When Fit Impacts Safety

If you learned to dive prior to 1980, you probably had it drilled into you that “…the weight belt always goes on last.” Why? BCs prior to the 1980s had crotch straps. Early tank harnesses often had crotch straps as well (much as technical diving back plates and harnesses do today). If you did not put your weight belt on last, there was a possibility it could be trapped beneath a crotch strap.

Even when crotch straps are not an issue, putting a weight belt on last makes sense, as it helps ensure that nothing which might possibly trap or hold a weight belt in place is allowed to do so. So why don’t you seem to hear instructors mention this any more?

The fact is, they can’t. The design of most modern BCs is such that it’s almost physically impossible for a lot of divers to don a weight belt unless they do so before putting on their tank and BC.

Unfortunately, what this means is that much of the weight belt is often covered up by the BC and cummerbund. This is not especially safe; it’s just that weight belt users seldom have any other choice.

Ditching weights: How many steps? »

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