Wear's the weight?

[jlivengo]

Sorry about the title, bad joke. Anyway, I'm rather new to diving and I'm looking to buy a BC. My problem is that I'm confused on the weight systems. I live in a place where most diving requires me to fly to a suitable location. My question is, do most people with weight integrated systems take their own weights or use the dive center's weights?

Simply put, I'd hate to fly with a suitcase holding 20 lbs of lead or more. Would you recommend a weight belt in this situation? Is it also possible to have a weight-integrated BC and load up on weights where I'm diving? Are there recomended BCs for this purpose? (Ones that take a wide variety of weights so I never have to bring my own?)

Thanks!

 

[grahamsp]

Every dive centre/boat I've ever been to supplies weights and weight belts. Taking your own is absolutely not necessary not to say impractical and expensive given airline baggage weight limits.

As for the right gear to buy, that's another question so heavily influenced by personal preference that I won't get into it. But I would advise you to do the research, talk to your LDS, talk to people with experience and experiment as much as possible before you buy anything.

 

[jlivengo]

Thanks for the reply, unfortunately I may have not made myself clear. I have no intention of taking weights. My question was how possible is this with a weight integrated BC? Do you need custom weights that must be taken along or can you use most weights at the dive centers? Thanks again.

 

[herman]

I have 2 different WI BC's and my wife has a 3rd and all of them use standard hard or soft weights. The soft ones are a little easier to deal with but either work nicely. I have not seen a BC that used any kind of special weights so I don't think you have anything to worry about. I would however suggest that you consider things like overall size and bulk of the BC. I have one WI BC that I like but it darn near takes up an entire suitcase and weighs 8 lbs, my travel BC weighs less than half of that and takes about 1/3 the space.

 

[grahamsp]

Oh, OK.

I'd ask the LDS supplying the BCD. I don't use a weight integrated BCD so I can't give any authoritiative advice. I do know there are some proprietary weight systems with odd-shaped weights (I've seen one with long cylindrical weights mounted vertically on the tank) so you'd be wise to check. Product designers love to lock people in!

Turning the problem around, though, I wouldn't buy any BCD that didn't use bog standard weights if you intend to travel and dive. That way, there'd never be a problem.

 

[tedwhiteva]

Oh, OK.

I'd ask the LDS supplying the BCD. I don't use a weight integrated BCD so I can't give any authoritiative advice. I do know there are some proprietary weight systems with odd-shaped weights (I've seen one with long cylindrical weights mounted vertically on the tank) so you'd be wise to check. Product designers love to lock people in!

Turning the problem around, though, I wouldn't buy any BCD that didn't use bog standard weights if you intend to travel and dive. That way, there'd never be a problem.

Any Weight integrated BC will take standard dive boat (aka lead) weights within reason. The oblong weights you describe above are trim weights added to improve buoyancy control and weight trim.

If you can, rent a similar BC before you buy to make sure you like the way it feels under water. Especially consider if you want a vest BC or back-inflate BC.

 

[waterwraith]

Most if not all WI BC's take standard block weights and soft (shot) weight. I know for a fact that the sea-quest BC's do not take the oblong trim weights.

 

[fmw625]

My Aqualung BCD is integrated and will use the standard block weights or soft weights.

 

[scubatoys]

The other thing I might add... is unless you're diving cold water with very heavy suits, 20 lbs of lead is a lot! Hopefully that's not for 3 mil warm ocean diving.

 

[divenut2001]

Sorry about the title, bad joke. Anyway, I'm rather new to diving and I'm looking to buy a BC. My problem is that I'm confused on the weight systems. I live in a place where most diving requires me to fly to a suitable location. My question is, do most people with weight integrated systems take their own weights or use the dive center's weights?

Like everyone else said, BCs use standard weights which the dive OP will supply along with tanks and weight belts. If you have a belt that's fitted to you that does not have a weight perminently attached, bring it.

Even with a WIBC, you should use a belt if using alot of weight as in cold water diving so you're not putting all the weights in your BC, i.e. 10lbs on belt, 10lbs in BC. In the event you have to ditch your weight belt you'll still have weight in the BC which is also ditchable. Also, it doesn't make the BC so heavy...

Simply put, I'd hate to fly with a suitcase holding 20 lbs of lead or more.

Thanks!

Do not fly with "any" weights in your bags...