Weight belt with a Int. BCD

[ajtoady]

As I have recently become a drysuit diver I am curious as to: A)advantages of a belt weight system vs the weight integrated into BCD B) comfort of a belt system while in said BCD C) splitting the weight between the belt and BCD.

Equipment is as follows: Zeagle Ranger LTD with around 24-26 lbs dispersed in releasable pockets and trim pockets along tank, 117 HP steel tank, TX3 Seasoft suit with fleece undersuit.

I have some of my own ideas but am sure that I will get a lot more ideas from those here. Thanks

 

[Scuba_Noob]

I use 20lbs integrated weight plus another 6lbs split between each BCD pocket. I think having weight split between belt and integrated BCD is okay if it is easy to drop most of your weight and your buddies know how to drop most of your weight. However, having both a weight belt and integrated weights divided equally might complicate things in an emergency, so you might want to put most of the weight in one system.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Personally, I need to keep my weight a bit lower than possible with most BCD's when diving dry to keep my trim as my legs tend to be a bit floaty. So using the integrated weights won't work for me in a dry suit, I pretty much have to use a belt or harness in a D/S. It does not seem to be a critical for me diving wet, even with 7M.

The other concern I would have would be if you need to ditch your rig for any reason (entanglement, etc...) and all you weight is on you rig you are extremely buoyant (30+ lbs) and could end up in an uncontrolled ascent.

 

[bracko]

personally i use weight belt, BCD integrated pockets and non-ditchable pockets with my Oceanic Probe LX.

using all three i find it's got the best weight distribution and simply using my BCD makes it very heavy to carry around (or lift out of the water).

generally i dive with 15-17 lb which is 3-5 lb over weighted as i DM 90% of the time I'm diving so a few extra weights come in handy (and are usually needed).

the weights are pretty evenly distributed over the 3, 4lb in the pockets, 2.5lb each in the BCD pockets and the rest on the belt (as steel shot packets).

 

[currier]

As I have recently become a drysuit diver I am curious as to: A)advantages of a belt weight system vs the weight integrated into BCD B) comfort of a belt system while in said BCD C) splitting the weight between the belt and BCD.

The limited dry diving I have done introduced me to weight vests ... I thought these were a bit ridiculous, and difficult to ditch if necessary. We also used ankle weights ... no belt.I HATE dry suits, and dive wet 12 months a year (down to 18 C). I use a weight integrated BC (max. 4 kg in pockets), so pocket 4 in 3mm shorty, when wearing 3mm full suit, pocket 4 and 2 on tank, when in 7mm vest under 3mm full, pocket 4, 4 on belt, 2 on tank.I don't like to burden the pockets since I've heard stories of them coming loose, but I also like the trim that I'm able to maintain when I have a bit of weight dispersed around.

 

[James R]

When I dive dry w/single Faber HP100 my rig includes a 6lb SS plate and 4lbs on a belt or if I am feeling motivated I can put pockets on the harness. Either setup feels the same in the water.

If you are using 24lbs I think splitting up your weight between your BDC pockets and a separate belt may be a good idea...you can ditch some of your weight in the event you find that you can't swim your rig up without ditching all of it and having the increased possibility of an uncontrolled ascent. My initial thought is that you may have too much lead, but I do realize this is purely an assumption not knowing you, what undergarments you use, and so on.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

When I was using a jacket BC I never put all my weights in one system. Usually had it so I had maybe 4lbs on the belt. More than enough to drop if I lost buoyancy control and needed to get started up and on the surface it was enough to stay there. Using only the integrated system you could drop as much as a third of your weight by just getting rid of one pocket or one falling out. Not my idea of fun.