Weights and Buoyancy 101 for SCUBA Divers

Weights and Buoyancy for the SCUBA Diver, how to set up weights and also not float away, by Ronald Tiah PADI Instructor # 27186 MSDT
Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:33 Ascent Rates
2:15 Aluminum vs Steel Tank Buoyancy
5:10 Weights and Weights worn by diver
6:20 Ye Olde Nylon Webbing Weight Belt
7:00 BCD Weight Pockets Integrated
Please do continue to send any requests for info / suggest topics or even ask questions!
My email address is : [e-mail]
My Website is : www.ronaldtiah.com
My Instagram name is : rontiah
My Facebook is : / ron.tiah.9
My DiveTnT Page on FB is at : / padidivetrinidadandtobago
Links and Hashtags
#DiverWeights, #Buoyancy, #scubadiverweights

[@grahamcleaver1227]

have been diving for half a century and for last2 decades used steel tanks[i am solo diver] went on a dive trip with a group that used aluminium[like most] and at the end of the dive felt like a novice when doing decom with 50bar.I found your video to be very well presented well communicated and done in a way that jogs the memory as you start doing gear. Well done. and expecially with one of the divers comments,remember never too late to learn and no matter how careful there is always a time it is good to remember this guys attitude...slow and steady and you limit mistakes.

[@nd3703]

Water looks beautiful. Great video. I cant wait to see how you do a dive table review....watch out Padi!!

[@rontiah]

Will do :)

[@henri-julienchartrand3387]

Agree with uncle Milton. Simple, effective and useful information for me who is getting back to diving.Many thanks.

[@rontiah]

You are very welcome, Thanks Henri-Julien

[@unclemilton815]

Thank you, great information and very well presented.

[@rontiah]

Hello, and thank you kindly Mr Milton, much appreciated.

[@reazrahamam3233]

Another good one ole man ,great content.

[@rontiah]

Thanks Reaz

[@noelpaul96]

Very informative video. Love them

[@rontiah]

Thanks Noel, have a few very interesting story ones coming up, probably gonna be controversial, but only facts and solutions, with no names called or fingers pointed :)

[@sunilbaboolal1756]

Great vid again Old Man!!

[@rontiah]

Thanks Vijay, working on what we spoke about for next ones ... one more beginner Vid, then some advanced ones !

[@Larutus]

audio quality is really impressive on this vid, the actual content is great too!

[@rontiah]

TY Larry ...small steps buddy ... OMOTS and all ... That is Djarlon terminology

[@houseofallena5953]

Very helpful tips 👌🏾

[@rontiah]

Thanks and good morning

[@alaincaspar2148]

Humm, the difference of weight between a full tank and an empty tank (same capacity) is the same, alloy or ss. So the effect is the same when you empty your tank. The only difference will be that you take less weight for a dive with ss tank than with an alloy tank but in both case you have to take into account the weight of air you are going to use during your dive so that you don't "pop up" at the end of your dive (around 2 kg more at the beginning depending of the size of the tank)

[@rontiah]

Thanks for your comment Alain, I am not one to speak quickly, so I will reply meaningfully asap, appreciate your thoughts and comment :) !

[@rontiah]

Hi Alain ... just added a video which was inspired by your comment, hope you get a chance to have a look ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaGyYpmBmLB8f68

[@sandysawh3479]

Thank you for this Old Man! I found myself on the rare occasion (ahem ahem) with less than 500Psi at the end of the dive making me positively buoyant. Would appreciate a video on how to slow your rate of ascent.

[@rontiah]

Sounds like I need to jump into that Ocean and do a Video :)

[@rontiah]

You can also ... continue to do like you usually do .... Grab Ron ! lol

[@sandysawh3479]

@@rontiah what do you by mean usually?! 🤣

[@rontiah]

@@sandysawh3479 sometimes you pass me Vooosh and I cannot grab you in time ... then all we divers down below see is ... memories of that Iwer George song :) How it goes again @Sunil Baboolal ??

[@sandysawh3479]

@@rontiah puhleese more fish tales!

[@ihar9975]

Ron , I went diving the other day with 100 steel tanks on Nitrox and I didn't use any front lead weights for my integrated lead pockets. I had no problem with my descent or trim. Is it ok if you don't use lead if with steel tanks and your trim is good? Or should you keep at least a pound each in the integrated pockets as some extra insurance?

