weight system for drysuits in PNW

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Biodiversity_guy

Contributor
Messages
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Location
Olympia, WA USA
# of dives
200 - 499
I dive a DSS ss BP/W, with the added 8.1 lb weight plates. Just ordered a USIA drysuit.

When in a wetsuit up here in Puget Sound, I also wore a heavy weight belt.

Rather than having all the weight in a weight belt I am considering the DUI weight harness (they make 2 styles) or a "custom weight vest" (advertised in NW Diving News) that has 8-12 lbs of lead on back + "quick release" weight pockets for the rest of the weights.

I am looking for advice on alternatives to having so much weight on a weight belt. What do you use and would you change your setup if you had to do it over?
 
Singles rig: LP 95 (or HP 100, they come out about the same). Oxycheq plate, DSS wing. Trilaminate drysuit, 200 g Thinsulate jumpsuit, 200 g Thinsulate vest. 3 lbs on cambands, 18 pounds on weight belt. Trims me out perfectly, and passes a 500 psi weight check. I'd like to figure out a way not to use the weight pockets on the cambands, because if they aren't monitored carefully, they can end up in the wrong place, or worse, end up mobile. But there's really no good way to move 3 lbs up without weight pockets, and that's all I need.

Doubles: LP 72s. I haven't got this configuration really dialled in yet. I was diving 14 lbs on the weight belt, with the SS BP, and today's dive told me even THAT isn't enough yet.
 
119 cu ft steel tank/DSS BP/W/drysuit...I'm 6'1" 180 lbs and use 24 lbs on a weight belt. I'd use the additional 8lb plate as you do if I didn't have to lift it all to the top of my car trunk to gear up. I've tried the DUI weight harness system and don't care for it. It doesn't solve any problems for me. So far the best solution for me has been to just live with the 24 lbs on the weight belt. If you're similar in build to me that would be 16 lbs on the belt.
 
What type of tank do you dive. If it is a steel tank you should only need another 10-12 lbs with that drysuit.

You could get a weighted STA and/ or add XS scuba trim pockets to the waist belt.

Ideally you only want 6-11 lbs on the belt depending on your tank, You should not need that expensive harness for that little weight. The weight belt should only weigh as much as the weight of the gas in your tank. That way if you are weighted properly and you had a wing failure at the start of the dive, drop the belt and you are neutral. If you had to drop the belt at the end of the dive you would only be at most 10 lbs light which is easy to swim down if need be.

My set up for my DUI TLS 350 W 300g fleece
6 lb plate
6 lb sta
1 lb pst 130 tank
10 lb belt
2 lbs each XS scuba trim pocket on each side of waist belt
1 lb canister light
28 lbs total

I replace the 2 lbs with 4 lbs if I dive my 400g thinsulate
32 lbs total

trims out great
 
I am still testing different things to get the proper weight but have found that with a DSS steel plate and drysuit and my set of E7-100's I am using only eight pounds of weight. After thinking about this I thought that I should try AL 100's so I have the weight around my waist rather than on my back, incase I need to drop the weight is an emergency. The tanks are still in the mail but I think that the AL should work better than the steels. I will split the steels and use them as singles.
 
Great input all. I will be diving w/ a single steel 119 tank, VB. DUI is having their "try and dive our drysuits" event this weekend at Owen Beach. Thought I would go there and try a few different suits on and see what they suggest--it will also give me a chance to try their weight harness out without purchasing it first. But I agree, if I end up not needing a lot of weight in the weight belt, it sure makes more sense just to use the weight belt than investing in overkill.

GC, you raise a good point in how heavy the rig might be with tank and weight plates. So many considerations. So much to learn and experiment with

My wife (similar setup, but with 100 steel tank) is less thrilled about having a weight belt, but if that is what works best, and is less expensive than a DUI weight harness, she can go for it I think.

Just have to say: what a nice forum this is! Post a question and promptly get very detailed thoughtful responses. Sure glad Al Gore helped implement the internet so we can use it like this <grins>.
 

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