To weight integrate, or not to weight integrate... that is the question

[socaldiver]

It is only 66 to 68 balmy degrees. :all:

Come on out, going to do a shark dive next weekend off Catalina, you are more than welcome to join me.

 

[rcohn]

I've always avoided weight integration for myself, but I generally try to be open minded and didn't comment. This weekend afer helping a student don his BC, when I sent his buddy who was overheating into the water, I decided I'm definitely against integration in the cold water. He had a full Al80, 10 lb in each pocket and 10 lb in the back trim pockets (30 lb of lead). Add the weight of the BC and the regulator and you have around a 75 lb package. No fun to lift and hold in place while a student (or any diver) fumbles to get his arms in.

Of course he promptly lost a pocket when the dive started and couldn't figure out why he was unable to descend. Usually at least one or two pockets are lost each weekend of BOW cert dives, our students are only trained in the pool to use weight belts. I think the shops rent them the integrated units so they can increase the profit margin by charging for the lost pockets and weights.

I don't like weight integration for the following reasons.

• Scuba unit is too heavy
• Pockets may not be easy to remove and replace when handing up weights to a boat, etc.
• Some systems too easy to remove and frequently lost
• If you must remove the scuba unit to disentangle you have a great risk of shooting to the surface. Divers have died because of this.
• More expensive to replace, therefore less likely to ditch.
• Many divers won't be familiar with your system.
• Limited in ability to adjust weight position for proper trim
• No routine practice in ditching, you must remove a weight belt every time you dive
• Reduces space for BC pockets if you have them
• Velcro will wear out with use, weight belts are easier to replace when worn.

Stick to a weight belt.

Ralph

 

[Rick L]

I also perfer a weight belt in cold water!
I have never had a problem with comfort and i use 95 cf steel tanks(bc is heavy enough) and if i feel like snorkling
i just drop off bc and snorkle with my weight belt on.
also i have a whole pile of lead bb filled packs i keep finding. that tells me something too hehe.

my 2 cents Rick L

 

[simonk999]

One reason for weight integration not yet mentioned is when you need to don your bc in-water. It can be dropped overboard with weights attached and therefore none on you. Saves you having to put on your bc, then put on your weight belt. Of course, I suppose these are skills that could use practise anyway, but I'd prefer to skip that hassle.

As for cold water diving, I do use a weight belt because I have had the experience of stuffing a large amount of weight into a (rental) bc and having it not well managed by the velcro. I like the DUI shoulder harness for this, since with a lot of neoprene, it's a lot of weight.

-Simon

 

[sky50960]

rcohn

you said :


" If you must remove the scuba unit to disentangle you have a great risk of shooting to the surface. Divers have died because of this. "

Do you know about a case reports.


Fa

 

[rcohn]

I've read reports, but of course do not recall the sources. When a drysuit diver is out of a back inflate rig he may face a 30, 40, or even 50 lb buoyant force. With heavy gloves and holding on with just one hand (working with the other) on it is easy to lose your grip.

When the New England Aquarium Dive Club newsletter for August ( http://www.neadc.org/newsletter.html ) is finally posted online there is a story from a novice diver who tried this and survived. After reading this guy's story, I'm embarrassed to admit I'm in the same club, so many dumb mistakes and so much unjustified overconfidence. It doesn't sound like he even had the sense to try to hold onto the BC.

Ralph

 

[joewr]

Ralph,

I read your list and thought to myself, "Self, others will read the list and decide for themselves how compelling it is." Obviously, I do not or I would not be using integrated wts. But, in the end, I decided to comment...surprise!

It is tempting to tackle each item, one by one, but I will not secumb! My reputation for verbosity is getting out of hand. Beside, I need to get out in the garden and prune the roses!

So, if I may, a few anecdotes:

(1) My wts. can be removed easily and I do that every time I get reboard the boat. I just take them out and hand them up to the captain/DM. So, I do get the practice.

(2) I have seen divers lose wt belts--it happened on my trip to Saba in June--they also wear out.

(3) When selecting a IW system one should check to see how well he/she (Hi, Kimmie!) can remove the wts.

(4) I hardly ever use shot bags because most dive shops do not have them. I just use the hard wts that go on belts and they have always been comfortable and worked just fine. Rick, I suspect you were making a joke--because one puts the shot bags inside a wt. pouch. What you should be finding is wt. pouches with clever little plastic handles on them.

(5) I agree completely with one of your points, Ralph: if you ever have to remove your IW BC u/w you must absolutely hang onto to it. But that is a practice that IW BC users should know. But "should know" and "do know" are two very different concepts!

Egad, verbosity raises its ugly head again!

Joewr

 

[rcohn]

(1) My wts. can be removed easily and I do that every time I get reboard the boat. I just take them out and hand them up to the captain/DM. So, I do get the practice.

That's why I said "MAY not" I know some systems can be easily removed and replaced, however these are generally the easiest to drop accidently. DUI system -- easy to remove pockets, but a pain to rethread. Zeagle ripcord --not easy to remove. etc.

(2) I have seen divers lose wt belts--it happened on my trip to Saba in June--they also wear out.

Agreed. I think the common weight belt buckles are terrible and need to be redesigned. I use a Marseillaise Belt which is unlikely to accidently release. Weight belts take much longer to wear out than velcro and are cheaper and easier (every shop has them) to replace.

Ralph

 

[simonk999]

The new Mares IWS system seems to be a good answer to the problems of velcro. They have it so that the weight pockets in the bc close via a mechanical connection. From their marketing blurb: "The most modern integrated weight release system. Simple, reliable and easy to use even underwater. The weight compartment, which can hold any type of weight, is mechanically connected to the BC and always readily accessible. The oversized release button is easy to use, even when wearing thick neoprene gloves"

 

[joewr]

Simonk,

A short coke break and then back to the roses...

I have not looked at the Mares BCs recently--will do so soon. I may modify my SeaQuest if the Mares system is superior. I like the idea of a mechanical release--if, indeed, it is easy to use and "failure" proof.


Thanks, guys and gals, this has been a worthwhile thread!

Joewr