Weight integration or not

[divechilly]

I'm a new diver and am looking to purchase a BCD and reg. I'm in the Northeast and will using a thick wet suit. I was planning on purchasing a weight-integrated BCD. However, I talked with a dive shop and he suggested a classic BC be used because the amount of weight needed to achieve neutral buoyancy makes a weight-integrated BCD very heavy to put on.

Any suggestions?

 

[jstuart1]

I use a weight integrated Mares Vector BC. I need quite a bit of weight. What I like about my BC is the weight pouches. I can don the BC then put the weight pouches in. The slip into the opening and are held in place by a nobby button. I can use either pouch weights or the kind that go on the belt. The leftovers I just slip into the zipper pockets. I have looked at other BCs and have not found one I like as well.

 

[Rick Inman]

Back when I used my WI BC, I kept weight in both the WI pockets and on a belt. You can't adjust the location of WI pockets and I wanted to be able to move my weights around to make trim adjustments - something a belt does very well, and pockets do not.
As to just tossing "leftover" weight into the zippered pockets, I would not use these pockets for what they are not designed to do. You can sometimes find the weights of people who have resting on the bottom.

 

[tkrock]

I dive WI BC and do just fine! in the northeast I use the 7mm farmer john wetsuit and hoods gloves, so I can't get much more wetsuit on me. Anyway, to your question. Just don't put the weight in your pockets until your ready to dive. Now you may have some permant lead on your back pockets if you BC style supports that and that will make a BC a little heavier ( nothing you can't handle) and thats where the trim comes in. If you need to add more weight or balance even more you can always add a belt or slap some lead on your tank. Or if you find yourself not liking the WI aspect of the BC don't use them and just use the belt alone. I'd rather have the WI option and if I don't like it, just use the belt.

There are a thousand reasons to go WI or not. Drift diving, wreck diving, cave diving, quarry, drysuit etc... They all take different techniques and better ways to rig your weights. I think you need to discuss more of what type of diving or where you think you will go with diving with your LDS and then discuss better options on what your BC should have or not. My point, I like options. And just because it's WI doesn't mean you need to dive it that way!!

 

[divenut2001]

As Rick said, you can split the weight between your WIBC and the weight belt. Keep in mind you only need to ditch a pound or two to get bouyant if you're properly weighted.

Use a steel tank and that's about 5 lbs you can eliminate from your belt. Use a (SS) BP/W and that's another 5 lbs for a total of about 10 lbs you won't have to wear.

Also keep in mind that LDSs recommend only what they sell...

 

[subaquaman]

Back when I used my WI BC, I kept weight in both the WI pockets and on a belt. You can't adjust the location of WI pockets and I wanted to be able to move my weights around to make trim adjustments - something a belt does very well, and pockets do not...

I have to agree. I use a WI SeaQuest Pro QD+. It has two unditchable (if thats the word) pouches for trim weights at the back which are great for steadying your balance at the surface (all the weight isn't pulling you forward. I keep 2lbs in each of these. The pouches then keep a 4/8lbs each depending if I'm diving semi-dry or dry-suit and I prefer to spread any excess onto a belt. This allows better all-round trim and also stops the mass movement of water up and down through a wetsuit. The belt also allows you to easily add or subtract weight for each individual dive- if it's shallow, if it's working with bouyant students etc!

 

[divechilly]

Thanks for all your help. It seems that weight-integrated BC's provide the most options.

 

[wunat]

I second all the previous postings. I personally have SeaQuest ProQD+ and the the weight pockets are just great. I don't need the split the weight on a belt as balancing the weight wasn't a problem for me.

I am not sure if that's the case for many but my friend has forgot to put on his weight belt many times and realize it whenhe already jumped into the water.

 

[DavyJones]

I went with a WI BC simply becouse I got tired of getting in the water and then realizing that I needed to yell for some one to bring me my weight belt that I had forgotten. :classic:

 

[tkrock]

I went with a WI BC simply becouse I got tired of getting in the water and then realizing that I needed to yell for some one to bring me my weight belt that I had forgotten. :classic:

Just because it's WI doesn't mean you can't forget your weights. I have done it. The only thing that is nice its pretty easy just to pop them in while in the water, where a belt can be more difficult depending on how much your trying to sling around your waist.