Securing Weights On A Belt - Scuba Tech Tips: S10E04

[@amcaesar]

That half-twist is a slick workaround!

[@nobarakugisaki356]

Good to hear from you again big Boss

[@MrZachalewel]

Thanks for all the hard work Alec!

[@justkeepswimmin]

I was just looking for a video like this on your channel a few weeks ago after forgetting how to do that twist. Glad to see it now--thanks!

[@bristol8920]

....Thanks Alec for another good tip , I will ask for them next time I go to my local dive store, in the past having had a weight slide of my belt, I put a small stainless steel self tapping screw into the weight to secure them and still good to this day..................... ..........

[@panditreuvers]

Old news to me, but thanks for the information. Last month I changed to softweights on a belt with pockets. It feels very soft on my body and it's easy to add or remove weights. And allways secured. I was lucky to buy the belt with 20 pounds of weight on a auction for 18 bucks :-) . softweights is recommended

[@alaind831]

comfortable but they take a lot of space, so not ideal if you want to be more trim underwater.. especially if you need 20-40lbs.

[@alansalter1938]

Personally I have used the half twist thing from the beginning as I hate the weights slipping around to the back during the dive.Now I just used integrated weights which are 'weigh' more comfortable and don't give me backache, plus I have about a third of my weights in trim pockets which helps with the horizontal dive position. Don't need a whole load of weight so that does help when standing up from sitting on boat dives. Great videos,

[@grahambirch3715]

Hi Alec. Love your videos, keep them coming! I'm a cold water diver & a big fan of weight belts but I think that you broke the long-standing convention (note, convention, not law or rule) of "Right Hand Release" when you put the weight belt on with the bullet weight (2:07 in the video) :)

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Oh probably. I've never been a rule follower. The right-hand release is a convention that assumes all divers are right-handed. Not so. A left-handed diver would naturally reach down with his left hand to release his weight belt. For every rule, there are exceptions. Take care. Alec

[@autoculto7629]

I always use my conventional old weight belt when sea diving. I've found many lost weightbelts over the years to use my comfortable shot belt, plus I don't have to mess around adding an extra 4lb for salt water. I also simply secure my weights with a stainless self tapping screw through the webbing into the lead weight. They never move anywhere and are always in perfect position for maximum comfort.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

A great reason to own your own belt and lead, a custom fit and always the same each time. Thanks.

[@jshrawder49]

Great info on this video!!

[@markstengel7680]

Hi & Good Morning Alec, I thought BCD's made weight belts obsolete ? Galvanized lead still used ? Enjoyed your SCUBA presentation. Weight Belt Hints. Best Regard's, Mark

[@mazeoffury2930]

I know quite a few divers that use weight belts with their bcd. They wear them for a couple reasons such as comfort for some divers, lower weight distribution, easier to remove and carry and to have less weight on the bcd when carrying it with the tank on your back and not have to carry 2 weight pockets, and also for specific weight locations where the bcd doesnt carry them such as sides of the hips. I dont wear the belt at all but quite a few divers I know do for some of those reasons.

[@LMSILVIA]

Also there are still bcd on the market without integrated weight pockets like travel bcds and plate/wing setups...

[@nathanparry8315]

My BC doesn't have integrated weights. It's a simple rugged and reliable bcd. I'd still need a belt anyway. Plus i prefer to position the weights towards my back and sides rather than towards the front and sides. Just Just personal preference, so a weight belt is better for me.

[@diveinstructordaniel1095]

I imagined the sound of 16 bulletweights dropping in the water after rolling off the boat one by one 😂 thanks for the tip 👌😊

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

It's a very discouraging sound. Not just the lost weights but the lost 2nd dive too! Alec

[@andrecandrade]

Did not know these existed. Great!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

They sure can be handy for lots of uses. Alec

[@dansullivan4839]

Alec, your videos are great! I have a problem with my weight belt occasionally falling off, I caught it each time and was able to put it back on so not a big deal but it's something I should correct. Someone said if I lost weight it would help, yes I should do that for sure, someone else said put a second buckle on so it has a backup, I could do that(I'm sure my dive instructor would say that could be a safety issue). This particular buckle I've had for 30 years so maybe I just need a better(newer) buckle. What have you seen people do to solve this? P.S. I see the Hollis belt buckle for over $30, I assume this is much better that the basic buckle. I also see a few with a spring that takes in the slack as the suit compresses at depth, wonder if that's good.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Falling weight belts can be a very serious problem depending on depth and dive time so you should get a buckle / belt setup that is very secure. Alternative is a weight belt harness, look in my videos for that as Kevin uses it for cool water diving with lots of lead for comfort more than a secure buckle. Thanks for watching. Alec.

[@clarkeysam]

Hi Alec, how are you keeping? I'd be interested to hear your predictions for the future of diving.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I'm 100% thanks. Well, 99 for sure. Scuba diving has now become so commonplace and so safe that it will continue to grow in popularity. It is now a family sport more closely related to kayaking than sky diving as it was for a long time. Take care. Alec

[@JohnCarter-eg4ws]

Love your videos,being someone also of advanced experience (age) you have been a true inspiration.I use the nylon web also but was told by dive shop guy it was obsolete,now everyone uses the rubber belts because they don’t need keepers.i told him not everyone uses the rubber belts because I don’t ha,ha.i still use the chipped rock weight keeper as you pointed out the plastic keepers are cost prohibitive,I’ve seen some as high as 82 cents a piece,I try to save money anyway I can (I even save by collecting others unused air from their tanks if they are not looking) joking aside,your thoughts on the rubber belts?

[@alaind831]

love the rubber belt as they stretch and stay on even when going deep (your wetsuit and therefore waist will shrink). You still need stopper for the weights on those! I use bullets and they slide for sure...

[@JohnCarter-eg4ws]

Alain Dumesny yea,I think I’m going to get one.Your whole body actually shrinks the deeper you go.thanks for your input,safe diving buddy 👍

[@kricketflyd111]

Of course I am an expert and know everything. I am going to get my cert. soon, and did not know such a simple weight was available Of course at my level of masterly I was hoping for a liquid metal that flowed within the composite buoyancy device. I will design one for myself if I cant buy it on ebay.

[@HellrazorDogsnDives]

Hahahaha or u can lose weight, and dive with little to no weights like I do.

[@seikibrian8641]

@@HellrazorDogsnDives I'm pretty slim, but I dive mostly in cold water and so I use a thick wetsuit, which is very buoyant. I can't dive with no weights, I'd just be bobbing on the surface.

[@jesspeoples3292]

I have never use a weight belt. I am big fan of integrated weights.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

In a full neoprene dry suit, you would need as much as 40 pounds of weight. That would be hard to put in to an integrated BCD. Alec

[@Caderic]

Have you ever HAD to or seen/been with someone that HAD to drop their weights for safety reasons?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Other than training, no. Back in the stone age we carried rocks to help us get down to our planned depth (no BCD's). Watch my Vintage Scuba to see how 'stone age' divers got by. It's a blast.