Weight with BP

[proyce]

I will be diving in San Diego in March. I have a DSS back plate and wing. Last time there, I wore 20 pounds on my belt. Any suggestions for getting some of that weight off my hips? I like the BP, but it doesn't have weight integration like a jacket-style BC. Maybe a weight harness?

 

[Rainer]

The DSS weight plates are nice (I use them). Leaves me with just a bit of weight on a belt. A can light will drop another couple of pounds, but that's an expensive means of taking weight off your belt. Assuming you aren't over-weighted (have you checked?), the weight plates would drop you to needing 12 pounds. That isn't that much on a belt IMO. Also, are you diving steel or AL tanks?

 

[theatis]

It's not clear whether you had the BP/W last time or whether you switched and are trying to figure out how the transition will affect your weighting.

If the former, then a weight harness like the DUI is a very good idea; if the latter you have to consider your earlier configuration (e.g. BC buoyancy) to calculate the difference.

 

[proyce]

Diving aluminum. I have the extra weight plates - which bumps the backplate up to 13.5 pounds. I may very well have been overweighted. When I dove in Cozumel last year in a 3 mil suit I just used six pounds along with the 5.5 pound backplate. In San Diego I wore a 7 mil suit with hood and gloves, and a total weight package of 29.5 pounds. So, I guess the question would be, do I really need that extra 16 pounds for the thicker suit, the hood, the gloves?

 

[Rainer]

Diving aluminum. I have the extra weight plates - which bumps the backplate up to 13.5 pounds. I may very well have been overweighted. When I dove in Cozumel last year in a 3 mil suit I just used six pounds along with the 5.5 pound backplate. In San Diego I wore a 7 mil suit with hood and gloves, and a total weight package of 29.5 pounds. So, I guess the question would be, do I need an extra 16 pounds for the thicker suit, the hood, the gloves?

You MIGHT need that much extra weight (I know my 7mm + 6mm hooded vest is over 16lbs positive), but the only way to know is to check! If you want to drop another 6-7 lbs, get steel tanks. Are you shore diving or boat diving in SD? If the latter, I know the Lois Ann rents steel tanks. If you'll consistently be using AL tanks and a 7mm suit, however, and you really need close to 20 lbs of lead, I'd consider the harness. I personally don't like more than about 14 lbs on my belt.

 

[RonFrank]

I will be diving in San Diego in March. I have a DSS back plate and wing. Last time there, I wore 20 pounds on my belt. Any suggestions for getting some of that weight off my hips? I like the BP, but it doesn't have weight integration like a jacket-style BC. Maybe a weight harness?

With the DSS system the weight plates are likely the way to go. There are several options for adding weight outside of the belt onto a plate. Channel weight, STA's, attaching weight pockets to the tank bands, attaching weight pockets to the BP.

You may also want to get into a pool with an empty tank (500 psi) and your gear that would be used if you are not sure if 20lbs is what is really needed. I used to dive Salt in a 3mm with 18lbs, I now use 10lbs, and could likely get away with 8lbs. I think a lot of divers are overweighted. I was somewhat shocked at times at what I heard other divers request for weight, even experienced divers.

I'd rather be overweighted than under weighted, but properly weighted is best!

 

[jeckyll]

DUI Weight and Trim II.

Don't leave home without it.

 

[BabyDuck]

should be fairly easy to figure out. do you have any access to any practice water, even a pool? you could weight yourself in the same neoprene.

even though it might be fresh, it should get you close.

another stab at the same info would be to take those garments, get them totally wet in a pool or whatever, and start putting lead on them. see what holds them down. then you'd have a guess at the inherent buoyancy of that 7mil!

 

[cool_hardware52]

Diving aluminum. I have the extra weight plates - which bumps the backplate up to 13.5 pounds. I may very well have been overweighted. When I dove in Cozumel last year in a 3 mil suit I just used six pounds along with the 5.5 pound backplate. In San Diego I wore a 7 mil suit with hood and gloves, and a total weight package of 29.5 pounds. So, I guess the question would be, do I really need that extra 16 pounds for the thicker suit, the hood, the gloves?

A 3 mil suit, an AL80 and a ~6 lbs plate and harness is a very common setup for warm salt water. The 3 mil suit is not very buoyant, maybe 4-6 lbs. The aluminum tank will be ~ +3 at 500 psi. Your reg is ~-2 lbs. That means the 6 lbs of plate and harness is enough to offset your suit.

A 7 mil suit can be very buoyant. Is it possible for a 7 mil suit to be 16 lbs more buoyant than your 3 mil? Yup. Lets say your 3 mil is 5 lbs positive. That would make your 7 mil 5 + 16 = 21 lbs positive. A 7 mil suit that's 21 lbs positive is well within reason.

As other's have said, get in the pool and do a weight check. Keep in mind that for every 40 lbs of diver and gear you will need to add 1 lbs when moving from fresh to salt.

Have fun in SD.

Tobin

 

[proyce]

Tobin, thank you very much. I really like your products. I think I may go with the DUI Weight and Trim II. I noticed that when I went deeper and the suit compressed, my weight belt got loose, so I had to tighten it while dealing with the current and other issues. I would hate for my weight to slide off when I am at 90 feet! Also, when tightened at depth, boy does it get tight when you get back to the surface.