Weights are they bad for the Environment.

[kancho]

I was just talking to a wetshop in California.. Is it true that soft weights are bad for the environment? The coating of the weight wears off and i will in turn contaminating the water I am diving in? Anyone have more info on this..

[WaScubaDude]

The answer is yes! Lead weight is bad for the environment and bad for you.
It is the lead exposed to the water that is really the problem, not a "coating" as far as I understand.

Lead shot = very bad, you can see the white milk come out of the bags when you get out and/or when you wash them. Shot = lots of surface area.

Hard lead weight = somewhat better, as there is less surface area to expose the lead, and less rubbing action that sluffs the lead.

Plastic Coated hard lead = best you can do with lead so far. If the coating is whole and unbroken, should provide excellent seal against leaking lead.
usualy come in cool colors, and you can dip your hard lead in ToolDip to make your own. Usually takes more then one dip to get good coverage.

[Lake Diver]

Just get a stainless steel backplate and no worries!

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by Lake Diver

Just get a stainless steel backplate and no worries!

Which plate should I use then with a dry suit and an AL80? Even with a plate you will still need a decent bit of lead, though I just bought some steel tanks, so hopefully a bit less...

I'd like to see the nontoxic shot used for fishing available in bulk. I'd be on that in a second.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by WaScubaDude

The answer is yes! Lead weight is bad for the environment and bad for you.
It is the lead exposed to the water that is really the problem, not a "coating" as far as I understand.

Lead shot = very bad, you can see the white milk come out of the bags when you get out and/or when you wash them. Shot = lots of surface area.

Hard lead weight = somewhat better, as there is less surface area to expose the lead, and less rubbing action that sluffs the lead.

Plastic Coated hard lead = best you can do with lead so far. If the coating is whole and unbroken, should provide excellent seal against leaking lead.
usualy come in cool colors, and you can dip your hard lead in ToolDip to make your own. Usually takes more then one dip to get good coverage.

Well said. I use all vinyl-coated hard weights. Well worth the extra couple bucks to not worry about lead poisoning if I happen to handle the weights and forget to wash my hands.

Soft weights are the worst offenders.

[CaptainRon]

Originally Posted by WaScubaDude

Plastic Coated hard lead = best you can do with lead so far. If the coating is whole and unbroken, should provide excellent seal against leaking lead.
usualy come in cool colors, and you can dip your hard lead in ToolDip to make your own. Usually takes more then one dip to get good coverage.

Great idea. I had not thought of coating them myself.

[FOUNDATIONER]

Driving to the dive shop
Driving to the airport
Flying to the island
Riding the bus to the resort
Riding the boat to the divesite
All a GAZILLION times worse for the environment than
your lead will ever be.

Apologies in advance.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by FOUNDATIONER

Driving to the dive shop
Driving to the airport
Flying to the island
Riding the bus to the resort
Riding the boat to the divesite
All a GAZILLION times worse for the environment than
your lead will ever be.

Apologies in advance.

But which one do you have a choice on?

May as well stay home and become an organic farmer, and give up all hopes of this scuba diving thing.

[FOUNDATIONER]

They are all a choice.
I choose all cause I'm goin divin, lead and all.

[mitchy]

Originally Posted by WaScubaDude

Plastic Coated hard lead = best you can do with lead so far. If the coating is whole and unbroken, should provide excellent seal against leaking lead.
usualy come in cool colors, and you can dip your hard lead in ToolDip to make your own. Usually takes more then one dip to get good coverage.

Where can you get ToolDip? Does ST sell it?