Release or not to Release?

[Digger]

Well, I'm down to no lead, so no option. That's with my 232 12s. Diving a single I do have ditchable lead, because there's about 10kg of it, and I don't have anywhere convneient to put it, and usually I'm in a different jacket.

In theory I'm not a big fan of ditchable lead. I had a weightblet undo itself (and I mean it undid itself) in Scotland on the dive of death which tried to get me so many times it was funny. I nearly called it after 5 minutes when my reg decided to start falling apart in my hands, but it was fixable. If I'd have lost the 12kg I think I had on at the time I'd have gione like a cork, leaving someone on their own at the bottom on their 2nd open water dive I think. Not good at all.

In the event of being left at sea for some time I'd probably start thinking about options. I'd imagine I'd have fully inflated my wing and sat on my rig by then, something I do now and again and isn't a problem. Gets a lot of me out of the water, and makes me more visible on radar etc as I understand it, and probably a lot more visible across the water. If I had a weightbelt it would probably be an hour before it went, I'm not going to go chucking it away unless it's a problem. Weighted properly with a BCD or suit inflated you should float high enough out of the water not to need to ditch lead.

Tradgedies do happen and people disappear from the surface, but practicing skills can reduce the possibility. Sometimes we have to do something a certain way because of all the other things we do to try and stay safe.

[parahandy]

Yes for me I dive with a standard shot belt,in "dire straits" I would ditch it.

Had the unfortunate experience several years ago of having to do it once pitch black, no reference points, knelt on the bottom 30m and was glued into what seemed to be several feet of mud in Windermere. Having ditched the weight I broke free with an ascent from the bottom pretty slowly at first.
Got to admit things did happen rather rapidly after that with the surface speeding towards me at an alarming rate. Very little bottom time less than 10mins, no adverse effects, but not an experience I want to repeat.

Probably get round to putting the weights in the bcd purpose built pouches.

[diveross]

Originally Posted by Steve Robinson

Following some heated debate at my dive club I would like to find out how many people WHO DIVE WITH ADEQUATE REDUNDANCY in terms of Bouyancy (Drysuit & BC or Wing) AND Air (Twins or Pony) still dive with releasable weights to provide a "Rescue" option?

Use a single(anyone ever used a twin??!!)15ltr and 3ltr pony,dry suit,bcd and weight belt.
Am looking into a harness for comfort at the moment.
As most people seem to think i would dump my weights at the surface if lost or in an emergency below..Don't much fancy either..fingers crossed eh?

[StuBubbles]

Originally Posted by spike jackson

I really don't ever see myself having to ditch weights to get out of trouble and I'm much more concerned about my weight belt coming off accidentally.

Ditto - I use my Wing's integrated weight pockets but am considering a means of clipping them in as currently it's velcro only. I always have 3 means of getting to the surface with me (excluding swimming for it - which I'm sure most divers could do with all kit in place - if not you're too unfit to dive or seriously overweighted) and think that dropping a pouch of weight accedently is more likely to cause a problem than needing to drop and being unable too.

[ellisn]

When I first got my wing, I decided to try and remove it underwater and then put it back on again. Forgot that apart from the backplate I had a weighted single tank adapter which left me very positive. So there I was, feet heading for the surface hanging on to my rig to keep me down, took me ages to get it back on again and I must have emptied half a tanks worth of gas. But I managed it eventualy and the only harm done was to my buddy's sides from laughing so much..... never again.

In answer to the question I have some ditchable weight on a weight belt worn under my harness, it could still come undone and fall off but hopefuly I would get time to catch it!

Neil