Ankle floats?

[-JD-]

For the record: my Atomic "Smoke On the Water" (stiff compound) splits with spring straps are slightly positive in FW ...

I now return you to your frequently scheduled ScubaBoard predictions of "death by split fins"

 

[lowviz]

The scenario for me actually dropping my weights is only if I am in a complete out of air scenario with no buddy close enough to assist.

There is another scenario. A diver could drop to the bottom with a full tank that is turned off and in a panic can't be turned on before your next breath. A balanced rig allows you to immediately drop exactly the amount of weight that you have in your tank and you don't have to ditch your rig to swim it up to the surface.

If you are out of air then there should be no need to ditch anything if you are diving a properly weighted rig.

But again, looking for options on getting my feet a little less heavy... or moving my weight to help compensate for that.

I know that you are, but in the process of doing that, please consider the above weighting options...

 

[JustWetRocks]

For the record: my Atomic "Smoke On the Water" (stiff compound) splits with spring straps are slightly positive in FW ...

I now return you to your frequently scheduled ScubaBoard predictions of "death by split fins"

I have the shark bait yellow. Should probably go ahead and sell them....

 

[-JD-]

@ScubaCarrie when you checked your weighting, was it with a full tank or with a "empty" (500psi) tank?

You need enough weight to be neutral with the tank at 500psi or less. If you are neutral with a full tank, you need to add the weight of full-500psi worth of air. Since you say that you are negative at the weight check with 0 lead (I'm assuming that is actually being done at the start of the dive with a full tank), they may be estimating you need the additional 3lbs to be neutral at 500psi.

 

[JustWetRocks]

There is another scenario. A diver could drop to the bottom with a full tank that is turned off and in a panic can't be turned on before your next breath. A balanced rig allows you to immediately drop exactly the amount of weight that you have in your tank and you don't have to ditch your rig to swim it up to the surface. ...

But if I am carrying no weight I can not drop weight.
So in this scenario you are giving me, I need to somehow make my body more buoyant. They do tell me to eat more donuts.... that’s not going to happen. . I guess if I wear my 7mm all the time? Then I just need to worry about heat stroke

 

[JustWetRocks]

@ScubaCarrie when you checked your weighting, was it with a full tank or with a "empty" (500psi) tank?

You need enough weight to be neutral with the tank at 500psi or less. If you are neutral with a full tank, you need to add the weight of full-500psi worth of air. Since you say that you are negative at the weight check with 0 lead (I'm assuming that is actually being done at the start of the dive with a full tank), they may be estimating you need the additional 3lbs to be neutral at 500psi.

nope I am negative in a 3mm with a tank under 500. Pool tested over and over and over. Verified by instructors. Yesterday was another pool session. My 7mm is 8lbs of weight needed with under 500. (It’s probably closer to 7lbs but was tested with 6 and 8)

 

[-JD-]

nope I am negative in a 3mm with a tank under 500. Pool tested over and over and over. Verified by instructors. Yesterday was another pool session. My 7mm is 8lbs of weight needed with under 500. (It’s probably closer to 7lbs but was tested with 6 and 8)

Then carrying unneeded weight just to be able to drop it makes no actual sense - other than, likely, a bureaucratic one.

You can buy clip-on weights of a pound or two, but for experimentaion, maybe try only 1 and 2 pounds on the shoulder straps or tank neck and see if that will balance things.

 

[JustWetRocks]

Then carrying unneeded weight just to be able to drop it makes no actual sense - other than, likely, a bureaucratic one.

You can buy clip-on weights of a pound or two, but for experimentaion, maybe try only 1 and 2 pounds on the shoulder straps or tank neck and see if that will balance things.

Yes it really is a bureaucratic one. That’s why I am looking for options as to moving those 3lbs up higher on my body. If I can get them away from my bum.... and keep them ditchable... it would help.
I will be trying out no fins and lighter fins as well in the meantime to see if that makes a difference on the trim.

 

[lowviz]

But if I am carrying no weight I can not drop weight.
So in this scenario you are giving me, I need to somehow make my body more buoyant.

There are ways.

I totally agree that a given set of gear will only act one way on you. There is no magic. However, once you understand the forces, it becomes easier to pick and choose and make concessions to assembling your perfect rig.

As an example: Updated SCUBA tank specifications list -- in PDF and spreadsheet

 

[-JD-]

How many sesssions will you be under this checkbox requirement?

I canxt believe that I am actually posting this but, If it is not too long, maybe ankle floats aren't the worst hack. Roll up the wetsuit leg, wrap a bit of the small-bubble bubble-wrap around your calves and roll the leg down over it.

As lowviz points out there are ways to do it right (not "DIR"), but they can take time, experimentation, and sometimes money to find the correct combination.