OW Certification Weight System Question

[BVickery]

I just got done with the confined water dives and was talking with the Instructor, and he talked to me and the wife that I may not pass OW just because of proper weighting issues.

My OW cert. is this coming weekend in the Florida Keys so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Here is my setup:

DR Trans Pac Harness
DR Trek Wing
DR 32LB QLR Weight Pocket
2 small weight pouches attached to the cam band (used only on 2nd day)

About me:

6'7, about 380 lbs (had a full physical by Doc so no health worries from him) and a 48" waist, but I have no 'hips' to speak of.

Observations from the Confined Water dives:

For the first day of CW training I would just tilt backwards since I had a lot of weight towards the back.

The pockets would move about the webbing.

When performing the skill check for removing the scuba unit underwater I would start to float up so would struggle a bit.

Questions:

Would doing a combination of Integrated Weight and a Belt be ideal?

About how much should I look to get in weights? I am thinking about 38lbs or so.

More importantly, what would be a good starting point as far as 'spreading' my weight about in the system?

Should I also look at possibly adding in a small amount of weight at the ankles?


Thank you in advance for any help you can give.


Add'l information:
To be clear, the instructors could not do much in terms of trimming me out since we had 2 3 lb weights and about 6 6 lb weights. Dive shop was out of 1's,2's, bought out the remaining 3's, 4's and 5lb weights.

 

[snowflake4727]

I dive a transpac, and the pockets should not move if they are installed properly.

Use your abs to keep from falling back. Lean forward. Remember that you need to be in control, not the BC. Your smarter, be the boss.

When doing the doff and don keep the BC as close to you as possible. Think about being one with the BC even though it is off. It sounds corny but it helps. Remember that with the weight on the BC that when you take it off you have no weight on you. Keep it close, hug it.

Unless your feet are really floaty you do not need ankle weights. In 95% of cases I believe that they are training wheels. You just need to learn to control yourself. Use your muscles.

You are probably close on the weight, however if I had you in the pool for a night I know I could get some off you.

Remember that you are learning something new. Even though it looks easy, it does take practice and experience and more importantly the understanding that a good diver is always learning.

You can PM if you have any other questions.

I would advise talking to your instructor to see if he can do an extra pool session privately with you. He will probably charge but it would be worth it.

 

[The Kraken]

Weight harness.
They're frequently used by dry suit divers.

In my opinion, it's incumbent upon your instructor to help you resolve these issues.

the K

 

[Web Monkey]

I just got done with the confined water dives and was talking with the Instructor, and he talked to me and the wife that I may not pass OW just because of proper weighting issues.

Working with you on your weighting is part of the class. "Not passing" Open Water because of "Proper weighting issues" is an admission by your instructor that he's either incompetent or lazy. If you're feeling generous, you can tell him so and let him choose which answer he likes better.

I'd go back and tell him he can either do his job and work with you to resolve whatever problems you're having, or refund your money so you can find a competent instructor.

My OW cert. is this coming weekend in the Florida Keys so any help would be greatly appreciated.

The OW checkout dives are supposed to be done when you're ready, not when it's convenient for him. They're a validation that you can perform the skills you were taught in Open Water, and is not a test to fail those that didn't learn quick enough. If you're not comfortable in the water and pretty much completely bored with everything including your weighting and horizontal trim and skills in the pool, you're not ready and he shouldn't be pushing you. It just means you need more time in the pool and/or class.

As far as the weighting issues go, I'd just switch to something like the "DUI Weight and Trim weight" harness (below). I wear it with my drysuit, and it works like a charm.

If he gets snotty about requiring you doing the "ditch the weight belt" skill with an actual weight-belt, you can wear the harness and put 4 lbs on a belt to make him happy.

PS. the weight harness comes in various sizes. Don't worry about the skinny girl in the picture. I've never measured it, but I'm guessing the XL size would easily fit a 50"+ waist.

