OW Certification Weight System Question

[BVickery]

I beleive I am using 100's, but they can very well be 80's. I will find out tomorrow for sure what I am using.

As far as venting, it sometimes seems like I'm having a hard time venting but don't know if there will be some 'newness' issues as it gets a bit mroe 'broken in'. Again, don't know if it should vent perfectly from the get go or not since the first times it was used at all was today.

 

[BVickery]

Bit of an update:

Got the DUI Weight and Trim II system on order and going to be 2nd Day Air to the shop about 40 mins south of here. Also arranging for a meeting on Wedsday to get the weights properly adjusted as well as some buoyancy checks at their pool.

Question:
The LDS's employee who is very familiar with the setup I have (he dives a DR TransPac as well) and got it all fitted for me properly. The question I have is one about which way I should mount the integrated weight pocket? Horizontally or vertically as far as the quick release system goes? I am just looking for feedback is all to try and make a better informed first choice when I hit the pool on Wedsday.

And again, thank you all for your support, and even criticism.

 

[mselenaous]

Hi BVickery,
Glad you are getting your weight issues sorted out. As for your LDS being out of small increments of weights, there are about a 1/2 dozen LDS in Jax (I'm originally from Jax) or wait til you get to the Keys, there's a dive shop on every corner to pick up weights. Not kidding - there are more dive shops in Key Largo than gas stations.

I have a transpac - perfect for warm FL diving and and now I have a transplate. I bought the transplate with the SS backplate & switched to steel tanks because I needed the additonal weight now that I dive in cold water (thick wetsuits/drysuit, etc).

The weight pouches are actually diagonal, you can put them opening downward pointing toward your crotch strap so its easy to ditch by using the opposite hand in an emergency; or upward pointing toward your chest strap. I ended up changing to upward since most of the time I'm inserting and pulling them out while I'm wearing the rig, especially to get back up a boat ladder I just pull up and hand them up to the boat. Trial and error, they are easy enough to disassemble and reassemble so pick which ever setup you feel most comfortable with. And make sure to make your dive buddy aware of your setup during your buddy check.

Good luck on your OW dives - the Keys will be alot warmer and spectacular to see than Ginnie Springs or Kingley Lake where I did my first OW training dives.

 

[W8less]

I'm sure this will light a firestorm!!!!

I wonder if the instructor is seeing something else with this student and is using the weighting issue to stay politically correct in trying to steer him away from diving.

At 6'7" and 380 lbs. This potential diver has a Body Mass Index of 42.2% That is 12% over the line for being clinically obese. That just generally doesn't jive with having a clean bill of health or having sufficient fitness for the activity. (They are different)

When it's all good, anyone can dive, but we all know diving can be a physically demanding endeavor. When the stuff hits the fan it is going to be your skill level AND/OR your physical fitness that will save your bacon.

We have all seen too many divers that look like stuffed sausages in their wet suits and can not get back up the boat ladder without a winch or have difficulty walking back up a not very steep beach.

This post is not intended to polarize our more robust friends. There are a lot of divers that are carrying extra weight that are excellent divers and probably dive within their limits, but where do you draw the line?

If you are an instructor and have a student, that can barely fit into the largest wetsuit farmer johns and has trouble picking a tank up, can you in good conscience certify this person to go dive wherever/whatever conditions?

I'm not saying they should be totally barred from diving but I firmly believe for their own safety and the good of the sport that they should focus on their fitness before their certification.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I'm sure this will light a firestorm!!!!

I wonder if the instructor is seeing something else with this student and is using the weighting issue to stay politically correct in trying to steer him away from diving.

At 6'7" and 380 lbs. This potential diver has a Body Mass Index of 42.2% That is 12% over the line for being clinically obese. That just generally doesn't jive with having a clean bill of health or having sufficient fitness for the activity. (They are different)

When it's all good, anyone can dive, but we all know diving can be a physically demanding endeavor. When the stuff hits the fan it is going to be your skill level AND/OR your physical fitness that will save your bacon.

We have all seen too many divers that look like stuffed sausages in their wet suits and can not get back up the boat ladder without a winch or have difficulty walking back up a not very steep beach.

