BCD Failure : Single Cylinder | Sidemounting.com

This is Lesson 13 from our 100% free, 25 part online training series.

In case of a complete BCD failure, this video proves why you need to be correctly weighted.

00:00 Watch Our Correct Weighting Videos First
00:15 Overview Of Our BCD Failure Exercise
00:50 What The General Dive Industry Want You To Believe
01:13 This Is What Correct Weighting Is
02:06 Lung Capacity Testing
03:25 Test To Prove I am Correctly Weighted
04:26 We Simulate A BCD Failure At 25 metres
07:00 Extract From End Of Dive Weight Check Video
07:33 Common Problems That Many Scuba Divers Have

There are over 20 more completely free lessons available after a quick registration. No payment details needed, no credit card, no obligation. The videos are ad-free and have life-time access.

These 100% free online lessons are part of our comprehensive diver training series covering everything from,

Equipment Review & Configuration
Cylinders, Regulators & Harness Setup & Usage
Skills for Side Mount & Back Mount Diving
Skills & Equipment for Technical Diving
Entrance & Exit Techniques
Wetsuit & Drysuit Diving
Accessories for Diving
Emergency Procedures
and Instructor Training

The complete training series is available at,

Take a look at a sample of our comprehensive training series and see how you could save time and money on your next equipment purchase or training course.

[DiabloOutdoors]

There's a major flaw in this video. I strongly believe that every diver should carry a surface marker. You can use it as an emergency BCD. It may not have the same volume, but still. Also, a common mistake from divers when using such a device is to use their reg to inflate it. Why? why waste that precious O2 you need? Instead, use your exhalation to inflate it. It's air you're going to ditch anyways so why not "recycle" it and keep your O2 in the tank.

[ponybottle]

Add a D-ring to your weight belt. Clipping your DSMB line to the ring before ditching allows you to reel off the dropped belt in a controlled manner. You can also recover the belt later by just reeling it in.

[ttouran]

As a novice diver, I think too many training sites are not focused enough on buoyancy which is a super critical skill to know. Honestly, they just want you to get your basic certification so you can rent their equipment and go diving.

[JamesBond-becw]

As a divemaster (working or just recreational), I always take 3-5lbs more weight. Sooo many times there is someone who doesn't have enough weight and will start floating up towards the end of a dive. So, yeah, if you are with seasoned divers, go perfect weighted for yourself, going with beginners, add some to keep your random partner from fighting the float and get more bottom time.

[BrutalHumorSocial]

Well done, bro. Exactamiento. Some of us would even say that there's a worse fallacy circulated around, that the octo your friend has will been within your reach when the time comes.

[tom-oneil]

I'm new to diving but I knew almost immediately when they said in case of uncontrolled decent drop your wieght belt something didn't seem right. What good is that if you then immediately go into an uncontrollable accent? This video is exactly how to deal with the situation properly! I wish they would teach this right here

[motkceb]

wow i am confused- i thought you said that "dropping weight wont allow you to ascend if bcd fails" all you did is prove the fact you said was wrong- as if youd be stuck under water. im so lost

[Acid]

Thank you Steve for making this video available for everyone. There is so much misunderstanding in a lot of divers about this topic - not their fault... it's the training agencies fault that "train" them.
I hope more people take this info as serious as it has to be treated! Thanks for sharing

[robertstrzelecki]

Thank you for the video and all your comprehensive information on BCD failure and a proper weighting.

[Diatronmax]

You started the video stating that being overweighted would be a serious problem and could leave you stuck on the bottom, but then you didn't demonstrate this in your example. Even over weighted by 2-3 kilos you would still be able to swim to the surface, and with integrated weight pouches could even drop one pouch to assist with the ascent in a safe manner. With time, you could even remove a single weight from your belt to compensate for the pressure. You mentioned it is dangerous for misinformation to be spread, but it seems sensationalized to state serious issues, and then not show why it is, or explain that very well.

[Jimmy_CV]

When I went through training (SDI) we did a similar method of weight calculation, we were also taught to completely deflate the bc periodically as you ascend to remain neutral. I have had zero problems with ascent, good advice!

[redfoxtactical]

What a beautiful dive spot. The bottom is so clean and the vis is so clear. Never seen anywhere like that.

[Bengoesscubadiving]

I dont use a Redundant Bladder but most of the time a dry suit and always two SMBs or 1 smb and a lift bag if bc has malfunction on depth. One time the iflator of a rental equipment has broken but luckily before i jumped in, so i got the chance to switch my bc. Cool video!

[CNC_machines]

Man you are realy a pro.
Greetings from Ukraine.

[moonshroom]

Every now and again some scuba vid sticks in my mind, and that did..Thanks!

[GreenManelishi]

Proper weighting is absolutely imperative. Too many students are deliberately over-weighted from the get go.

[radokinawa]

Awesome explanation of propper weighting. Thank you!

[Kirbythediver]

Is that Angelita?
Great video btw, I will be replicating these steps at the pool. Wish I could test gear and practice like this in a cenote lol

[SuperScubaTim]

Really good video highlighting such an important topic in scuba. A lot of agencies owe people money.

[DGDG]

Control his flotability (your weight) is absolutely the best way to dive safely (and instructions there is perfect), not only in case of failure, but also for better dive experience, better breath, better resistance to cold and current. Let me add that get your weight on a belt (an elastic kind of "marseillaise" belt) is also a best way to hold added required weight (if need), not only because you will have this weight close to your G point body, but also in case of scaphander "quit" to go in a little hole or any other reason you have to experience it.
As a commercial diver, i can not pretend to practice so much this kind of best technic at work depend of the job to do (sometimes we have 40 extend Kg to stay stable on a rope to be able to weld in wave conditions in shallow water... the helmet is also heavy and more weight can be more power to work on seabed for rock destruction or any other works that require human power to be efficient, but if we can dive with "tourist" scaphander (or sometimes with rebreather to stay long time or deeper) for long range inspection (2000m long to go between 20m to 70m depth with a camera, for exemple), we always choose to be perfectly equilibrate underwater in reference to the decompression higher point with empty tanks (we are using double steel tank 10 or 12L without jaket, but aluminium if rebreather for safety tanks).
When you can do it, best flotability will make your life way better and you consume of gas as low as you can too, increase your decompression point the safest way.
Do not hesitate to experience things in shallow water as a game with weights before to experiment something deeper... shallow water is always more difficult technicaly for flotability management, but the best school before to go deeper, because you will have low time to no time to thinking under 50m depth (and you will thinking wrong most of the time due to narcoleptic reasons).
The best school by experience to learn to control and share good experiences, best practices from other "old" divers is cave diving school (better than commercial diver for technical points, most of the time).
Stay safe, don't go to search record but enjoy elements, sensations and underwater life and reliefs (or wreck). Stick the timing, check material closer, be clean with yourself and be quiet in all conditions will help you to be lucky sometime.