Correct wts: Shore diving vs boat; adding layers; swapping tank sizes; Rule of thumb?

[Flutter]

We just returned from shore diving Curacao and 9# wts worked well (w my 3/5 ml wetsuit & shore booties).

Now we are heading down to FL in March and I want to add a shortie layer, because the water was 57-61 degrees last year (in Mar) and I froze. 1) Is there a rule of thumb for adding wt, or will I need to stay by the boat and add 2# at a time, until I get it right? I weigh 123-126#, & will be wearing the same wetsuit. I'll swap out to regular booties, add a hoodie, thin gloves, & a 3 ml shortie. (My husband will also be adding a shortie).

Also, last year in FL boat diving, I needed 12-14# to get down (with my buddy pulling on me on the first dive) even though I had only added the thin gloves & hoodie - from Curacao. 2) Do you always need more wt when boat diving vs shore diving, or did my hoodie & gloves really cause the need for 3-5# extra wt? 3) Should I be soaking my suit b4 my 1st boat dive to prevent this?

4) In FL, sometimes, I swap out to a "shortie" tank (63) rather than the 80 ct because it is lighter. Does this also make a difference in wt??

(Even tho' we do a pool refresher b4 dive trips the water is fresh, so getting the wts right doesn't transfer) Will I really need 16+# with the added shortie? Seems (feels) like a lot!

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[KD8NPB]

For water that cold, I would go 7mm wetsuit, 7mm boots, 3mm gloves, and a 7mm hood.

Presoaking your gear will have negligible effect (although it is wise to wet your tank cam bands!).

For an easy pre-calculation, toss your gear in the bathtub and add lead until it sinks. Then add +4 lbs for an AL80 (They're -3 lbs empty), and another +4 lbs for yourself (it sounds like you're pretty trim).

For a 7mm + hood + boots + gloves, I wear about 18 lbs (+4 lbs for an AL80). I am 5'8", 150 lbs. My BMI is about 23.

 

[Flutter]

KD8NPB,

Thanks for the method to figure the weights: sink bc w wts + 4# for tank + 4# for myself = total wts required. (This transfers to FL diving even though I just used bath/tub water, right?) My BMI is also about 23.