Weight Int BC & a Weight belt?

[ScubaAaron]

I've just bought my diving gear and need some quick advice. I'm switching from a 7mm farmer wetsuit and rental gear to my own stuff finally. I purchased a WI Aqualung Mavrick RDS BC and a 7mm neoprene drysuit. It was recommended to me by the dive shop that I use 9lbs in each front WI pocket, 3lbs in each trim pocket, 2lbs per ankle weight and a 8lbs weight belt. This should be about right for weight but I'm wondering if the weight belt is necessary? They said it will help distribute the weight and not to overload the BC. Is this good advice?

Should I go even further to 12lbs weight belt to get more off the BC?

Am I wasting my time by not using the BC to it's full WI potential?

I am not concerned about the ditchable vs non-ditchable argument.

Thanks,

Aaron.

 

[bridgediver]

Hi aaron,
My first BC was a Maverick and I have to say that I HATE weight belts so I never used a belt with the Maverick. I would suggest staying away from ankle weights as they seem to put you in a more heads up position and you just don't need em (mine collect dust now). About the belt, I'd say try it if you want - 8# on a belt isn't too much and shouldn't cause you much difficulty. I don't think you'll find a big difference though.

I found that the more weight you could put in the back (trim) pockets the better the trim. Alot of weight in the ditchable pockets will put you in a more head up position. Not sure what a belt will do for you in respect to trim in this case.
I was putting 30# in the maverick when I was starting out and it seemed to operate OK. 5# in each back pocket and 10# in each ditchable. Trim wasn't great but the weighting didn't seem to be affected by this.
I also used 5# in each ditchable (empty back) for warm water and trim was about the same with the heavy weight.

Try it and do what YOU like the best.

 

[ScubaAaron]

Thanks for the quick response.

I'll have to read up more on ankle weights. As my boots are built into my drysuit (big air pockets) it was suggested that I would require ankle weights.

It's easy to say "try it out and see how you like it" but then I've spent $$ on a weight belt I may never use again. I take it that in your opinion I'm better off stuffing more weight in the BC and return the weight belt.

Aaron.

 

[norcaldiver]

I know this is a tread about a belt, but I'd wait on the ankle weights. I have a drysuit that has built in boots and my feet don't float. I know lots of people swear by them, even in drysuits with rock boots, but it's easy for me to get vertical completely upsidedown and recover to horizontal and stay at the same depth +-3ft.

 

[bridgediver]

ScubaAaron once bubbled...
As my boots are built into my drysuit (big air pockets) it was suggested that I would require ankle weights.

ankle weights will help keep your feet down for sure but practice controlling your bouancy will help more in the long run in my opinon. If your suit fits well you shouldn't have too much problems with air trapping. I have very little air in the suit (just to keep the squeeze off) and a slow ascent will keep the air to a minimum. Some make the use of gators but I haven't had the need. Sorry but I've gotta say it again, try it first - without ankles for a few dives at least and if you're having lots of trouble maybe get them then but ask around and I think most will tell you ankle weights will eventually sit in the closet.

As far as the weight belt goes. Maybe borrow one to try and if you find that you don't like it then you can take your new one back. But no, personally I don't think you'll need a belt.

You could just keep the belt too. Mine was sitting next to my ankle weights for a while until I got a backplate and lately I've been using the belt. Not for long though - I still hate the belt and will get integrated pouches for the BP soon!

 

[ScoobyDave]

Use a weight belt to keep from overloading the BC? Humm. And, if my math is right, you are talking 36# total weight - certainly not excessive for a quality BC.

Aaron,
On early dives, I was carrying 30# in my BC with no weight belt. I had 10# in ditchable rear trim pockets, and the rest in the side trim pockets. On subsequent dives as I became more comfortable (less excited?) I was able to drop the total weight to 22#. No belt, no ankle weights.

I'd wait on the ankle weights and put everything in the BC - no need to carry any additional gear than you need. And at that weight level, I'd be sure to have some in rear trim - about 60% for a start.

Dave

 

[GreenDiverDown]

...gave you some pretty good advice.

Use the weight belt. Crammin' all of that weight into a BC is not a good idea...split it up. You could add more to the belt...I like to keep it at 10 or under but if you prefer the 12 then go for it.

Just because a BC has X amount of lift is no reason to cram all your weight in it. All of that weight in the BC presents several problems:

It makes for an extremely heavy BC...makes rigging up and/or moving it around a bit more difficult.

It may make your trim a bit funky as well.

But most importantly...

...it limits your options for ditching weight if the need should arise. If you have 8# on the belt you can drop that and better control your ascent. If you have to drop a weight pocket filled with...hmm ... 13# (that's the 9 you already have in each pocket plus 4 from the belt for each side) then controlling your ascent will be that much more difficult. Some BCs drop both pockets. I don't know about yours but if that's the case you would jettison 26#...whosh!


Limit your weightbelt to 10# or less and you won't even know it's there.

SA

 

[bridgediver]

Stephen Ash once bubbled...
[BCrammin' all of that weight into a BC is not a good idea...split it up.
SA [/B]

why do you say that it is not a good idea to put all the weight in the BC? It is designed to hold at least 30# and it fits in there fine.

Stephen Ash once bubbled...
Just because a BC has X amount of lift is no reason to cram all your weight in it.
SA [/B]

I'm not sure if you understand that Aaron will need alot of weight to sink a neo dry suit. I don't think the idea is to fill all the pockets just because you can. The thing is, he's got to put the weight somewhere - theres no reason not to "load up" the BC.

Stephen Ash once bubbled...
It makes for an extremely heavy BC...makes rigging up and/or moving it around a bit more difficult.
SA [/B]

True. But again, the weight has got to be somewhere, if not in the BC then on a belt. It's just as heavy on the belt. The ditchable pockets can be easily removed/replaced on the surface. With the ditchable pockets out it's easy enough to move around. We're talking only 10# extra in the trim pockets if they're filled to capacity. Trust me I've done it.

Stephen Ash once bubbled...
...it limits your options for ditching weight if the need should arise. If you have 8# on the belt you can drop that and better control your ascent. If you have to drop a weight pocket filled with...hmm ... 13# (that's the 9 you already have in each pocket plus 4 from the belt for each side) then controlling your ascent will be that much more difficult. Some BCs drop both pockets. I don't know about yours but if that's the case you would jettison 26#...whosh!
SA [/B]

This is not the case with the maverick. You can drop one pocket or the other.
Lets be careful about half ditching weights though. If you are in so much trouble that you have to drop weights I think you should drop whatever you can. Chances are if you have to drop you're in deep ---- and are close to drowning and probably panicing. I don't believe anyone will take a second to decide how much they should drop. Yes you might blow your ascent and get bent but you're not dead. I think having options to ditch weight is a mistake IMHO.