Time for another controversial topic..........

[Iguana Don]

This to ponder:

Do you really need ditchable weight?
If you drop your weights what are the consequences?

ID

 

[Mverick]

Going to the surface like a poseidan missle never seemed like a brilliant idea. I could see 8lbs ditchable to get you to the surface. But 30 on my drysuit seems a little to much to drop.
I guess it would depend on your gas too. With dual 112's pumped to 140's that would be approximately 21lbs of air on my back. If I'm neutral at 500psi on the surface my weight belt would still need 22lbs ditchable to get me up if I had a problem with full tanks.
Funny thing with Dual lP and a Stainless backplate I sink like a rock anyway. No weight belt needed. Guess I could ditch my duals to go to the surface. Wait, that's where my air is. Where's my buddy.

 

[100days-a-year]

ID,my ditchable consists of a flashlight,speargun&bullets,lobster equipment,or camera occasionally a reel& liftbag.Or any combo of the above.With aSS backplate(6lbs)STA(3lbs)I am neutral at 15' with an empty 80 .As I dive in a polartec or less from April to December,there is no neoprene to offset.As it gets chillier here(only down to 50 or so)I may need weight to sink.The only time I deliberately overweigh myself is in swift current-no vis fossil diving so I don't bump along the bottom.BTW I passed by you on my way to Texas and back last week.I thought I saw bubbles emanating from a pond in a cow pasture that had a large 4-wheeler backed up to it.

 

[Lost Yooper]

Good topic. I currently use 10lbs on a weight belt with my LP 95's, but I keep it under the crotch strap just in case it accidently unbuckles. I intend to get a v-weight one of these days and do away with the belt. Of course, I'm a dry suit diver so if my BC fails, the suit will certainly get me up. I'm also pretty well balanced and am able to swim up if need be. In addition to all of that I carry a Halcyon 80lb lift bag and reel. Finally, if there's a really bad CF going on, my buddy is set up axactly the same way and he'll get me up.
I'm an overhead diver (primarily) -- be it solid like a wreck or a deco ceiling -- so having a belt accidentally come off and shooting to the surface is simply not an option. I'm not a wet suit diver, but if I were and was doing ceiling stuff, I would still keep the belt under the crotch strap to prevent an accident. Ditching it would be the last option. I'd carry a lift bag, try to swim up, or utilize my buddy before I'd ditch the belt. IMO, ditching the belt should be a very deliberate and well thought out event and not be taken lightly for any type of diving -- especially ceiling dives. I'll even go out on a really long limb and say I beleive it's one of the worst practices taught in the industry because it leads to negligence and a false sense of security. Now that should get ya'll wound up!

Take care.

Mike

 

[greg somers]

Just how BIG are you? lol

 

[Lost Yooper]

Ya got me laughin' on that one!. How's this for a controversial topic: How big is YOUR crotch strap? lol!

Mike

 

[Iguana Don]

Mine is held together with bolts!

 

[Frog]

A simerlar question to this was asked on the UK DIS(doing it simple) and DIR boards a few weeks ago. The question also invloved what size wing is needed for UK coldwater diving. Basically everyone came to the agreement that when diving a dry suit you may well puncture it on a wreck or whatever. In that instant the more weight you have to ditch the better. Also the minimum size Halcyon wing used in UK waters is 37lb's. This is for the same reason, if your dry suit floods then you have sufficient bouyancy to get yourself to the surface. Cheers

If anyone is interested in joining the DIS-UK yahoo message board send me a private e-mail.

 

[greg somers]

Let us know Mr Frankencrotch-strap as it's a full moon tonight and I need to know if I should lock my windows and bolt my doors....Neeearhahahahahaha!!!!
Cheers
The Gasman

 

[Texass]

I've wondered about the benifit of ditching weights myself. Every course I've taken mentions the importance of being able to dump your weights, but personnally I'm not sure why I would. I do ALL of my diving in warm water (my coldest dive was 54 degree water) and the most weight I've used is 15lbs. - usually I use 10lbs. Even with a full tank I can reach the surface without straining myself on a fully deflated BC. I just figured it was one of those cardinal rules left over from the early days.