Weight Comparison

[Herk_Man]

Being someone that basically dives a traditional rig because they've never been someplace that sells or trains DIR, but also being someone with an open mind, I'm curious about some of the differences between the two.

I normally dive with about 12 pounds of weight in salt water.

Assuming I use the same size single tank regardless of the type of gear I dive, what can I expect as far as weight difference when comparing a typical jacket style BC setup vs. a DIR BC/W setup?

I usually dive a shorty so I'm assuming I'm going to still need weight pockets with some amount of weight. Can I expect the amount of weight needed to keep me down, even when I get low on air, to decrease as well with a DIR setup?

Thanks in advance,

e.

 

[LiteHedded]

when you ditch all that foam padding and nonsense you'll need a good bit less weight to get down.
especially in a shorty.
in a wetsuit with a single tank and a steel plate I don't need any weight in salt water

 

[JeffG]

The difference is that a steel plate (DIR/Hog rig) weighs around 6 lbs and is ~-6lb buoyant.

A traditional BC will weigh close to 6 lbs, but will be closer to neutrally buoyant.

So swapping one for the other will force the user to add/subtract ~ 6lbs of lead (depending on which change they do)

 

[captndale]

The typical stainless steel back plate weighs about 6 to 7 pounds. If you change from a recreational BC to a Back plate and wings you will be able to reduce your lead ballast by at least that amount. Recreational BC's also typically contain significant amounts of closed-cell foam for cushioning. The closed cell foam is just like wet suit material in that it is positively buoyant and changes buoyancy with depth. Depending on how much foam is present in the BC you are using now, you should be able to drop some weight that you have been carrying to offset the buoyancy of your current BC. Of course there is no short-cut to checking your buoyancy in the water with any new equipment configuration.

 

[Sas]

The difference is that a steel plate (DIR/Hog rig) weighs around 6 lbs and is ~-6lb buoyant.

A traditional BC will weigh close to 6 lbs, but will be closer to neutrally buoyant.

Actually many traditional BCs are positive, sometimes fairly positive. My old BC was 4lb positive approximately so I dropped 10lb when switching to a BP/W with stainless steel plate. My buddy was the same when he swapped.

So Herk_Man if you have an SS BP you can drop around 6lb then if your other BC is positive you'll be able to drop some more.

 

[kanonfodr]

I used to dive a rec BC with 12 pounds, but when I switched to my SS plate and also steel tanks I now use no lead with my 3mil fullsuit, and I'm just getting positive with 400 psi in the tanks. The steel tanks is really what does it, since aluminum tanks end up way positive at the end of the dive.

Peace,
Greg