About how much should I look to get in weights? I am thinking about 38lbs or so.

Nobody can tell you how much weight you'll need. You'll need to do a buoyancy check in the water as described in your OW book.

Terry

 

[fnfalman]

I'm sorry but it sounds like your instructor isn't doing his job here.

But it also sounds like that the weight pouches are not installed correctly, otherwise they wouldn't slide around. The shop should have helped you rig this BC up properly.

The trim weight on the cam bands sound like a good idea.

Trek wing is wayyyyyyy too big for you and probably is the problem with your buoyancy issue.

 

[BVickery]

I dive a transpac, and the pockets should not move if they are installed properly.

Use your abs to keep from falling back. Lean forward. Remember that you need to be in control, not the BC. Your smarter, be the boss.

After reading up on the boards, will need to pick up some clips so the weight pouches do not move around.

When doing the doff and don keep the BC as close to you as possible. Think about being one with the BC even though it is off. It sounds corny but it helps. Remember that with the weight on the BC that when you take it off you have no weight on you. Keep it close, hug it.

I keep it very close. Again, when I was in the pool and all the weight on the BC it was a big effort to stay towards the bottom with the BC. I can only imagine that it would be a lot worse in saltwater with a wetsuit on.

Unless your feet are really floaty you do not need ankle weights. In 95% of cases I believe that they are training wheels. You just need to learn to control yourself. Use your muscles.

My dive partner, the wife, said that I my feet did float a bit, was looking at something like 1lb or so per foot.

You are probably close on the weight, however if I had you in the pool for a night I know I could get some off you.

One of the divemasters took some time during class and we got some of the weight issues resolved, but still fine tuning.

Remember that you are learning something new. Even though it looks easy, it does take practice and experience and more importantly the understanding that a good diver is always learning.

I fully agree, I didn't mean to imply that I looked like an expert doing the skills, but rather the instructor said I showed enough proficiency he would no issues passing me for Open Water.

I would advise talking to your instructor to see if he can do an extra pool session privately with you. He will probably charge but it would be worth it.

When I talked with the instructor, he was the one who mentioned about splitting my weights out a bit (most in the BC and then some either on belt or harness). I will definitely try and get in touch with him to see if he can do a session on Wedsday (LDS sold out of their selection of weights, just had 6lb and 8lbers in stock).

I kept the response in thread in case someone else is having something similar to my own issues.

 

[BVickery]

Trek wing is wayyyyyyy too big for you and probably is the problem with your buoyancy issue.

Which wing should I have looked at getting instead?

 

[Web Monkey]

Trek wing is wayyyyyyy too big for you and probably is the problem with your buoyancy issue.

I'm betting the problem is the instructor, who hasn't helped the OP work out his weight and trim problems. I'm not ready to blame the BC just yet.

Terry

 

[BVickery]

PS. the weight harness comes in various sizes. Don't worry about the skinny girl in the picture. I've never measured it, but I'm guessing the XL size would easily fit a 50"+ waist.

Nobody can tell you how much weight you'll need. You'll need to do a buoyancy check in the water as described in your OW book.

Terry

This is the one I am looking at, and again, this is what my instructor actually told me to get for the OW dives instead of the belt or adding to the integrated system. Given its 10pm on a Sunday night will have to wait til the morning to call and see if the stocking dealer near me has one or if I have to have one overnighted.

I'm betting the problem is the instructor, who hasn't helped the OP work out his weight and trim problems. I'm not ready to blame the BC just yet.

What would be a sign if I was actually sold a wing that was to big?

 

[Web Monkey]

What would be a sign if I was actually sold a wing that was to big?

"Too big" in a wing generally refers to whether or not it wraps around the tank (tacos), which can make venting it more difficult, or if it's really too big, causes excess drag.

Someone who has actually seen your particular wing would have a better idea if it's too big for your tank (are you diving an 80, or are you getting something bigger?)

Terry