The Great 'Ankle-weights Debate'.

[Finless]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Gavin Yates @ Nov. 20 2003,18:44)]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.

Don't dump too much - you might get stuck   .

As I mentioned in my reply to Dave - I hate the bent knees position for diving.

Also, a thing I had never considered before and that I became conscious of due to the DIR debates is that I just tuck my knees up to my stomach and head down I start going. The degree of rotation is governed by the amount of leg tucking.

I am def a DID as well as a DIMW (by the way w = way and NOT what Robin YBOD always calls me

[Scoff]

I think Lou hit the nail on the head. It's probably something to do with personal physiology. I suspect I am well top heavy. I can't do a sit up without my feet being held down to save me life. But anchor me feet and I can do two sit ups no problem

I wear leg irons all the time  - home made (out of old lead plumbing pipe) to get extra weight compared to commercially available ones.

And you know what? When I'm using my scooter, I use too sets! Otherwise my feet are like helium balloons.

Maybe some of you lot have got dense feet.

Me? I suspect it's me head that's dense !

Cheers

Scoff
(CDG - Northern Section)

[Paul Bogle]

Wow, that turned out to be a slightly more popular question than I expected. Thanks for everyone's input.

After reading this I think I'm going to wait a while before buying anything. First thing I'll do is try dropping some weight from my BCD. I did a weight check last dive and although I wasn't at eye level the top of my head was out of the water I think.

TBH I've not really paid much attention to how much air is in my suit as it's always been enough, as in no squeeze from my suit. But maybe it's been more than enough, we'll see.

Thanks again,
Paul

[Spike Jackson]

Just a comment on build and experience affecting the "need" for ankle weights - I'm a tall skinny male with a fair amount of dry suit diving under my belt yet I like my ankle weights. My sister is a dry suit novice and is short (but definitely not fat!) and dives without them. So I think its down to what you're comfortable with.

[Paul Bogle]

A follow up incase anyone's interested.

Did two dives yesterday with just the 2 5Kg normal weight pockets and ditched the two 1Kg's in trim pockets.

First dive, had no problems getting down and staying down but had air in my legs again and couldn't shift it. Didn't see any point adding the extra 2Kg as that would only mean needing more air in the suit and the weight would be at the wrong end.

Second dive I put a small amount of air in the suit to try and prevent squeezing things that aren't meant to be squeezed that hard and just used the BCD instead. Seemed a lot better but was still too bouyant when at about 2-3m but I'm guessing that was just me not dumping air from the BCD fast enough.

Only problem I've got now is that with virtually no air in the dry suit it was a bit cold. I'm already using a Weezle Extreme+ but at the moment with just a t-shirt underneath. The only place I've found for thinner stuff that potentially would go underneath the Weezle is at www.chillcheater.com. Anyone got anything from them? Any good? Any alternatives?

Cheers,
Paul

[Kate R]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Paul Bogle @ Dec. 08 2003,14:12)]Only problem I've got now is that with virtually no air in the dry suit it was a bit cold. I'm already using a Weezle Extreme+ but at the moment with just a t-shirt underneath. The only place I've found for thinner stuff that potentially would go underneath the Weezle is at www.chillcheater.com. Anyone got anything from them? Any good? Any alternatives?

thermal base layers from any outdoors shop. i've got leggings and top from millets that do me well on their own under my neoprene drysuit.

alternatively, fourth element do the same stuff but specifically for divers.

p.s. i got my thermals for £25 the lot. i did have to sew some elastic straps on the bottom of the legs so they don't ride up when i put my suit on.

[Dr Stevil]

Ankle weights - no they're not the devils spawn as some believe, they're fine for trainees and those who are unfamiliar with drysuits but use them as you would stabilisers on your bike, when you can do without them, bin them, unless you find you particularly like the feel of them in which case keep them, it's not some kind of scuba sin.
This is the same advice I've repeated year after year  when taking absolute beginners for first dives and it works.

[Dominic]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I'm already using a Weezle Extreme+ but at the moment with just a t-shirt underneath

Groan.

T-shirts, like any other cotton garment, should NOT be worn under a Weezle - it will make you colder, not warmer. The most expensive part of a Weezle is the inner lining, which is one of the fastest wicking materials in existence.

Putting a layer of water-absorbing cotton between you and it renders the material worthless. It's the biggest no-no there is for diving with a Weezle.

Give the t-shirt a miss, and you'll probably feel warmer right off the bat. If you still need more warmth (tho I can't believe you will with an Extreme plus) get a 4th element Xerotherm

[daz]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Paul Bogle @ Dec. 08 2003,14:12)]Second dive I put a small amount of air in the suit to try and prevent squeezing things that aren't meant to be squeezed that hard and just used the BCD instead. Seemed a lot better but was still too bouyant when at about 2-3m but I'm guessing that was just me not dumping air from the BCD fast enough.

Only problem I've got now is that with virtually no air in the dry suit it was a bit cold. I'm already using a Weezle Extreme+ but at the moment with just a t-shirt underneath. The only place I've found for thinner stuff that potentially would go underneath the Weezle is at www.chillcheater.com. Anyone got anything from them? Any good? Any alternatives?

Cheers,
Paul

In my experience,  the Weezle undersuits ability to keep you warm is very dependant on the amount of air in the suit.

Too little air and they compress too much and thus you do not get the benefit.

Much as I like the weezle suits, they do not suit (no pun intended) all diving styles (Ask Chasey!).  

Daz

[Davey Willo]

Totally agree with you there Daz, Weezles and tight drybags = a cold diver