How Scuba Weights Have Changed - Scuba Tech Tips: S12E18

[@aeromotive2]

I love the Kevin ribbing, cracks me up every time! I come for scuba tips.. I stay for the Kevin ribbing!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I kid about Kevin sometimes (OK a lot), but without him there would be no KZbin channel. It was his idea from the beginning to do these. Don't worry, more Kevin kidding is coming. A

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

Mr Pierce, you could talk about air bubbles and make it enjoyable. The sport and industry is a better place because of you.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Appreciate the feedback Ivory. Just want to educate and entertain, oh and poke Kevin too.

[@gramitall1776]

Give me a good old school SCUBA video I need to escape, this year is the worst. Take me home Alec back to the good ol days of vintage SCUBA. I remember learning to snorkel in the '80s and just seeing half the gear this guy brings up is such a dose of nostalgia. It's hard to find a feel-good channel anymore on this website. I find more and more that I'm coming to enjoy me some vintage SCUBA stuff. Now zoom in here a little bit Kevin.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Ha Kevin hates that. Maybe I will do a Alec's Bingo card one day. Have you watched my Vintage Scuba playlist and Sea Hunt Remembered playlist? Lots of fun memories there for us stone age divers Gramit.

[@gramitall1776]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter lol count me in

[@renegademind1833]

I made two for old style weight belts with shoulder straps for cold water 7 mil suits for hookha diving and went through 30ft of webbing. It just poofed away, no waste. What I found was that, on the waist the weights always wanted to dangle and flop around. Thinking, I spliced in a 5-6" wide construction type tool belt and added a quick disconnect to that (they have the same size webbing weaving around the belt, held by many belt loops). it's comfy, soft, doesnt dig in and weights dont rotate or dangle. Thanks Alec.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thats a good idea John. Thanks for sharing it.

[@ghostflight73]

Hi Alec. Wife, son and myself all just got our open waters certs done in tobermory (cold) and wife and i are off to cozumel for our first dive trip in a few weeks. We are new to all this and eager to learn all we can. Will have our nitrox course done by then and get our advanced while down there and hopefully knock off a lot of dives to work on skills. Your tips are great as we are slowly gearing up and spending $ , your personality is AWESOME. You are a professional with passion and a very sincere thanks for the time and trouble and willingness to share your knowledge. Cheers from fellow Canucks and much success and adventures in your future. Thanks to Kevin too for his good nature and camera work in the background.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thank you very much Rick. I know Kevin reads these too to help us do better. Cozumel is a good place to start diving and since you passed O/W in Tobermory, every place will be warmer!!! Lots here to help guide your purchases and training so enjoy and good to have a the family diving together. Alec

[@DigginwithSeven]

Another great job of looking at the options and evolution of lead weights.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thanks Diggin.

[@tedbaxter5234]

Using the weights like the first one you showed, we used to put a half twist in the belt on each weight to work as a keeper. Made it a lot easier to get suited up. Great video, enjoyed it very much! Thank you!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thanks Ted. Twisting is easy but need a lonnnnngggg belt or just use Kevin's.

[@rickkinney2544]

Plus, the shot weights are much easier on the toes if you drop one of them on your foot. :-)

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Oh that has happened to me a few times.

[@scubacro5758]

I live in Croatia, we still melt lead in the club, collect 30-40 kilograms, and then melt it into blocks of 1 or 2 kilograms

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Watch my Vintage Scuba video S03E02 Home Made Scuba Weights. Should match your process.

[@jabertagi3857]

Thanks!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Welcome!

[@johnbug1504]

Hello Again Alex, Love the content you provide as always! I was wondering if you could do a video talking about diving on doubles and maybe incorporating a bit of vintage scuba of how manifolds have changed over the years? Again I absolutely love the content and your videos inspired me to work at my local dive store and pass on the knowledge provided.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

If you have watched my Vintage Scuba playlist on this channel, there are several videos showing divers in double and triple tanks set-ups. Thanks for your suggestion about doubles, added it to my future ideas list.

