noob wetsuit/fin alert

[greatwolf]

go with a) but ditch the ditchable weights (if you're talking about integrated weight pouches)... just use a cheap weight belt.

Or weight pouches on the cam bands...

 

[fingerling]

yep, i think that's about right ~3kg for the SS, jacket bc's have "inherent" +bouyancy in them that the BP/w combos don't have, me thinks again.

@pak,marvin: thanks, i'll probably go in that direction, i'm quite terrified diving without the redundancy of qr weightbelts

 

[pakman]

Bing, try this later as you get more comfortable with your diving and do it under the supervision of an instructor or someone you trust...

Find somewhere shallow -5m or so, go to the bottom deflate your wing/ BCD fully with your usual weights and then slowly swim yourself up and once on the surface see how much effort it takes to keep you head out of the water. With the amount of weights that I foresee you using and presuming you're not diving steel tanks, it isn't that hard...

Quick release weights IMHO can be more of a hazard than benefit...

 

[Hammerhead]

FWIW, I'm with pakman regarding the quick release weights. Personally, I'm happy putting the weights directly on the cam straps, sliding the the buckle over to the side and locating the weights dead centre on the top of the tank so they don't pull you to one side.

If I were in a real emergency, I doubt that losing +/- 2lbs of lead by dropping a belt would make the difference between me making it to the surface or not as I'm a pretty good swimmer.

Oh, and I like to keep things as simple as possible. No belt = 1 less thing to worry about when gearing up.

Now you need to look at getting an old plastic harness style backplate and ditching the wing. Oh, and a double hose reg. Preferably from the 50's / 60's. Remember not to mount it upside down or you look silly.

 

[Mike Veitch]

Remember not to mount it upside down or you look silly.

:54:...

 

[fingerling]

i'm looking silly enough as it is... :huh: my real concern would be staying on the surface ;^D

@pak: will do as soon as I get my rig, thanks :blinking:

 

[Mike Veitch]

in over 5000 dives, i have never had a BC fail catastrophically... nor seen one, and i work in the dive tourist industry... so staying on the surface is something i wouldn't worry about that is for sure

but, go with the Alum i say and the weights on the cam.

Lighter for travel that way too

 

[jonix]

my ss keeps me down, 2.5 puffs into the bladder (diverite venture wing 28lbs i think) and i'm neutral. ditchable weights were my concern as well at the start when i was still using my seaquest bc but the balance and feeling of wearing nothing convinced me on the bp.

but i'd suggest as pak and mike said to go with the alum. i went ss for a reason.

 

[greatwolf]

FWIW, I'm with pakman regarding the quick release weights. Personally, I'm happy putting the weights directly on the cam straps, sliding the the buckle over to the side and locating the weights dead centre on the top of the tank so they don't pull you to one side.

If I were in a real emergency, I doubt that losing +/- 2lbs of lead by dropping a belt would make the difference between me making it to the surface or not as I'm a pretty good swimmer.

Oh, and I like to keep things as simple as possible. No belt = 1 less thing to worry about when gearing up.

Now you need to look at getting an old plastic harness style backplate and ditching the wing. Oh, and a double hose reg. Preferably from the 50's / 60's. Remember not to mount it upside down or you look silly.

I happened to channel surf the other day and saw Elvis Presley in one of his movies using a double hose reg, manifolded tanks and a BCD which looks something like what the diver on the right is wearing. The plate wasn't connected to the BCD/Wing/Vest at all...

 

[jonix]

:54:...

:rofl2::rofl2: