The only time I needed to ditch a weight belt

[hbutz]

I was on the ladder of a boat, returning from a wreck dive in 3 foot swells. Having successfully removed my fins, I started to pull myself up onto a rung of the ladder when a wave hit. My foot slipped off the ladder, which would not have been so bad; but, someone had attached a rope to the face of the ladder running diagonally from the top right to bottom left to "make it easier to remove equipment."

In reality, my left leg was now pinned up against the ladder, secured by the rope. The rung was just a bit too high so I could no longer lift the weight of myself, weight belt, and tank out of the water. The boat continued to rise and fall with each wave. I figured, this was a great time to use my knife and just cut the rope off the ladder and start over. But, I had chosen to fasten my knife to the inside of my right leg which dangled far beneath me, far out of reach.

Going back down was impossible so going up was the only option. I had to loose some weight so I unfastened my weight belt, dangled it for a moment to one side, then watched it plunge into the deep waters. My decision was quickly rewarded as I pulled myself back up the ladder. I now carry a knife on my BC.

What I had not seen was our divemaster watching the drama unfold. He was behind me, saw my dilemma and saw my resolution to ditch the belt. With some precise and measured action, he dove to intercept my ribbon of lead in an amazing catch several feet below the surface. Unfortunately, the sudden addition of nearly 30lbs sent him on a rocket sled trip back to the bottom.

We waited on the boat for nearly an hour without any sign of our divemaster. Finally, quietly, he surfaced. He explained what had happened and, due to his sudden and uncontrolled trip back to the bottom, he thought it prudent to make a few decompression stops on the way back up - where he reunited me with my weight belt. Really amazing.

 

[Peter69_56]

Congratulations on a smart decision, weight belts are replaceable, compared to a permanently damaged limb or loss of life.

Also you learned something, knives should be placed in reach. Also having more than one is essential, if you are caught in a net its easy during the moment to lose one. I have three, one near my waist on my BC, a rope cutter on my chest strap and another folding knife in a pocket. All unobtrusive but essential. Having a huge machete attached to the inside of ones leg may look cool but its not a practical spot, as you have learned. When you are caught in a net and watching your knife slowly disappear into the abyss, having a second seems somewhat prudent.

Anyway you came out of it unscathed and a more confident and a more learned person.

Thanks for sharing your experience

 

[fisheater]

Well done. And, I assume, a rather large tip was bestowed upon that divemaster.

 

[billt4sf]

Am I mistaken, or was it a mistake for the DM to hold on to the belt and let it drag him down "on a rocket trip to the bottom" and be gone (presumably solo) for nearly an hour to save $50 worth of lead? That seems inappropriate to me.

- Bill