weight distribution

[croppermj]

Does anyone have any general advice on weight distribution?

In the pool and in fresh water (full length 5mm wetsuit) I carry 6kg of lead blocks on a belt. I was thinking of ditching the belt and having a block in each BCD pocket and one somewhere else (maybe on the cylinder).

Another alternative was ankle weights (which I do have a pair of). However, I don't want to have too much weight round my ankles and struggle to keep my legs up.

Also, I am diving this bank holiday in a dry suit - do you think I will need more or less than the 6kg I carry with a wetsuit - I'm guessing the same or less given the distrubution of air within the dry suit (when diving in a dry suit I control buoyancy with the suit not the BCD).

Lastly, with regard to ankle weights and the drysuit, im worried about inversion, so is it advisable to distribute some of the 6kg that I need to carry and carry the weight on my ankles?

Or should I just buy two 3kg shot bean bags - one in each pocket?

Many thanks.

[Nigel Hewitt]

In the pool and in fresh water (full length 5mm wetsuit) I carry 6kg of lead blocks on a belt. I was thinking of ditching the belt and having a block in each BCD pocket and one somewhere else (maybe on the cylinder).
Bad move. Especially at the beginning have nice dumpable weight so if everything goes horribly wrong and you need extra buoyancy you pull the belt clip and bingo: 6Kgs lighter. In the sea that will be 9Kgs lighter as you need an extra 3Kgs (well 2.7% of your all up weight but as near as spot 3Kgs for most people)
Another alternative was ankle weights (which I do have a pair of). However, I don't want to have too much weight round my ankles and struggle to keep my legs up.
No. Only use ankle weights if you need them. Ideally you trim out level or you are always fighting to get level. In a wet suit that almost never means ankle weights.
Also, I am diving this bank holiday in a dry suit - do you think I will need more or less than the 6kg I carry with a wetsuit - I'm guessing the same or less given the distribution of air within the dry suit (when diving in a dry suit I control buoyancy with the suit not the BCD).I'm guessing quite a bit more.
Lastly, with regard to ankle weights and the drysuit, im worried about inversion, so is it advisable to distribute some of the 6kg that I need to carry and carry the weight on my ankles?NO!
Inversion is a game we play. We turn you upside down and blow some gas in your suit and let go and you tuck up and fin doing 'the drysuit somersault'. The instructors will get bored before you do. It's lots of fun.
Or should I just buy two 3kg shot bean bags - one in each pocket?Haven't you been listening?... No... You typed this before I replied.
Have fun with the diving. Properly trimmed out feels a bit foot light to begin with because you expect your feet to be lower than your head but it's not hard to get so it just happens. The only big thing to remember about buoyancy control is you have to do it before rather than after you need it. Nothing happens quickly so if you are going up you dump gas before you get to the place you want to be and you smoothly come to a halt then pop a bit in to stay there. Leaving it until you are there is the way to look like a yo-yo.

[bythesea]

Advice? re read your books, speak to an instructor, do more training. Asking about putting 3Kg in each pocket tells me one of two things.... you were not paying attention fully on the course or.. you need to find another instructor.

Stick to what the course told you... dont start making it up as you go along or you will end up in the sticky stuff!... We wear weights on quick release for a reason......

[Richard Whitcombe]

We wear weights on quick release for a reason......

Yep - i wear mine under a crotch strap to ensure they cant auto release and hurt me :)

[bakerstreet]

Unless your BCD has quick release pouches designed especially for lead shot bags, then I would go with what others have said and use a normal weight belt.

We bought jackets with weight pouches as our previous BCDs got worn out pcockets due to people putting weight in them.

Ditching wieghts in a hurry with one on the tank and two in the pockets would be a bit of a nightmare. They would have to de thread the tank band for start :eek:

[bythesea]

Yep - i wear mine under a crotch strap to ensure they cant auto release and hurt me :)

In which case why not simply put them in your pockets? ;)

[Liisa]

Many divers who redistribute some of their weight away from a weightbelt find benefits in terms or trim in the water and a reduction in back problems. Have a look here - there are a number of weight distribution alternatives, such as specially designed trim-weight pockets for your wing or BC's cylinder strap.

http://www.halcyon.net/mc/weights.shtml
http://www.halcyon.net/mc/acb.shtml

Most people think it's a good idea to keep some ditchable weight. You will need sufficient to make you positively buoyant, but that doesn't necessarily mean needing to ditch all your weight. If you find floaty feet are a problem, you might want to consider rubber fins - Scubapro's Jet fins or Turtle fins for example. They worked for me.

Regards
Liisa

[Richard Whitcombe]

In which case why not simply put them in your pockets? ;)

Because my wing has no pockets and you cant fit 15kg of lead comfortably in pockets anyway.

[bythesea]

Because my wing has no pockets and you cant fit 15kg of lead comfortably in pockets anyway.

..;)

[croppermj]

thanks for all your comments - I feel quite stupid now:( of course weight needs to be easily dumpable etc.

[I can feel my Instructor and DO's finger wagging at me already, especially as I know they use this forum :rolleyes: - "sorry D and A"]

[bythesea]

thanks for all your comments - I feel quite stupid now:( of course weight needs to be easily dumpable etc.

[I can feel my Instructor and DO's finger wagging at me already, especially as I know they use this forum :rolleyes: - "sorry D and A"]

Worry not... at least you had the sense to ask ;) we all get confuddled in the early days, just stick to what you are taught, enjoy your diving

[Nigel Hewitt]

thanks for all your comments - I feel quite stupid now:( of course weight needs to be easily dumpable etc.
It really needs to be at the beginning. That's when a mistake is more likely to end up with you under the water and out of gas so dumpable weight is a god-send. Also if you do get panicked on the surface, again quite a usual beginner scenario, a buddy dumps your belt and your down the cost of the lead but you are so buoyant that drowning yourself will be hard.

Later, if your sort of diving means long deco hangs, dumpable weight needs a rethink but for most people that never happens and it works all the time.

[paul_c]

as a side to this topic.

i am one of those persons who cant use a noprmal weightbelt due to the fact that i have no hips. and carry (when using a dry suit)20k of lead. or 10k in a 5mm semidry.

hypotheticaly would externaly clipped weights and the remainder in pockets be conisdered a viable subsitute? say a total of 4 kilos clipped to the outside of my BCD and the remaining internaly in the pockets?

as it stands when i dive in my drysuit its on a harness so no issue but with my semi which i am using more and more its all insite the bcd. i am able to get to it when comfortable as i try it on almost all dives to make sure but i am thinking that external would be better