weight going from 7mm wetsuit to drysuit?

[Yoyoguy]

I was curious what the added weight (estimate) for my weight belt would be going from a 7mm 1 piece (not farmer john) wetsuit to a drysuit? I dive waters ranging from low 40s-60s and I do understand changing garments for different temps will change my buoyancy characteristics. I currently use a backplate and wing set-up with a weighted STA. My current weighting is as follows with an aluminum tank: 6lb backplate, 6lbs weighted STA, and 8lbs of lead on my weight belt. This ends my dive with 500psi and near perfect buoyancy. I do understand I will need to do new weight checks and such, just looking for a ballpark idea of where to start. Thanks!

 

[RJP]

I was curious what the added weight (estimate) for my weight belt would be going from a 7mm 1 piece (not farmer john) wetsuit to a drysuit? I dive waters ranging from low 40s-60s and I do understand changing garments for different temps will change my buoyancy characteristics. I currently use a backplate and wing set-up with a weighted STA. My current weighting is as follows with an aluminum tank: 6lb backplate, 6lbs weighted STA, and 8lbs of lead on my weight belt. This ends my dive with 500psi and near perfect buoyancy. I do understand I will need to do new weight checks and such, just looking for a ballpark idea of where to start. Thanks!

Not enough information to answer.

What kind of drysuit? What thickness undergarments? Are you 4'6" or 6'4"?

 

[tbone1004]

sounds like that is too much lead to begin with but that is not up for question. You technically don't have to change your weighting on the drysuit, they are both static and dynamic when it comes to buoyancy. Static because they are not depth dependent. Dynamic because you get to choose how much buoyancy they have. If you dive with a suit squeeze you won't need hardly any lead, conversely if you leave it inflated quite a bit you may need more. Start with what you have. If you aren't cold, take a few pounds off and dive with less air, if you're cold, add a few so you can add more.

 

[Yoyoguy]

Not enough information to answer.

What kind of drysuit? What thickness undergarments? Are you 4'6" or 6'4"?

some more info, im 5'9, 195-200lbs, 36inch waist. I honestly do not know what undergarments I will use. I have a bunch of skiing/hunting moisture wicking type expensive undergarments that I was going to try before buying actual scuba specific undergarments as I have heard some people use these and are perfectly satisfied. Dry suit is a Bare trilam hd tech. Older model circa 2006-2009. I find myself to be pretty temperature tolerant, so I think I will get away with slightly less than average thickness garments for 50F waters, whatever that may be. I tend to be "OK" in my wetsuit, when others wearing same suit are on the "chilly" side.

sounds like that is too much lead to begin with but that is not up for question. You technically don't have to change your weighting on the drysuit, they are both static and dynamic when it comes to buoyancy. Static because they are not depth dependent. Dynamic because you get to choose how much buoyancy they have. If you dive with a suit squeeze you won't need hardly any lead, conversely if you leave it inflated quite a bit you may need more. Start with what you have. If you aren't cold, take a few pounds off and dive with less air, if you're cold, add a few so you can add more.

tbone...at the end of a dive with my aluminum 80, 6lb steel bp, 6lb weighted STA and 8lbs lead totaling 20lbs I am neutrally buoyant at 15ft with 500psi...the last weekend out I tried dropping 2lbs and was floaty at 15ft with 500psi in my 80. I was going to try dropping 1lb this weekend to see. With my 100 steel, I was able to drop 4lbs and same result putting me at 16lbs weight between BP, STA, and weight belt. However, I was a touch heavy with that so I could drop maybe another 2lbs. Only had the one tank fill so will test again.

 

[RJP]

With a smallish trilam suit, beginning with the weight you are currently using is as good a place to start as any.

I forget whether you have, or intend to, take a drysuit class. Proper weighting and trim adjustments should be part of that.

 

[ajduplessis]

Get in the water and do a check. It is the only method I trust.

 

[Yoyoguy]

With a smallish trilam suit, beginning with the weight you are currently using is as good a place to start as any.

I forget whether you have, or intend to, take a drysuit class. Proper weighting and trim adjustments should be part of that.

