backplate and wing for GUE courses

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

My advice would be to speak with your GUE instructor before buying anything. You will get the e-learning and will learn about the balanced rig. Also, heavy wetsuits aren't really a GUE thing...

I won't take the GUE course in the 8mm wetsuit- that is for diving up here in the cold. I don't really have an instructor at this point for the course- I have someone in mind but that's all. I would take the course where it's warm.

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

He's going the GUE route; he wants dogma.

I'm not really going the GUE route. At this point I've taken courses with SDI, PADI, and SSI and I'm thinking about the performance diver course with GUE. Now if I really like the course and find it productive then I might do more, or I might never do another GUE course again if it's not my thing.

 

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

Yes, it should also compensate for suit buoyancy lost from about 15 ft to the bottom. Even at 130 ft, that will be less than half the surface buoyancy (because that value neglects the solid parts of neoprene).

Figure 9 lbs for compression loss and 5-7 lbs of non-reserve gas, and you are at less than 15 lbs negative while diving if properly weighted.

It is true the rig has to be able to float itself (without the help of you & the wetsuit) should you take it off to, say, get into a small boat. If you use only integrated weight, that could be up to the surface buoyancy of you+suit. That'd be about 21 lbs for me in an XXL 7mm suit (6'2", 220 lb) in salt water, so a fair bit of room to 30 lb.

The extra 10lbs of lift on the Zeos is a non-issue. It dumps nicely and you do want to have some buffer.

 

[sea_ledford]

Gotcha on trapped air- that makes sense!!

OK wait- in a rashguard and shorts I take 14 lbs of lead. With a 3mm wetsuit I use 18 lbs. Surely my 8mm wetsuit (well, semi-dry which is wet of course) will be much harder to sink, no?

The 3mm suit in a pool would be to approximate what your 8mm suit at depth would be. So you would use the weight for your 8mm, wear a 3mm and see how you are at 5-10 feet. Not really looking for ideal trim or anything like that, you are checking to see if 30lbs would be enough lift while in your most disadvantaged state underwater. You can try the float at the surface option, but it probably won't be useful. I suspect it'll float you at about eye level at the surface fully inflated. But when you are actually in that situation (at the surface waiting on whatever) you'll be in your floaty 8mm, not a 3mm.

As a point of experience, I'm 5'10, about 200 lbs, and in freshwater wearing an HP 100, AL backplate and a 4mm full suit, an 18lb wing keeps me at the surface...just barely. It was not enough to be a functional option. It was amazing underwater though.

 

[JoeTPhilly]

I won't take the GUE course in the 8mm wetsuit- that is for diving up here in the cold. I don't really have an instructor at this point for the course- I have someone in mind but that's all. I would take the course where it's warm.

In that case, definitely don't buy any gear. Plan a vacation to Bonaire where it is nice and warm, has a GUE training center named Area9 Area9 Mastery Diving Research Center and has easy shore diving. Send Mr. G mr_g@area9.dk and Douwe douwe@area9.dk an email about Performance Diver or Basic Fundamentals. Area9 has all the gear you need for the course. After the course you could make a more informed decision on what to purchase. After Performance Diver or Basic Fundamentals you should have plenty of time for fun diving and putting your new skills into practice. .