the business any length of time has tons and tons of lead, and belts... A belt is webbing with a release. Also, any shop these days that doesn't have integrated weight BCDs as standard? That doesn't sound right. (Did you stumble upon a Hogarthian OW class? lol)
2. Safety/Standard educational practices. Part of your training is learning how to "dump weight" in the event of an emergency. If Billy and Bobby have right hand release belts, Jimmy and Joany have integrated weight pockets, and Willy and Wanda have BP/W with trim pockets and no belt... The instructor's going to have to go around the class and make sure everyone understands who he's talking about when he references the proper... You get the idea. In fact, in my OW class our rental BCDs had integrated pouches, but we didn't use them because they wanted everyone learning on the same things, ie right hand release belts. (Which they had a MASSIVE pile of in the corner of the pool area)
If you can't find a shop in the ENTIRE Houston area that won't cater to this (and with Galveston right there, I highly doubt it), then just widen the search area. I promise you there's a shop in Spring or The Woodlands that caters to the higher end crowd that'll be a one stop shop.
Or just run up to Dallas for a couple weekends. I know some great folks up here who'll just tell you to bring a smile and a check book.
1. Every LDS who's been in the business any length of time has tons and tons of lead, and belts... A belt is webbing with a release. Also, any shop these days that doesn't have integrated weight BCDs as standard? That doesn't sound right. (Did you stumble upon a Hogarthian OW class? lol)
2. Safety/Standard educational practices. Part of your training is learning how to "dump weight" in the event of an emergency. If Billy and Bobby have right hand release belts, Jimmy and Joany have integrated weight pockets, and Willy and Wanda have BP/W with trim pockets and no belt... The instructor's going to have to go around the class and make sure everyone understands who he's talking about when he references the proper... You get the idea. In fact, in my OW class our rental BCDs had integrated pouches, but we didn't use them because they wanted everyone learning on the same things, ie right hand release belts. (Which they had a MASSIVE pile of in the corner of the pool area)
If you can't find a shop in the ENTIRE Houston area that won't cater to this (and with Galveston right there, I highly doubt it), then just widen the search area. I promise you there's a shop in Spring or The Woodlands that caters to the higher end crowd that'll be a one stop shop.
Or just run up to Dallas for a couple weekends. I know some great folks up here who'll just tell you to bring a smile and a check book.
fnfalman
Contributor
See? Already got feedbacks from a fellow Texan.
I'm up in Dallas man, and every shop up here provides weights to students. Even the independent guys who freelance training have rental deals worked out with the local LDSs, and weights and belts or pockets are always provided as far as I know. There's 2 reasons:
1. Every LDS who's been in the business any length of time has tons and tons of lead, and belts... A belt is webbing with a release. Also, any shop these days that doesn't have integrated weight BCDs as standard? That doesn't sound right. (Did you stumble upon a Hogarthian OW class? lol)
2. Safety/Standard educational practices. Part of your training is learning how to "dump weight" in the event of an emergency. If Billy and Bobby have right hand release belts, Jimmy and Joany have integrated weight pockets, and Willy and Wanda have BP/W with trim pockets and no belt... The instructor's going to have to go around the class and make sure everyone understands who he's talking about when he references the proper... You get the idea. In fact, in my OW class our rental BCDs had integrated pouches, but we didn't use them because they wanted everyone learning on the same things, ie right hand release belts. (Which they had a MASSIVE pile of in the corner of the pool area)
If you can't find a shop in the ENTIRE Houston area that won't cater to this (and with Galveston right there, I highly doubt it), then just widen the search area. I promise you there's a shop in Spring or The Woodlands that caters to the higher end crowd that'll be a one stop shop.
Or just run up to Dallas for a couple weekends. I know some great folks up here who'll just tell you to bring a smile and a check book.
dolesorchard
Contributor
Your need for weight has nothing to do with your body weight. I weigh 210 and am negatively bouyant in salt water. With a 3mm wetsuit I need about 12 #. My wife weighs 110 and floats like a cork, she wears 16# with 3mm suit.
Similar threads