[@D.H.CE_FL]

Great video. I recently ordered a Le weight mold, but haven't had a chance to mess around with it yet. I've got a few hundred pounds of lead, so I thought it would be fun to make some of my own weights.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Watch my Vintage Scuba video S03E02 Home Made Scuba Weights for a laugh before starting to pour lead.

[@feynthefallen]

They had advertising like that in scuba magazines back then?! Wow, the old times really WERE good...

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

That's nothing. Watch my Vintage Scuba playlist, same channel, for lots of 'stone age' diving experiences that will amaze you how i'm still alive.

[@feynthefallen]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter your vintage scuba playlist is very much on my "to watch" list, but the truth is, you have so much great stuff I just haven't gotten around to watching it all.

[@toriless]

They now make belts with pockets if you still want to wear a belt buy use the modern bean bag weights. You can also get a harness if you have problems wearing a belt.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

There are several types of belts, back in the stone age, there was rubber belts. Now we have velcro pockets for hard or soft weights.

[@jacquespoirier9071]

the approach is a bit different on the newer weight systems but the dynamics is the same, the choice of the diver depends widely on the intended use. I prefer as much as possible weights that are incorporated to the BCD to relieve the weight on the waist, What I do is to incorporate at least 50% of the weight needed to my BCD in the form of lead blocks and the rest in lead shot in my belt so much esaier on my body and i retain the emergency release of my belt in the case of necessity.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

If there is ever a chance of dropping a belt, you don't want to drop 100% of your lead and rocket up. Good point Jacques.

[@davids7550]

A few years ago, I wanted some bulk lead - cheap. There was a listing on eBay for 140 Lbs of various SCUBA weights on the other coast, local pick-up only, starting bid $10. I placed a bid for the $10 and wound up winning the weights, the guy was out in the boonies, no other bidders wanted to travel out there I guess. I told the guy I would send someone out in a few days to pick them up, and I would send him a couple of boxes to put them in for transport. I went to the Post Office and picked up a couple of flat rate Priority Mail boxes, put on prepaid labels, Stuck a small roll of 2" strapping tape between them, and mailed them off. When the guy told me he had them all wrapped tight, I called for his letter carrier to pick them up at his house, The guy told me she weighed about 100 Lbs wet and could hardly pick up those boxes. He said it was funny, but got mad because he did not know about flat-rate Priority Mail and the carrier pickups - could have sold them for a lot more money. The boxes had all sorts of weights - hard lead, bullets, soft packs, and even 2 pre-loaded soft belts. I wound up melting the hard lead and soft packs for fishing/downrigger weights. The soft packs of lead shot was pretty oxidized and I didn't want that in the water, so it worked out well all the way around. I believe they coat the shot in those now, don't they? 140 Lbs of lead for a total of about $35 (at the time) was a pretty good deal. It's hard to find free lead on parked car/truck wheels anymore.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

A great buy and a funny story. Good for you for knowing the Postal System so well.

[@Caderic]

Kevin, don't listen to him, pink is a great color. I love neon pink!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Pink goes with his BCD! Just kidding.

[@toriless]

I use fluorescent yellow for my fins and tank. Highly visible under any conditions. Most of the rest is black.

[@TheJoeyboots]

Bullet weights are a pain in the butt. I always have to open them with a screwdriver to get them on the webbing. I only use the 1lb to tweak buoyancy. Did you do a video on Horse Shoe vs Vest Type BC's?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I did a very popular video on almost that subject. Watch S04E13 BCD's - Jacket style vs Wings

[@peterjulianphotos4659]

Hey Alec, still use my 1.5kg belt weights but also have an intergrated weight system. Would like to know your opinion on tank weights for bouyancy distribution.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Small tank pockets are good, best if one per side and 2kg or 5 lbs max. If your BC has trim pockets, fill those first, test and see how your trim is when relaxed.

