UnderSeaBumbleBee
Contributor
msscuba the next time you go dive or have access to a pool, get your tank near 500psi and go about 5 feet below the surface. From starting point say your 23lbs with your 2.3 mil suit on, take of 1 pound breathe a few normal breaths. If you don't start to float up, remove one more pound. Keep doing this until you know the min amount of weight you need to stay down at 5'. If it is warm enough repeat the same task with no wet suit on.
You can also get an idea of how much it takes to sink your suit alone. If you have a laundry/utility tub take some string and tie your suit into a bundle. Do not tie it tight. Just tie it enough to make a nice square bundle as best you can. Then lay a weight on it. Keep stacking weights in the center of the bundle until it sinks. You want to see how much weight it takes to barely sink the suit. Your suit will compress at depth so you for sure do not want to use more than it takes to sink it in the tub. You probably on an actual dive use just a little less, but this will give you a good starting point in fresh water for each suit. With using the tub to determine with weight for the suit and knowing what it takes for you alone, it will help you have a good starting point as you change gear.
I know that in nothing but my nekked self and a jacket, it takes me 10 lbs to get down. If change gear and dive with a back plate and wing then it takes the gear plus 5 more pounds. If I add my wet suit then I must add another 9 pounds.
My dive buddy and I have actually burned off a couple of tanks working on skills once in a while and then working on getting our weighting correct. For us it was time well spent.
You can also get an idea of how much it takes to sink your suit alone. If you have a laundry/utility tub take some string and tie your suit into a bundle. Do not tie it tight. Just tie it enough to make a nice square bundle as best you can. Then lay a weight on it. Keep stacking weights in the center of the bundle until it sinks. You want to see how much weight it takes to barely sink the suit. Your suit will compress at depth so you for sure do not want to use more than it takes to sink it in the tub. You probably on an actual dive use just a little less, but this will give you a good starting point in fresh water for each suit. With using the tub to determine with weight for the suit and knowing what it takes for you alone, it will help you have a good starting point as you change gear.
I know that in nothing but my nekked self and a jacket, it takes me 10 lbs to get down. If change gear and dive with a back plate and wing then it takes the gear plus 5 more pounds. If I add my wet suit then I must add another 9 pounds.
My dive buddy and I have actually burned off a couple of tanks working on skills once in a while and then working on getting our weighting correct. For us it was time well spent.