Dry suits with insulated under garments are nice, as well as expensive, requiring more upkeep, a peevalve or Depends, and more weight. Back to your question...
I weigh 170 lbs. and I just bought a new 7 mil Bare wet suit with the 7 mil hooded jacket. normally I use a 7 mil with hood and gloves and 12lbs of weight . With the new set up last weekend in the quarry I had 22lbs and still could not descend. I had to pull my way down to the bottom using the bouy rope. Any suggestions??????
From 12 to 22 is a major jump, and I guess you're talking Freshwater? I wear 24# lead in FW with my 7 mil, but then I weaigh over 200# with too much adipose. :blush: I don't know what you mean by hooded jacket exactly, but what I hated to read is that you pulled yourself down the rope. You need to descend on your own so that you won't get in trouble ascending when your wetsuit becomes more buoyant as Randy described. Don't do that, ok?
If your previous 7 mil was old vs the new 7 mil Bare suit, the new one will be more buoyant - at least for a long while, depending on use and other treatment. The new Bare along may have needed more weight.
Bare sells 1 mil and 3 mil hooded vests in the US; I don't see a 7 mil hooded vest or jacket. Nope, not in the Canadian section either.
Anyway, with lead - it generally takes what it takes. As a new diver, you may well be holding onto some air in your lungs and there are techniques for dealing with that: Be sure you have your lungs empty, BC empty, and
ankles crossed so you won't be fining. And make sure you have good control of your weight system, even if you need 24-26#. Add at least 4# for saltwater, maybe more with the vest/jacket.
