Weight-integrated BCD or belt?

[Jeff Toorish]

I had a nasty experience with a weight belt buckle coming undone at depth. The next day I bought an integrated BCD. I couldn't wait to not have a belt anymore! Over time, I realized that the integrated weights created their own problems, especially when diving from a boat. On some boats, you have to remove your BC before climbing aboard after a dive. The crew just never seems ready to grab the weight pockets like they do a weight belt.

Since that time I have switched to a BPW and gone back to a weight belt. I find I don't mind the weight belt as much as I used to, especially now that I am using my own belt, not a rental with a bad buckle. I can more accurately control where the weight is and take off the belt to hand it up on a boat.

The only real downside is changing weights whenever I change suit configurations...but that really isn't that much of a big deal.

Jeff

(Is it November yet?)

 

[Thalassamania]

If you're having trouble keeping a weightbelt in place, try a rubber weightbelt with a wire buckle. Works like a champ and does not need to be tightened during the dive.

 

[getwet2]

If I'm wearing a 7mm farmer-john then I split the weight between a belt and the BCD. If I just got the 3mm on then it all goes into the BCD, which doesn't end up being all that much, 10lbs.

I like the integrated, it's far more comfortable. You can distributed the weights more evenly, a couple of pounds in the rear trim pockets and the rest in the main pockets. I've never had a problem with the weights at the beginning of the dive or removing the weights at the end of a dive.

Someone mentioned the tanks tipping over with the weight integrated BCD but if you have your gear all ready to go it should either be laying down on the boat or secured some how in the upright postion so that it doesn't tip over.

 

[Thalassamania]

I dive integrated and can get out of my rig at depth wearing 7mm jump suit, hood and gloves. The trick is you Can not let go! One of my buddies did I grabbed him and his rig and pulled them together otherwise he would have been on the surface. We were in 20 feet of water.

If one where taking the rig off to untangle from a net, that just might be a death sentence

Just an opinion but the weight belt loosens when neoprene compresses which makes the belt loose. I don't care for this and the risk of losing the belt.

Try a rubber weight belt, really, problem solved.

I had a nasty experience with a weight belt buckle coming undone at depth. The next day I bought an integrated BCD. I couldn't wait to not have a belt anymore!

There are alternatives to the crappy buckles most divers use. For a web belt the "SeaQuest" style buckle gives you something that is easy to tighten during the dive, has a posive release, and can be removed in a flash. It is a great design and is still sold by Trident. The rubber blet mentioned above uses a wire buckle that is also a positive closing device and flips to open without having to unthread a long tongue.

 

[djanni]

Integrated. Why? Because they're integrated.

 

[Blackwood]

Just an opinion but the weight belt loosens when neoprene compresses which makes the belt loose. I don't care for this and the risk of losing the belt.

Yah. I over-tighten my belt pre-dive and I wear it under my crotch strap.

 

[Blackwood]

Integrated. Why? Because they're integrated.

Any particular reason why you think integrated is superior to discrete?

HUB fan?

 

[Sharky1948]

I had a nasty experience with a weight belt buckle coming undone at depth.

Two buckles solves that as well. I wouldn't do that for O/W recreational diving, but in overhead environments or on deco dives where the Poseiden missle immitation can easily be fatal, it's a good option.

The only real downside is changing weights whenever I change suit configurations...but that really isn't that much of a big deal.

A pouch belt with soft weights solves that problem. XS Scuba sells a decent one.


Once again, just my 2 cents.

 

[Sharky1948]

Yah. I over-tighten my belt pre-dive and I wear it under my crotch strap.

Good advice. I learned that the hard way on my first BP/W dive in heavy surf. THe crotch strap is a good second pair of hands!

 

[Scuba Jerm]

I, like others have said, enjoy the integrated weights for the purpose of proper trimming. The shifting I've experianced with a weight belt make it more challenging to be comfortable while diving.... and if it's not fun, why dive? So the integrated BC's make you think of 1 less thing while enjoying your dive.