[@rontiah]

I use 100 steel also on some deep dives. Steel tanks are negative when full of air and still negative when ‘empty or almost empty’ at the end of dive, unlike Aluminum alloy which is negative buoyant at the start (full) and positive at end (300 to 500 psi). I do not need much weights with Aluminum and therefore even less with steel meaning zero weights, i do however prefer to wear 2 lbs … 1lb on each side of a weight belt (i still use) for ‘trim’ when i hunt or do photography … for each person, as we know the buoyancy is different. That is just my configuration and choice, but in answer to your question … 1. depending on trim required i may wear weights, 2. If you do not need weights to get down on Steel tank, then you will not need it at end :) hope this helped? PS. The reason i personally do not use weights in my integrated pockets is that i feel i have less movements of bcd and buoyancy to sides as weights sometimes shift in pockets whereas on belt they are more fixed. Perhaps its an old man / diver thing :) thanks for the question Imran. Hope this helps …

[@ihar9975]

@@rontiah Thanks Ron! Sounds good to me. I appreciate your help Sir. I like to keep everything good like Dhall & Rice if you know what I mean! Lol. Take care and if you are ever in south Florida we could dive sometime or maybe up by you. Thanks again.

[@rontiah]

@@ihar9975 sounds good, i am in West Palm Beaches and dive FLL, Miami, the keys and of course Jupiter with the sharks :)

[@ihar9975]

@@rontiah I'm near Pompano Beach. I have the Emerald Charter Shark dive on my list for sure in the future.

[@dredd183]

First

[@rontiah]

Hope you enjoy ! Tell me what you think when it finishes

[@dredd183]

@@rontiah will do ron

[@michaelmorris3498]

Please explain to your viewers that weight belts are usually best worn around the waist...

[@rontiah]

and not on the seafloor :)

[@michaelmorris3498]

@@rontiah I'm a non-conformist!

[@rontiah]

@@michaelmorris3498 Dam right eh !

[@earlinstanford9254]

Have a patent on the scuba diving rock ?

[@rontiah]

Earlin, not all rocks are created equal, some are more heavy than others, so too this one :) Not being selfish i left it there for someone else to maybe use in a BCD pocket and hopefully not to head, or mango bunch :)

[@nabeelmohammed3663]

Pros and cons of integrated weights and weight belt?

[@rontiah]

interesting question Beel, for me ... I find the snug fit of a weight belt means less movement and more balance for my body as I dive, with weights integrated into the BCD for me means that as i turn and move the weights have that slight if not significant "play" and movement ... coming back to the name of the channel, I am old school and prefer my Weights on a belt for the above reasons :) Thanks for that question, How about you? you trained with a belt but now use integrated right? Which do you prefer?

[@nabeelmohammed3663]

Thanks for that Ron. The integrated for me is my preference based on my setup. Being a small guy with less weights than some, the integrated fits better so it gives me better trim and balance. For me knowing your gear is important, from is safety perspective I know where and the quick releases are in the event of any emergency. It also gives me less to worry about if I'm at the surface and I quickly need to gear and enter the water. However it sometimes does have its disadvantages at times for me personally, it can sometimes be a pain if you need to remove your gear underwater to fix your tank. :) Just sharing my 2 cents based on my system.

[@rontiah]

@@nabeelmohammed3663, thanks for your thoughts and sharing your experience Beel. I think based on my many varied activities, which do sometimes neccesiate me having a bcd off ... it is even more reason for me to keep majority of my weights on my belt. I will say this though, when i have worn BCD's that are very snug fitting, using the integrated weights and having them snug into my body seemed to work better and I was more streamlined and also comfortable, I do also use less weights than some folks and therefore the config with two, two pounds in the trim pockets at tank and then 3 and 3 in front pockets worked quite nicely, i do use that config when I do my "touristy type" dives :)

[@Mike-bq4ot]

Jumping in on the comment about making sure that your integrated weight pouches are clicked in securely: Realize that when kitting up prior to a dive, your weight pouch release handle or clip is usually parallel to the surface but will point downward when you're in a well trimmed attitude during the dive. Next stop > the bottom...

[@Scuba_Bro]

Great video! Consider me a subscriber