ab diving with a weight harness

do any of you all use a harness instead of a belt? I used one for scuba and loved it.  what are your thoughts?


http://www.dui-online.com/bc_wt.htm)

How easy would it be to drop the weight harness if you were in trouble?

They do look cozy, and I have considered it many times, but in the end I don't.  The last 15 or so dudes they have recovered up her have ALL still had their belts on.  I want mine to be able to dump in a hot second.

Bigeye convinced me to try an old school rubber belt with the cam buckle and it is a HUGE improvement over a nylon belt.  The stretch keeps it tight, without constricting.  It also doesnt get loose as your suit compresses. It is also much easier to put on correctly while on the yak as it doesn't need to be adjusted. Plus, they are cheap!

How easy would it be to drop the weight harness if you were in trouble?

you tug on the yellow handles and the weights drop.

I tried a different kind that I did not like but my son in-law loves. I didn't like the release. the one made by DUI looks good but like all DUI items is a little pricey.

Mike

you tug on the yellow handles and the weights drop.

Thats the theory anyway.  The K.I.S.S. factor is good when your holding your breath.

It might actually be harder to put on a harness in a kayak too.  

I only wear 8-12lbs, so the belt doesn't bother me in the slightest.  With a full 7mm suit and 40lbs of lead for scuba though...

It's a 3mm suit.

Josh,
Do you wear 8-12lbs in a 7MM suit or is that a different suit?

Assuming its the 7, just curious what kind of fins you are using?  the really long free diver fins?

I'm using 19lbs in I think a 5mm suit.  I'm barely bouyant at the surface, but thinking I should pair down a few lbs.

Stuart

if the weight belt spooks you, (and it does me). try pulling yourself down by the kelp, or exposed rocks. and leaving the belt behind. It is more difficult to get down but once you get your fins under your good to go.  I would rather have trouble going down than coming up.......my 2 cents.

the other thing I noticed, the releases on the harness appear to be crafted after the cut-away on a skydive suit, which is completely built around a cable release system. Those are the first things to wear and have problem when skydiving mostly because they don't get used very often. Add salt water to that equation and I am sure the lack of use could be a problem even if you do remember to pull them.  Technology isn't always better!

It's only a 3mm suit.  I rarely get cold in it though.  

My fins are pretty long, but they aren't specialty freediving fins.

It's only a 3mm suit.  I rarely get cold in it though.  

My fins are pretty long, but they aren't specialty freediving fins.

do you use a 3mm john with a 3 mm jacket (6mm total in the torso)...or a straignt 3mm one piece?

A 1 piece would be too much, even for my minnesotan tolerance.

The weight belt doesn't concern me as long as I'm weighted properly.  I once accidentally went out with 16lbs (left a spare weight on accidentally) in choppy water and that wasn't fun, though I still barely floated and got a couple abs despite it.

I ab dove with a guy a few weeks ago that had the strangest technique I've ever seen:  He rows out in a little sevlor inflatable with a surf suit and no weight belt or flippers.  But, he's got an anchor with a rope handle attached.  He drops anchor, jumps in the water, and pulls himself down on the anchor line.  Once he's at the bottom, he grabs the handle on the anchor and walks around looking for abs, like on those surf films where the guys are practicing their breatholding technique.  Like a hardhat diver.  He got his limit and everything, so it works for him.  Strange site though.  He was "diving" at 20' or so, too.

I've considered using my anchor to sink me, but it seems like you'd spend as much energy pulling yourself down the anchor line as you would swimming.  Now if someone on the boat would hand you the anchor...  

Seriously though, with a small amount of capability, it's easy to get your abalone.