Weightbelt Over or Under Crotch Strap? #AskMark #scuba @ScubaDiverMagazine
alberto r
@albertor7910
Hi mark, great contento. On a DIR configuration-backplate AND wing- where do you recommend the weightbelt, ontop of crotch strap or below, meaning to say first thing on or last thing on. Thanks #askmark
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver
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Regarding integrated weight pockets: Just a tip. After dropping a couple of them accidentally (there’s a couple on the bottom of Lake Erie) I’ve resorted to having a safety line attached to them with a bolt snap for quick release. I’ve never had to ditch my weights in an emergency, and I haven’t lost a weight pocket since. When on a boat dive, I can remove my pockets and release the snaps to hand to someone on board. If there was an emergency the snaps can quickly release the weights.
#askmark Will you have access to the new MARES sirius dive computer to do a review . It looks like a great product.
Hopefully, I’ve spoken to Mares not that long ago about getting hold of some new gear.
Sirius looks good, I get some good Teric / Descent vibes from what I’ve seen so far
Amazing video! Keep up the good work!
#askmark Hi again. Thank you for your earlier reply regarding my freeflowing octo. I’ll have it checked. This new video reminded me of a related question I wondered about recently. Now that I’m becoming more relaxed and proficient under water, I need less lead/ballast than before. When using a steel tank and a 5mm wetsuit I don’t need more than 4kg in fresh water, maybe less. With my steel XDeep backplate already weighing about 3.5kg, I could just put maybe 0.5kg in each of the two trim pockets on my cam band and not use any quick release weight pockets (or weight belt), but that would leave me without easily dumpable weight. What would you recommend in this situation? A little bit of lead in quick release pockets or on a belt for safety, or get rid of those for comfort and just use small trim pockets on my cam band? Even in salt water in a 3-5mm I could probably get away with just using trim pockets with a couple of small weights. And what about when I actually don’t need any extra weight if the backplate alone turns out to be enough already?
Remember that your old BCD may have had some -ve buoyancy that you’re no longer wearing. So it may not be that simple as far as adjusting your weightbelt. Also, dry weight of gear isn’t equal to buoyancy.
I’d always keep some lead that you can ditch just in case you can’t get +ve for whatever reason. You need to imagine the worst case scenario where you’re BCD hose is cut and you can’t add air to your BCD. You need to be able to get back to the surface somehow.
Right now it’s time for check dives with a buddy in shallow water to see just how -ve your new BCD is. First try without any additional lead, just your BCD with a near empty cylinder and all of your normal gear. You _shouldn’t_ be able to sink and stay under at 3m (remember to exhale as you come back up). If you bob back up to the surface, add 2kg of lead to a weightbelt and put it on. Then try again until you can hover comfortably at 3m. If you can stay underwater without any additional weights you need to consider bringing some kind of additional way to achieve +ve buoyancy such as a lift bag or drysuit. You need to prepare for a scenario where you can’t add air to your BCD
@Scuba Diver Magazine Ah, I wasn’t being clear, sorry for that.
Situation 1: I’ve actually used my new XDeep Zen with its 3.5kg steel backplate in Egypt, and ended the week using 5kg of lead: 4kg in quick release pockets, 1kg in trim pockets on the top cam band. That was in the salty Red Sea, wearing a brand new 5mm wetsuit. As I could still get down (sink) easily with 50 bar or less, I figured I was still not properly weighted (or became more proficient and relaxed with my new equipment during that week) so next time in salt water I should probably do a weight check starting with 3-4kg of lead or even less.
Situation 2: Last week I rented a Mares jacket BCD with quick release pockets and a 10l steel tank for diving in fresh water (TODI, Belgium), and I put 4kg in the pockets then. I had no trouble at all getting down and quickly needed to add air to my BCD. While I agree I don’t know exactly what the difference in buoyancy of the XDeep versus that Mares is, I can be quite certain that that bp/w with steel backplate will be far less buoyant than that Mares jacket. Therefore I can be certain I’ll need less than 4kg in fresh water with my XDeep bp/w.
