Posted by seldom seen slim on August 29, 2001 at 06:28:52:
In Reply to: Backpack Diving posted by TMN on August 28, 2001 at 14:00:28:
Weight is kept to a minimum. I drop 4# between a shallow dive to 70'. I usally know the depths before the dive so I take a belt with the weights already rigged up. The amount of weight depends on wet suit bouyancy, your size, weight of your tank, etc. If you dive a BC try reducing your weights to the point you do not need air in the BC. Do some shallow to moderate depth dives without using air in the BC to get the feel for it. When you are comfortable without the BC and do not need it for a surface swim then try a dive without the BC. With practice you will find you really do not need it despite what the doomsayers will tell you.
Don't go to far from your entry point until you are comfortable and have tested and understand your limitations.
If you get yourself into trouble, ditch your weights.
Enjoy!