I know a few people who use dry suits. I was going to try some shallow water dives (15-20ft) with them before making a decision on a drysuit class.

 

[RJP]

I know a few people who use dry suits. I was going to try some shallow water dives (15-20ft) with them before making a decision on a drysuit class.

My 17yr old daughter knows a few people who drive cars... but she still took driver's ed.

If you're going to "do a few shallow dives" why not just take the course? Especially if they will only be shallow. Ascending in a drysuit from say 60ft is very different than dropping down to 15ft and coming back up.

I never understand the reluctance people have to taking this one. It's far easier - and far less frustrating - to learn things the proper way, and then refine the skills you've learned on subsequent dives. Or you can spend a dozen or so frustrating, not very fun dives trying to sort it out yourself.

Perhaps people assume "it's just a money maker for instructors"? Offer for you: I know it's not "right around the corner" from Albany, but if you want to meet me at Dutch Springs one day we'll do a Dry Suit class for just the cost of the materials and card.

 

[Yoyoguy]

My 17yr old daughter knows a few people who drive cars... but she still took driver's ed.

If you're going to "do a few shallow dives" why not just take the course? Especially if they will only be shallow. Ascending in a drysuit from say 60ft is very different than dropping down to 15ft and coming back up.

I never understand the reluctance people have to taking this one. It's far easier - and far less frustrating - to learn things the proper way, and then refine the skills you've learned on subsequent dives. Or you can spend a dozen or so frustrating, not very fun dives trying to sort it out yourself.

Perhaps people assume "it's just a money maker for instructors"? Offer for you: I know it's not "right around the corner" from Albany, but if you want to meet me at Dutch Springs one day we'll do a Dry Suit class for just the cost of the materials and card.

I appreciate your comments and did not mean to sound "against" the course. I certainly am not. I was contemplating on taking the course anyways but I know it would be a few weeks out before I could. I figured id get with these guys I knew who know what they are doing and see what it is like in a semi-controlled environment. If it goes smoothly and I am ok with trim, then might go to 30ft. Then start practicing emergency drills with dry suits in 20ft of water. If that goes smooth then maybe go deeper than 30ft. I definitely take scuba serious. I understand drysuits bring in a new world of potential problems....feet filling with air causing you to go feet up or a drysuit flood or a drysuit valve getting stuck open...etc. I just figured with these two experienced guys it would be relatively safe to go give it a shot in shallow waters and see what it is like.

---------- Post added July 8th, 2015 at 11:39 AM ----------

My 17yr old daughter knows a few people who drive cars... but she still took driver's ed.

If you're going to "do a few shallow dives" why not just take the course? Especially if they will only be shallow. Ascending in a drysuit from say 60ft is very different than dropping down to 15ft and coming back up.

I never understand the reluctance people have to taking this one. It's far easier - and far less frustrating - to learn things the proper way, and then refine the skills you've learned on subsequent dives. Or you can spend a dozen or so frustrating, not very fun dives trying to sort it out yourself.

Perhaps people assume "it's just a money maker for instructors"? Offer for you: I know it's not "right around the corner" from Albany, but if you want to meet me at Dutch Springs one day we'll do a Dry Suit class for just the cost of the materials and card.

I may be going to Dutch middle of August. It would be great to meet you there if you happen to be there. Always look forward to meeting new people!

 

[geoff w]

I have some friends who dive with the same weight with a 7mm suit vs a drysuit. Others need a bit more weight with a drysuit. If you're a new drysuit diver, you'll definitely need more weight than diving wet. The cut of your drysuit and loftiness of your undergarments will also affect your weighting, because of trapping air. Neoprene drysuits will need more weight than trilam. If you need to surface partway through your dive to reorient for navigation or some other reason in your drysuit, it might be more difficult to descend than if you're diving wet. With my setup, I dive wet with 2 lbs of lead in my 7mm full suit and a hooded vest, and 10 lbs of lead in my DUI trilam drysuit. YMMV

It's easy to dive dry the first time in the pool or calm conditions. If you're diving in more challenging conditions, there are a few more things to deal with if you're diving dry instead of wet