Coldwater Diving Weight Suggestions

[johndiver999]

Lead is far more "efficient" compared to rocks. At an average density of 1.5 g/cm^3, 60 lbs of river rocks is equivalent to 8 lbs of lead for buoyancy purposes.

Rock is going to be considerably more dense than that?

 

[34109411]

I’m looking for advice on managing weights for cold-water diving. I’ll be spending 8–10 hours a day in 50°F freshwater, mostly snorkeling with some limited diving. Because I’ll be in the water for such long stretches, I need to wear multiple thick undergarments to stay warm. The problem is that this makes me extremely buoyant.

The challenge is that access to these sites requires bushwhacking a few miles, so I have to keep my load as light as possible. I can carry a weight belt with a limited amount of lead, but realistically I’d need 60+ lbs to get properly weighted, and that’s not feasible to hike in with the rest of my gear. Making multiple trips isn’t an option.

Once I’m at the site, there are plenty of round river rocks I could use as makeshift weights, but I don’t have a good way to actually wear them in the water. I’ve been considering something like a heavy-duty backpack with good padding and a quick-release system that would let me load it with rocks on-site and use it for ballast.


Has anyone tackled a similar situation or found a practical solution for carrying and using natural weights like this?

60 pound ? holy guacamole i need 16 pound wearing 14 mm i dive up to 60 Fahrenheit. If i put 60 pound my wife will not see me anymore.

 

[lermontov]

I suspect 8-10 hours sounds like gold panning - can you try getting some bags for heavy sand - it will be easier to attach to yourself or can you run a rope and anchor and pull yourself down to where your wanting to work

 

[inquis]

Rock is going to be considerably more dense than that?

Got that value from Google, so I suspect you're right. Even at 3 g/cm though, the equivalent lead is only 16 lb.

 

[Dont_Hold_Your_Breath]

Can you tell us what your up to?

Gold hunting?
looking for caves?

Freshwater photography of spawning fish

 

[grantmac]

Pole cam with remote monitor is how that's frequently done.

 

[Horwin]

Pole cam with remote monitor is how that's frequently done.

That's kinda what I'm thinking. There's a guy near me that does all of his underwater video with a drone. He's able to get much better video of freshwater fish because there are no bubbles to scare them away. The most weight I've had to carry on a double undergarment dive was around 25-30 pounds, not including steel tank, bp/sta.

 

[Dont_Hold_Your_Breath]

That's kinda what I'm thinking. There's a guy near me that does all of his underwater video with a drone. He's able to get much better video of freshwater fish because there are no bubbles to scare them away. The most weight I've had to carry on a double undergarment dive was around 25-30 pounds, not including steel tank, bp/sta.

Interesting, I'd love to look him up if I don't know him. What's his name/IG/etc?

 

[CT-Rich]

Rock is going to be considerably more dense than that?

Rock is going to be 1.5 to 3.0 density. Lead is ~11.3. I would suggest a a semi dry and lead. Rocks will will make you unstable. A DUI harness will make carrying and wearing lead much more comfortable.

If you are looking to get underwater shots, consider gluing a gopro mount to a rock and positioning it where you can leave it for a while. You can set up the cameras and leave them. A friend does this to film burrows of mantis shrimps with a piece of marble counter sample as a base.