DIR- Generic Travelling with backplate rig - advice needed please

[leakydrysuit]

Forgive me for the pedestrian question. I know this is the tech area. I no longer do tech diving, but I like to adhere to the principles that I learned when I did.

I dive in fresh water with a single tank using a Halcyon SS backplate and an old steel OMS single tank adaptor, for the added weight. I use Halcyon ditchable side pockets for any extra weight that is required (usually 4-5 lbs per side). I have trim pockets on each of my two tank "bands"/webbing straps, which I don't typically use.

When I travel to warmer locations for ocean diving, I have to add weight (salt water) and I don't want to use a weight belt. I typically accomplish this by bringing my usual backplate and single tank adapter (that's a fair amount of dead weight to pack) and then adding weight to the trim pouches to make up for whatever extra is required. The capacity of the Halcyon side pouches is limited, but I can usually get a bit more in there than I usually use.

I can continue doing this, but I have to wonder if there might be a better way that would allow me to cut down on the amount of steel that I'm lugging around in my luggage. Can anyone suggest a functional alternative approach? If I go with a lighter backplate/adaptor, I'm concerned that I won't be able to put enough in the pockets to avoid needing to carry extra weight elsewhere.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jadairiii]

There is the "old school" DIR method of attaching hip weights to the STA tank bands, one on the top and one on the bottom, that is 10 extra pounds of weight. Normally though, we only added one on the top band.

And when I say "old school", this was late 90's early 2000's DIR.

 

[lowwall]

You can put a pair of small trim pockets on each tank strap. Push them back next to the plate.

At up to 5 pounds per pocket, you have the potential of adding 20 pounds of lead. This should be enough to let you switch to an AL plate and/or STA.

Edit. I don't know if this is DIR approved. But it is Achim approved

 

[Cornbread O'Malley]

I opted to travel with a Halcyon carbon fiber backplate, instead of the SS backplate, to help with the dead weight problem. I still marry the stainless steel STA to the carbon fiber plate. Fortunately for me, I only need an additional 4 pounds of lead to dive in salt water while wearing 3mm exposure protection.

You can get four larger trim pockets to increase the capacity of weight on your tank straps. I have also threaded the tank straps directly through weights, and after closing the cam buckle the weights are tight against the cylinder. I have seen people use a third tank strap, wrap it around the cylinder, and hang weight pockets and weights off that strap.

 

[Badger7]

When I'm diving a light plate and a lighter tank like an AL80 in saltwater, I find that putting that 4-10 pounds needed to address saltwater bouyancy up on cam bands can feel just a tad "tipsy" compared to a config I'd be diving back home in fresh. Don't get me wrong - totally manageble, but not quite ideal.

Have you considered weight plates (which way almost nothing), grabbing some lead from boat and lacing them on your shoulder or waist harness straps? The plates themselves weigh nothing, and if you're only talking 2-3 pounds on each side you'll hardly notice them, other than you might find the lower weight placement on the harness versus up on the cam bands feels at little more stable when everything else is super lightweight.

 

[leakydrysuit]

Thank you for the replies. I am definitely getting old and would identify as someone trained in the "old school" era described above. I am diving a 5mm suit, which is barely enough for me where I dive in Canada and even got chilly in the Galapagos on certain dives, so I still bring it down south with me.

I'll look into these ideas. Appreciate your time.