Traveling with grenade weights

[Splitlip]

I think it is really important number 1 because of the reef trashing. Number 2, you use less gas by being horizontal to begin with instead of unicycle riding. Also, whenever you have to shift positions to get back into a swimming position, you are wasting gas.
The cavers and peoplel in th PNW will tell you also how important correct trim is to prevent silting.

Whenever I have extra gas after a dive, I will burn it at a shore diving spot where many instructors take there students for their first 2 open water dives. It is inside a sheltered inlet and you have to make use of the high tide window.
Depth less than 20 ft.

They sometimes think I am nuts because I will practicing hovering in the same spot for the entire window, making adjustments of one sort or another.

But I am in good company. GUE guys practice there as well.

[mitsuguy]

Originally Posted by Splitlip

I think it is really important number 1 because of the reef trashing. Number 2, you use less gas by being horizontal to begin with instead of unicycle riding. Also, whenever you have to shift positions to get back into a swimming position, you are wasting gas.
The cavers and peoplel in th PNW will tell you also how important correct trim is to prevent silting.

Whenever I have extra gas after a dive, I will burn it at a shore diving spot where many instructors take there students for their first 2 open water dives. It is inside a sheltered inlet and you have to make use of the high tide window.
Depth less than 20 ft.

They sometimes think I am nuts because I will practicing hovering in the same spot for the entire window, making adjustments of one sort or another.

But I am in good company. GUE guys practice there as well.

I was fine until I started wearing this new 4/3 mil wetsuit... I just need to do the same, but my only dives in it thus far have been in 2-3 knot current, which is impossible to figure out trim in... weighted good, but I'm close enough that when I'm moving (good) trim doesn't matter... its 3-12 feet deep...

[DeeDoubleYou]

Originally Posted by Splitlip

I think it is really important number 1 because of the reef trashing. Number 2, you use less gas by being horizontal to begin with instead of unicycle riding. Also, whenever you have to shift positions to get back into a swimming position, you are wasting gas.
The cavers and peoplel in th PNW will tell you also how important correct trim is to prevent silting.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, I'm glad I'm not alone on my concerns.

I expect to "waste" at least one perfectly good, 80'+ visibility dive on perfecting my new set-up. Small price to pay to become as nimble and streamlined as a barracuda! lol

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by DeeDoubleYou

Did you still have full use of the velcro on the strap? The XS pouches I found where about 4" wide, are these the same as yours? I didn't actually get to test them, I "eye-balled" it and it seemed a little crowded to me. I now have a pair of neon green ankle weights with a combined weight of 3.3 lbs. I figure I can clip them around the tank valve as needed.

I feel like I'm the only one with negatively bouyant legs. All I'm really trying to accomplish is to remain horizontal when I stop finning. As of now, when my legs stop, my body turns vertically with my head up. I assume it's because my lungs create a bouyancy imbalance with my non-air filled legs.

The secret is the XS pouches plus a few bucks at your friendly neighborhood shoe repair store. (or at home, yourself, if you're handy with a sewing machine and own a heavy duty industrial one that will punch through the thick cordura)

Have them sew a strip of 2" velcro (the soft fuzzy side, not the scratchy side) onto the outside of the flap. Then the velcro in your cam band straps sticks right on top of the weight pouch.

I wish XS sold them already like that, but it's an easy fix.

[DeeDoubleYou]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

The secret is the XS pouches plus a few bucks at your friendly neighborhood shoe repair store. (or at home, yourself, if you're handy with a sewing machine and own a heavy duty industrial one that will punch through the thick cordura)

Have them sew a strip of 2" velcro (the soft fuzzy side, not the scratchy side) onto the outside of the flap. Then the velcro in your cam band straps sticks right on top of the weight pouch.

I wish XS sold them already like that, but it's an easy fix.

Yes indeed, that is a slick idea. Thanks for the pictures, really helps to see a set-up that is working.

I wish XS would use narrower straps, instead of 4" wide, use 2" wide like the ones that Zeagle uses on their trim pockets. OR.... why doesn't Zeagle make smaller pockets?

I guess some of life's mysteries cannot be solved, so, in the meantime, we will continue using Velcro and Duct tape!

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

The secret is the XS pouches plus a few bucks at your friendly neighborhood shoe repair store. (or at home, yourself, if you're handy with a sewing machine and own a heavy duty industrial one that will punch through the thick cordura)

Have them sew a strip of 2" velcro (the soft fuzzy side, not the scratchy side) onto the outside of the flap. Then the velcro in your cam band straps sticks right on top of the weight pouch.

I wish XS sold them already like that, but it's an easy fix.

Very nice

[DeeDoubleYou]

Well everyone, I made it back from the Bahamas! I ended up carrying the ankle weights in my carry-on along with my comp and reg. I went through with no problems!! AND my checked luggage was not searched!

Now.... On the way back, I decided not to carry the extra 3.5lbs of lead on board with me and put the weights in my checked luggage. Wouldn't you know, it was opened and rifled through. I guess 2 long lead tubes probably would set off a few alarms under x-ray...lol. Nothing was damaged or missing.

As for the trimming capabilities of adding one ankle weight around the neck of the tank, PERFECT! I dove once w/o it and was still "foot heavy" and then clipped one weight around the neck, and wha-la perfectly balanced! Now I can hang fins down to check out a ship wreck/wall or I can hang head down to peek under a coral head.

[NoTime58]

Originally Posted by DeeDoubleYou

Well everyone, I made it back from the Bahamas! I ended up carrying the ankle weights in my carry-on along with my comp and reg. I went through with no problems!! AND my checked luggage was not searched!

Now.... On the way back, I decided not to carry the extra 3.5lbs of lead on board with me and put the weights in my checked luggage. Wouldn't you know, it was opened and rifled through. I guess 2 long lead tubes probably would set off a few alarms under x-ray...lol. Nothing was damaged or missing.

As for the trimming capabilities of adding one ankle weight around the neck of the tank, PERFECT! I dove once w/o it and was still "foot heavy" and then clipped one weight around the neck, and wha-la perfectly balanced! Now I can hang fins down to check out a ship wreck/wall or I can hang head down to peek under a coral head.

It's good to know you didn't get taken in the "back room" for a more "intimate" and extensive search. I don't know how many times my wife and I have gotten to our destination and found a TSA letter stating our bag was searched. Nothing but clothes and shoes in the bag they searched so we can't figure out what prompted them to search the suitcase unless it was just chosen at random.

[Splitlip]

DW:
Glad it all worked out for you.