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Realized I was using the wrong weight belt for 2 years after a buddy pointed it out off the coast of Galveston
I always thought heavier was better for getting down quick, so I had a 50 pound belt that I used for everything. Last month during a job on a platform jacket, this older diver named Rick watched me gear up and just shook his head. He said I was fighting the water instead of working with it, and offered me one of his 35 pound belts to try. Soon as I dropped in, I felt way more control and wasn't burning through air just to stay neutral. Turns out my buoyancy was all off because I was overcompensating with the extra weight. Now I'm wondering how many other simple gear habits I've got wrong that I never thought to question. Anyone else have a basic piece of kit they used wrong for way too long?
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vera_lewis2d ago
Used to swear by a 45 pound belt myself, thought I needed it for stability. Then @casey393's rule about checking at 15 feet with a near empty tank is dead on. Switched to a 30 pound setup after testing that and my buoyancy control got way better. No more fighting to stay up on safety stops. Simple little switch saved me a lot of hassle on deeper offshore jobs.
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Stick with the lightest belt that lets you hold a stop at 15 feet with a near empty tank.
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