What would you do in this situation?

[Gonzxor]

Lets say, you're diving in a fresh water lake. Its cold water so you're wearing 7mm wet suits, hood, boots and gloves. For me, I need 26 pounds of weight (22 more than in the pool). You are at 60 feet, and part of your bcd rips or has some kind of hole. It wont hold any air. You still have lots of air left, lets say 1500 psi. What do you do? Do you take your time and swim slowly to the surface or do you ditch your integrated pocket weights (20lb, 10 10 on each side).

Im asking because another diver says he would drop his weights, but I wouldn't.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Hoyden]

I would not drop my weights until it became an emergency. I will not dive a configuration that I can't swim up so a non-functional bcd should not be an emergency for me. I could see ditching that much weight if I was in open water (not a quarry) and was at the surface waiting on a boat pickup or in rough water. I have to admit that I don't dive thick wetsuits any more - cold water equals a drysuit for me.

YMMV.

 

[Patoux01]

You shouldn't drop the weights, it's far too much and you're gonna rocket to the surface. I'm pretty sure those 26 are too much though.

HTFU and swim it up at a decent rate, then drop weights if needed to achieve positive buoyancy.
Alternatives would be redundant buoyancy, such as a drysuit.

 

[noj3333]

You should be able to swim țo the surface, once at the surface I'd either pass weight to my buddy, or dump weight. If I were on the surface and I had any difficulty maintaining positive buoyancy I would dump weight immediately.

 

[rhwestfall]

Continuing on the same theme of prior comments, you should be able to swim up the rig. I will say that if I have to dive with weight, it is used in such a way that it can be removed incrementally. If you need this much, you should be doing the same.

BTW - I'm struggling with 22# positively buoyant wet suit...

 

[Gonzxor]

Continuing on the same threads of prior comments, you should be able to swim up the rig. I will say that if I have to dive with weight, it is used in such a way that it can be removed incrementally. If you need this much, you should be doing the same.

BTW - I'm struggling with 22# positively buoyant wet suit...

Good point. I think I might start using a weight belt instead of trim pockets.

 

[noj3333]

Good point. I think I might start using a weight belt instead of trim pockets.

It would be a weight belt IN ADDITION to weight pockets.

 

[rhwestfall]

and I would be using something like the XS scuba pockets on the weight belt to possibly facilitate removing weight incrementally...

 

[Nemrod]

You should not drop the weights. You should have your rig and exposure gear (talking wet suits) set up so that you do not depend upon the BC so much. Yes, a heavy suit will compress but your cylinder will become more buoyant throughout the dive (or less negative). There is no reason for you to be so negative that you could not swim up without dropping weight. Now, once on the surface, well.

You have 26 pounds in freshwater? Are you sure you need that much weight? Seems like an awful lot of lead.

N

 

[Gonzxor]

You should not drop the weights. You should have your rig and exposure gear (talking wet suits) set up so that you do not depend upon the BC so much. Yes, a heavy suit will compress but your cylinder will become more buoyant throughout the dive (or less negative). There is no reason for you to be so negative that you could not swim up without dropping weight. Now, once on the surface, well.

You have 26 pounds in freshwater? Are you sure you need that much weight? Seems like an awful lot of lead.

N

I did my open water couple months ago, my instructor said I sure was a floater! I originally had 24, but every time I took a deep breathe I would float up pretty hard. So seems like I need that amount. Thanks for the advice.