This post is not intended to polarize our more robust friends. There are a lot of divers that are carrying extra weight that are excellent divers and probably dive within their limits, but where do you draw the line?

If you are an instructor and have a student, that can barely fit into the largest wetsuit farmer johns and has trouble picking a tank up, can you in good conscience certify this person to go dive wherever/whatever conditions?

I'm not saying they should be totally barred from diving but I firmly believe for their own safety and the good of the sport that they should focus on their fitness before their certification.

Why you are considering catagories of people you should deny diving to over the internet based on BMI, I have a few othes for you.

Ban any old guys - we have far too many heart attacks
Ban women - most of them are small and weak
Ban anyone with a physical disability
Ban anyone with body piercings - these might get caught in the gear
Ban anyone who cannot swim at least 1 mile, with their hands tied behind them

Bottom line for me. I don't care what the dude weighs. If the instructor had a concern on this, he should have stated it up front before the class.

At checkout, it should be: Can he perform the required skills?
Is he a danger to himself or his buddy.

 

[muddiver]

Bit of an update:

Got the DUI Weight and Trim II system on order and going to be 2nd Day Air to the shop about 40 mins south of here. Also arranging for a meeting on Wedsday to get the weights properly adjusted as well as some buoyancy checks at their pool.

Question:
The LDS's employee who is very familiar with the setup I have (he dives a DR TransPac as well) and got it all fitted for me properly. The question I have is one about which way I should mount the integrated weight pocket? Horizontally or vertically as far as the quick release system goes? I am just looking for feedback is all to try and make a better informed first choice when I hit the pool on Wedsday.

And again, thank you all for your support, and even criticism.

Loose the weight pockets if you are going to use the DUI system. With the DUI system you can extend the shoulder straps and move the weight down to your hips where you really need to have it. I have the same issue (no hips and top heavy) and I use a DiveRite rig. You can keep the weight pockets if you want to use as utility pouches, but they have openings on the bottom so very little will stay in them. See if you can trade them in for zipper pouches to stick stuff in.

 

[muddiver]

I'm sure this will light a firestorm!!!!

I wonder if the instructor is seeing something else with this student and is using the weighting issue to stay politically correct in trying to steer him away from diving.

At 6'7" and 380 lbs. This potential diver has a Body Mass Index of 42.2% That is 12% over the line for being clinically obese. That just generally doesn't jive with having a clean bill of health or having sufficient fitness for the activity. (They are different)

When it's all good, anyone can dive, but we all know diving can be a physically demanding endeavor. When the stuff hits the fan it is going to be your skill level AND/OR your physical fitness that will save your bacon.

We have all seen too many divers that look like stuffed sausages in their wet suits and can not get back up the boat ladder without a winch or have difficulty walking back up a not very steep beach.

This post is not intended to polarize our more robust friends. There are a lot of divers that are carrying extra weight that are excellent divers and probably dive within their limits, but where do you draw the line?

If you are an instructor and have a student, that can barely fit into the largest wetsuit farmer johns and has trouble picking a tank up, can you in good conscience certify this person to go dive wherever/whatever conditions?

I'm not saying they should be totally barred from diving but I firmly believe for their own safety and the good of the sport that they should focus on their fitness before their certification.

The PADI Standard states anyone who can not run three miles while holding a telephone pole on their shoulder is not fit to dive and should be immediatly banned from all diving activity.


Oh... wait.... the was the 1957 version of SCUBA instruction....

 

[BVickery]

I'm sure this will light a firestorm!!!!

I wonder if the instructor is seeing something else with this student and is using the weighting issue to stay politically correct in trying to steer him away from diving.

At 6'7" and 380 lbs. This potential diver has a Body Mass Index of 42.2% That is 12% over the line for being clinically obese. That just generally doesn't jive with having a clean bill of health or having sufficient fitness for the activity. (They are different)

When it's all good, anyone can dive, but we all know diving can be a physically demanding endeavor. When the stuff hits the fan it is going to be your skill level AND/OR your physical fitness that will save your bacon.

We have all seen too many divers that look like stuffed sausages in their wet suits and can not get back up the boat ladder without a winch or have difficulty walking back up a not very steep beach.

