How many of your rental BCs are
equipped with weight integration?
- Of the stores who responded, 43 percent say that most or all of their rental BCs are equipped with weight integration. Another 30 percent say that at least some of their BCs are weight integrated.
- Less than a third of responding stores say that none of their rental BCs are weight integrated.
Interestingly enough, manufacturers report that as much as 90 percent or more of the recreational (non-technical) BCs being purchased by divers today come with weight integration. In fact, the only sizeable group still purchasing non-integrated BCs are stores putting them in rental. Clearly, weight integration is what today’s divers choose.
You’d expect these numbers to be reflected in how dive stores train their students. They aren’t. In fact, only 14 percent of stores surveyed reported that they train students how to use the type of BC they are most likely to buy or rent.
Most of us take considerable pride in the quality of the training we offer. It is difficult to imagine, however, how we can be proud of the fact we apparently are not teaching students how to use some of the very equpment they may need to rely on to save their lives.
More Than Just Comfort
|
We tend to think of the issue of weight belts vs. integrated weight systems as being one of comfort and fit. There is a lot more to it than that. As equipment continues to evolve, it becomes harder and harder for weight belts to safely do the job for which they were originally intended. (For example, how do you rescue a panicky diver whose weight belt is almost entirely covered up by his or her BC?) There are also issues relating to practicality and environmentally sound diving. To learn more, see this issue of StupidDiverTricks.com, |
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