Hence my question about what to do when theoretically I could put all the lead I need, if any, in trim pockets on my cam band, because I could have already done that in the Red Sea if I had wanted to and I’ll need less lead in fresh water. So, despite me not explaining it very well, you still answered my question. :) I have to admit I hadn’t thought of a scenario where I can’t inflate my BCD at all, in which case I totally agree I need some other way to achieve positive buoyancy and having all my lead on my back isn’t a good idea.
What probably threw me off is actually seeing and hearing several more experienced divers tell me they don’t use any lead when using a steel backplate in fresh water.
Mark, when you first answered “under,” I was like, “WTF! Are you kidding me?!” And I almost turned it off. But I have been watching you for a while, and though I don’t agree with all of your advice sometimes, I know you are very experienced.
Well, ya got me. Your explanation was thorough and well laid out. I understand and accept why the weight belt should go under the crotch strap.
Thank you. 👍
Thanks Sam. Yeah, it feels wrong to ‘trap’ it underneath. By the time most divers get to the stage of wearing a crotch strap they tend to be disciplined enough and weighted better that they can problem solve. That or just integrated weights…
@Scuba Diver Magazine Agree completely. The experienced diver wanting a crotch strap will have thought about most possible problems and solutions long before the actual problem occurs and handle the situation.
😎👍🇵🇭🤿Thanks Mark good information!
#AskMark .Hi Mark! Thanks for your work and your passion. When will you review or give us an opinion on the new Apeks Termiq Dry and Termiq Dry advance drysuits? Thanks.
Yeah, I’m going to see them at the GO Diving Show and hopefully pick up a sample to video. Apeks are sending me a DSX Computer this week and we’ve been talking about the drysuits as well. So, it shouldn’t be long before I get my hands on one.
sorry buckels not buckets
thanx for answering🤘
With backplate and wing. You should have buckets in opposite release positions. That way you do nor release bcd when weights are what needs to be released. We used to teach this with horse collar and bcd.
#ASKMARK Hi Mark, took your advice and waited to get a dive computer with the tank pod included. Got the Suunto Eon Core with the pod for only £50 more than just the computer, thanks for the advice ! Now my question is about attaching it to the first stage. Do I attached it direct or via a short hose and if so what is the best length of short hose ? Much appreciated again, Dale
A lot of divers, myself included, put the transmitter on a short 15cm / 6inch HP Hose. It just prevents the transmitter from being used as a handle or bumping into things. When they’re on a short hose they can move about if bumped but, fixed directly to the 1st stage they can be damaged easily.
The Suunto transmitters usually come with swivel pins to connect the to a hose so, you should be good to fit to any length hose you want. But most divers just use a short 15cm / 6inch hose.
@Scuba Diver Magazine thank you !
#askMark, what is your position on head etiquette while on a live aboard boats. Seems like they get jammed up in the morning and between dives. Been on some boats that only have one, I dive cold water with a drysuit. The dive masters are rushing everyone into the water and I’m still waiting for my turn on the porcelain throne
Get in there as soon as you can and plan your hydration. The one dive that sticks in my head I ended the dive because I was desperate at 30m, already holding it back for 15mins. Completed the dive, back on deck, gear off and waiting for this other diver who’s faffing around in front of the head and I’ve needed to go for a good hour or so now.
I politely ask her if she’s intending to use the head and she says no. The next few minutes are me trying to doff my back entry drysuit in this cupboard of a head and having to ‘go’ over my drysuit and neck seal.
Plan your bathroom breaks and drinks ahead of time. Even if you don’t need to go, if the head is empty, at least try to go. And failing that, fit a P-Valve to your drysuit. It adds a bunch of extra issues but, at least you can ‘go’ when you need to in the water.
@Scuba Diver Magazine P-valve or diaper in your opinion?
Hey Mark, thanks for all you help, it’s well appreciated. My question is for a respirator necklace, for primary or Octo? #askmark
Great question! It really depends on your regulator setup…
Necklaces can be for both but, it depends on how you donate in an out of air situation. For a ‘traditional’ regulator setup, where you donate your Octopus. I’d put the necklace on my primary. That way if the 2nd stage is kicked out of my mouth, it’s not going very far to recover it.
In a ‘primary donate’ setup if your buddy has run out of air you take the primary out of your mouth and donate that to them. You then swap over to your Alternate on a necklace around your neck. so your Alternate is on the necklace.
There’s a similar question coming up in a few days that you can watch.
Merci 👍👍👍