This post is not intended to polarize our more robust friends. There are a lot of divers that are carrying extra weight that are excellent divers and probably dive within their limits, but where do you draw the line?

If you are an instructor and have a student, that can barely fit into the largest wetsuit farmer johns and has trouble picking a tank up, can you in good conscience certify this person to go dive wherever/whatever conditions?

I'm not saying they should be totally barred from diving but I firmly believe for their own safety and the good of the sport that they should focus on their fitness before their certification.

BMI is a complete joke when you start looking at it. It does not take any variables into account. If you are this tall and weigh this much, you have this much body fat. Well, I typed in some weights of athletes, and wouldn't you know, they are listed as overweight and my brother is a few BMI points away from being 'obese' even though he barely has any fat on him.

As far as deciding what I should and shouldn't do, I tend to give HEAVY weight to what my Doctors tell me (I spoke to my Orthopedic, I talked with my Gen. Practitioner as well as consulted with Nutrition Physician Specialist - basically a doctor who specializes in eating and weight management).

And here is what they told me-
Orthopedic - SCUBA is one of the FEW 'sports' I can safely participate and is actually HEAVILY encouraged for those with total hip replacement. Given I have some arthritis in my joints, the swimming is nothing short of a boon for the treatment.

Nutrition Specialist - With the diet I am on, and given the activity of SCUBA, as well as overall swimming has increased my weight loss in a rapid, yet acceptable and healthy manner.

Gen. Prac - I am edging towards being classified as diabetic, as well as hypertension. After examining and running tests these two conditions are tied to my being overweight.

Now, since I have taken up SCUBA, I have dropped 15 lbs. I have been feeling damn good about myself and not in a depressive state about being overweight. My arthritis is not flaring up as much and not as badly as before. Me and my wife are going out, doing things and meeting new people and as such I consider myself to be in a happy marriage.

Am I the 'ideal' size/weight for SCUBA? I would say no. But what it has done is put me on the road to do so. And if you have had any sort of weight problems then you would know that depression/guild is a killer for weight loss.

And as far as being PC, the instructors told my wife flat out that his ONLY worry is gear (BC I bought has had problems with the LPI hose leaking and getting a proper weight out for OW class since they could only for the most part try to figure out my weight for CW using 2 3lb weights and 6 6lb weights. I could not do a few skills, but one is due to a disability (could not lift and lower, instead fell forward as told to by the instructor). The other is one of the cramp removal techniques given I have long legs and one of my arms is locked so it can not fully extend to grab the fins, instead just had to lean forward and massage the muscle (the alternate way shown).

 

[rollerboi]

Good on ya. Welcome to the world of scuba diving!

 

[DevonDiver]

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.

If your weights (in the bcd or on a weight belt) are resting on the bottom...then they are not contributing to your buoyancy. When removing/replacing a bcd with integrated weigh system or a weightbelt, it is important to keep them off the bottom.

If you hold something heavy away from your body, you will topple. When you topple, the weight goes onto the bottom and you end floating above it. When removing/replacing, keep the bcd and/or weightbelt close to your torso.

Achieving perfect trim is a fine art...and requires some investment of time, thought and money. Try to imagine your body horizontal underwater....then imagine where your center of gravity would lie (somewhere between the sternum and navel on the centerline of your torso). When diving, try to obtain a neaturally buoyant floating horizontal position (like a Skydiver). Do not 'fight' the water or 'try' to balance... but at the same time, maintain some rigidity in your back and limbs. Push your hips forwards, arch your back slightly and bend the legs upwards at the knees. When floating like this - you will swiftly feel if the position of your weights needs to be adjusted...as you will tilt over your center of gravity.

Also remember that being over-weighted will seriously compromise your stability and trim in the water. Typically, your weights will be located below your center of gravity (around the waist/hips)...meaning your lower body is pulled down. If you are over-weighted, then you have to put more air into your BCD to compensate for this and to achieve neutral buoyancy. The air in your BCD is above your center-of-gravity...and this pulls your top half upwards.

The more overweighted you are...the more pronounced the push-pull effect of this becomes.

Be warned...some instructors tend to overweight students.