The Great 'Ankle-weights Debate'.

[Davey Willo]

Hey Finless mate, if thats the way I came across then I truly apologise, it isn't what I meant at all but now that you've brokern it down and added comments to it I can now see how it might read

I'm not known as Mr Subtle, I knew what I wanted to get across but I've obviously done it all wrong... Lol.. sorry to those I've insulted..

regards
Dave.

[budgy]

When you do enough diving it's just a question of time before you become an air head, then the feet don't float anymore and you start to need neck weights.

[Gavin Yates]

<font color='#000F22'>I agree with Willo but I have no probs with anyone using leg irons - particularly when they start off.

A lot of the time the &quot;need&quot; for them could be removed by sorting out trim, having boots the right size or limiting the ammount of air in the suit.

For info - I don't like Jet Fins &nbsp;- too bloody heavy - I'll stick with me Quattros with springs on.

The horizontal position with knees bent isn't just DIR - I feel comfortable with it and I can go completely inverted to have a look in a hole if I wanna. I might dump a bit of air before I do it if i remember.

However, this is just my view and personal comfort is the most important thing in making good decisions under the water. So if you love yer irons then stick with 'em if you wanna - I certainly don't look down on folk who DID (Do it Different) to me.

BTW - that is not a &quot;dig&quot; at Willo or any other DIR chap. As I think they've got it right on this one - apart from those fins &nbsp;

[Dr Stevil]

I find that even though I don't use ankle weight and have rubber fins (though not as heavy as jet fins) i need to delibrately invert myself to get some air into my feet so that I can do horizontal stops, otherwise the fins are a little too heavy

[Davey Willo]

Aaah thats cos your a short arse Stevey &nbsp;

[Helen F H]

i had ankle weights when i started diving as i was a bit floaty in the leg department (now its the arse department, but never mind).

I ditched them once i was a bit more used to the drysuit and really didnt notice the difference until my suit inverted on a dive in a strong current with 5 mins of deco after being at 25-30m for ages. &nbsp;It was pure luck i managed to grab the wreck. &nbsp;Im pretty sure this wouldnt have happened if i had been wearing the weights. &nbsp;So i ditched the cheap crappy shot ones (beaver i think) and got some heavy duty ones which dont fall off at all. &nbsp;

Again, psychological effects aside - i like my ankle weights.

[Mdemon]

Jetfin user. &nbsp;Ankleweight user and happy about it. &nbsp;Like Porg, there is an element of comfort that the extra control and predictability gives you.

Don't use them at all in warm water, but in the UK, with innersuit, large DS and boots which are too big, they help. &nbsp;Having said that, I might try the next dive without and see how it goes. &nbsp;Noticeable that on a shot line I have to really get into the Frog position to stay horizontal though.

[Lou]

Dave

I really am interested to see what your legs do! &nbsp;I am convinced (at the moment) that build has an effect, and I know that *my* legs float. &nbsp;In a pool my legs float, in the sea they float more, and that is before I put a nice fluffy air-trapping layer around them. &nbsp;I then try and add all my weight *above* my CoG, or around it and this can only make the matter worse.

It isn't inversions that I am worried about as much as just fighting annoying trim. &nbsp;I dive pretty much with my legs bent and my feet above me, but the weights help keep my knees and thighs down. &nbsp;Otherwise I am straining to keep my head up and knees down. &nbsp;It gets tiring.

So if you tell me that your legs float too, then maybe there is something more to it, but if your legs sink, then I don't think we are comparing like with like, if you see what I mean.

God, I even have problems doing fin pivots if I am weighted right!! &nbsp;I just float horizontal with air added into bc, or feet high without it. &nbsp;And the tank can't go lower.

Lou

[Doug Parker]

Tibbs. &nbsp;You obviously don't know Mdemon. &nbsp;He is actually tighter than a ducks arsehole and wouldn't change the boots unless he managed to find a pair for less than a quid. &nbsp;

[Finless]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Dave Williamson @ Nov. 20 2003,18:07)]Hey Finless mate, if thats the way I came across then I truly apologise, it isn't what I meant at all but now that you've brokern it down and added comments to it I can now see how it might read

I'm not known as Mr Subtle, I knew what I wanted to get across but I've obviously done it all wrong... Lol.. sorry to those I've insulted..

regards
Dave.

Dave,

No problems - I am not a flamer nor was I actually irked. I was trying to make my reply amusing - unfortunately I have a habit of finding humour where no one else does, that was all, definitely nothing more. I found your piece really amusing in that whilst explaining the reasons why you had progressed as you did to no ankle weights it managed to &quot;diss&quot; ankle weight users totally. Just to prove it, the first beer is on me if we ever meet in the future.

One point I am really interested in was the bit about &quot;you being in the skydiver position&quot;. I really don't like that as I find it a pain in the arse which is why I wear the ankle weights. I prefer &quot;flat&quot;.

I would emphasize that in the last 5 years I have never had a problem with ankle weights. I have dived without them several times and always went back to using them - mind you, the times I didn't use them was because I forgot to pack them. &nbsp;

Happily doing it my way and still alive.
Bryan