The REAL downside is if you leave your weights on and remove the BC. Options
that I'd suggest are the following:

1) Remove the weight belt (or weight pockets if using integrated weights)
and hand them up to the crew. This will make the tank/BC lifting easier.

2) Figure out why you are getting the back pain in the first place. I have
two bad disks in my back and am carrying more body weight than I should be
and haven't had any problems from diving. This even includes when I'm diving
with up to 36# of lead. Do you have your weights pulling on your back? A
possible solution is to use a weight harness to off-load the strain from the
lower back to the shoulders.

3) Do what you can to strengthen your back muscles.(This is an obvious
solution which I of course DON'T do!)

Good luck.

- David

 Get a jon-line to secure it to the boat.

For you, or for the poor suckers who have to pull your gear out of the
water?  I hope you're a big tipper.

Some.  First, you have to clear it with the operator of the boat.  He has to
provide a means for securing your equipment and, presumably, has to arrange
for it to be brought on board.  If he's willing, at the very least, the crew
deserves a larger than normal tip.  If you're planning on lifting your
equipment aboard yourself, then you need to reconsider something.  Either
your back pain is not related to your equipment or you're going to hurt more
after tying to lift your equipment aboard than you were after climbing the
ladder with it on.  It's easier to climb the ladder than bend over and lift
the equipment.

Once all the logistics are resolved, there's one more thing to watch out
for.  Be very sure your BCD will float your equipment.  I know it seems a
sure thing, but it may not be.  Most people are buoyant, meaning that their
body is part of the lift system.  It's quite possible to have sufficient
lift for your equipment and your body, but not your equipment alone.  As it
happens, my equipment has exactly that characteristic in fresh water.  My
BCD, even when fully inflated, will not float my tank, plate, regulator,
etc.  If you have a weight integrated BCD, you may find the same is true of
your equipment.

Just a thought, if you're wearing significant weight on a belt, why not
trying handing that off before trying handing everything off.

Lee

<sytech@yahoo.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in:

Depends on the boat, type of ladder, etc.  If you have the a type of
boat and ladder where you can climb straight up, without bending your
back, it is easier to keep your gear on than doff it in the water and
then lift it out.

By the way, if your back is that bad, diving isn't necessarily the
best activity for you.  This whole business of being horizontal in the
water while looking forward forces you to arch your back for most of
the time you are in the water.  That's the part that makes my back
sore.

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

Working with divers of limited mobility is something many operators are used
to and some have had extra training to deal with special needs. BUT this is
something that must be asked about before hand!! Surprising your crew at the
last minute will not go over well with most folk. Back to the old "plan your
dive, dive your plan" sort of thing but it includes actions out of the
water. Other things like the crew may have a method already for helping
people needing to not climb with gear, so ask first!!

I've dealt with many special requests over the years. Some people had to get
into their gear in the water too, standing on deck with the gear exceeded
their options. Others were short a part or two. Once again, plan ahead,
follow the plan and it works fine. Oddest one was a diabetic who's doctor
instructions were to time from when they removed their pump, limit the dive
time from that point to one hour or lest and to double check their blood
when they finished the dive. So keeping track and making things handy is all
it took.

Many disabled people stop being disabled once they are in the water. So
letting them feel like the rest of the world for a while is something worth
the extra time and effort.

Weight belt off first, then bc / tank

be really sure that the bc/ tank is positively buoyant
when you take it off.