[@TheodoreJudah]

I think that lead shot constantly rubbing together in a porous, mesh, sack would put more lead into the environment than even solid, uncoated lead weights. Don't you think?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

One key advantage to bags is you don't touch the lead. How many dive resorts and boats do you see divers with wet hands rubbing uncoated lead weights and not washing afterwards? Thanks for sharing and stay safe Ted.

[@kaiser76]

Got 14 kg in my belt to gain negativity on old scuba diving in 1995 now i used on dry suite about the same on eccr but get 45 kg on my body too

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Seem everything gets heavier with age Alesio. Diving weight is one more item on the old list.

[@kaiser76]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter gained weight from 95 kg to 150 kg .... My body works flawess

[@clays.8122]

Do they have lead free diving weights now, like they have lead free birdshot and what not?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Nothing is as heavy for the volume and as cheap as lead. Nothing I know has replaced it but they are dipped in plastic to prevent lead touching your hands. A

[@BlackPawGaming]

why don't using block weight in the BCD? it can also put in.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Some integrated BC pockets take block weights up to a limit. Depends on the BC and user how much is needed. A.

[@therrienmichael08]

I have the bullet weight belt.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Don't forget the weight keepers.

[@Chogogo717]

Alec what’s your thoughts on how small of an increment if weight to use? I’ve heard some people use 4oz fishing weights to dial in trim. Is that a little excessive?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

If you have several hundred dives with the same gear, same waters, then 'micro trimming' may work for some. However a big lunch or change a wet suit and you're off. Don't want to be light at the end of any dive. The smallest most recreational divers care about is 1 pound, good divers 1/2 pound each. A Peak Performance Course will really help most new divers get much more comfortable with weigh amount, placement and trim.

[@Chogogo717]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter half pound sounds good to me especially since I sink like a stone anyway. Thanks for the advice.

[@dtt3426]

i went on a liveaboard and lost a weight pocket and had to use a belt. it kept falling down, i don't have hips. is there a way to tie it so it doesn't fall down?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Weight belt harnesses are the next best thing, watch S06E13 on this subject. Not surprising but few divers have the hips, butt or waist to hold a belt securely. Pull the belt as tight as you can on the boat, when at depth and steady, go horizontal and tighten it again. May be surprised you can get another 1-2 inches due to compression. Make sure to use the trim pockets of the BC to hold weight to minimize the lead on the belt. Hope these help Duane.

[@toadou8127]

Get a rubber or silicone weight belt with Marseilles-style buckle. Belt will be comfortable and not slip or come off accidentally.

[@nobody46820]

🙂👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thank you, thank you very much.

[@mauriciomunoz6223]

Why are weight belts still in use with them being so uncomfortable to wear and knowing that so many people have weight belt loss problems during dives. I guess some old-school people still like weight belts vs weight-integrated BCDs (to each their own).

[@maxtorque2277]

they are sometimes the only sensible option for cold water diving (ie lots of lift from a drysuit and undersuit etc) where you may need to have a significant amount of lead on you, and having that all on your scuba unit makes that extremely heavy indeed! With the belt, you can kit up and add the belt seperately.

[@mattmarsch7882]

I think more people lose a weight pocket out of their integrated bc than lose a weight belt.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Belts are not out of date, just minimized as most divers now have integrated weights. As others state, belts can and sometimes must be used in certain dive situations. Kevin is back from a warm water dive trip and several divers used belts with velcro pockets so no movement. For older, or those with injuries (at any age), a belt can be put on last to make entry easy and taken off before boarding a boat. Someday you too will be old so listen and learn as these may become your standard setup some day. Take care.

[@justinsusarchick7995]

I dive for a research institute and they require the weight belt to be worn instead of integrated weights. Mainly for safety. it is the fastest option you have when you need to drop your weight from your body in one simple motion. Unclipping integrated weights usually requires you to unclip and pull out the individual weights (even with quick release options) and that can take a couple seconds longer and every second counts in an emergency. For my recreational dives i do use integrated weights just for ease and comfort though!