Which Scuba Weights Are Best?

Not all scuba weights are created equally.

Scuba weights have evolved over the years, but like all scuba equipment, there are gimmicks to avoid.

There are soft bean bag weights which constantly form lead dust which then leaches toxic lead all over your boat and equipment.  These can never be threaded onto a standard weight belt.  Lead shot weights are difficult to get in and out when used with most weight integrated BCD pouches or cartridges because they bunch up.  Some pools will not allow lead shot weights at all because of the potential for lead contamination and lead shot ending up in the pool drains. For these reasons I avoid soft bean bag weights of any kind. Sell them on eBay right away in a well taped USPS flat rate box. 

Uncoated block weights are the way to go in my opinion, because they take up less space than rubber coated weights, work well in weight integrated BCDs, but also can be threaded onto a weight belt or harness whenever needed. If you need to do a quick free dive to clear a boat prop or swim with a whale shark, you don't want to waste time finding the right weights or belt. You may have noticed these are what you find in professional dive operations the world over.

Not all block weights are created equally, however. None of the weights on the bottom row (above) can be threaded onto a weight belt.  They have been dropped so the slot is too narrow, or were molded poorly to begin with.  You don't have to spend a lot, but do yourself a favor and buy the nicely molded weights in the middle, they have nice big wide slots to accomodate even an old frayed weight belt, are nicely moulded on both sides, have comfortable rounded edges, are well marked on both sides, and are usually made from sturdy modern alloys.  

I do not recommend molding your own weights even if you get the lead for free. You will work hard, sweat a lot, expose yourself to toxic lead solid and fumes, and after your hard work, the product will be inferior.  It is tough to remove all the slag that forms even with the proper flux, and getting the weight correct can be difficult.

What's your opinion on weights?