diveing with weights

[russau]

Just to get something going here, when diveing,what cubic foot a min. of water in a stream would be to swift for most divers while dredgeing? for some people, adding more weight to your belt isnt workable,due to bad back or other problems. so if i go over to http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt site and look up a stream and it gives a CU. FT.per min. amount ,what would be to much ??? most streams in my state are not deep,but are always swift after some rains up north of me. yep they slow down in a couple of days,BUT.........

[Hoser John]

Fast water can indeed be troublesome. I like to wear leg/ankle really,weights utilized for exercise. They are 5/10lbs each and have multiple velcro straps that hold'm on. Swift water takes your feet out from under you and these sure help keep ya planted firmly. I also have used for many years a set of good workbelt suspenders to help hold weights up(lost my butt with age--or was that taxes??) sorry I digress. That helps keep the weights off your poor ol lower back and some weight up on shoulders. Do a wrap around with buckle-under weight belt and hook on top to prevent slipping off. I've had to use a extra belt in current also and man when ya start talkn' 80-120 lbs on your back it sure makes for a long painful day underwater. Boat anchor with a dog chain to your weightbelt also helps reduce weight requirements to stay in place. Just don't look up as mask goes adios real ez in extreme currents. Learn first how to breathe easily without a facemask on, PADI certification requirement to swim 100' maskless whilst using a tank.John

[russau]

Yep John if-n-when i use my weight belt, i now have suspenders to hold it up. but useing a lot of weight (for me) gets tobe real hard on my back very quickly. actually i have 2 weight belts, one heavier than the other.

[Hoser John]

Amen bud,I leave the extra belt in the hole to hold me in place and wear as little as possible-John

[russau]

thats a good idea John! if i bother to use a weight belt, i usually tie it of with a rope to my dredge if i need to dump it quick,so i can pull it up when i get round-2-it!