Dry suit learning curve

[Rob9000]

Rob9000,

One of your lessons was bring more weight than you think you need. I'm curious as to how your weighting changed.

• What is your normal wetsuit type and how much lead do you carry?
• With your Pinnacle undergarments, how much lead did you settle on for drysuit diving?

I am used to diving with a smallish amount of lead for my wetsuit. For my 5/7 full plus hooded vest, I carry 20-22 lbs. In my last drysuit dive, with 200g thinsulate, I took 26 pounds and was underweighted by a bit (at the end of the dive). I think that I am going to start with 30lbs next time. I'm hoping to do a 3-tank boat outing Friday so that I can get some more practice time.

Thanks again
David

I am 6'4" 240lbs. With a 7/5 (XXXL), a hooded vest, 5mil boots, and 3 mil gloves I was 30 pounds with an AL 80 tank....and my BC is about 3 lbs positive (thinking of going bp/w to solve the positive BC issue part of it)...and this was in Cabo San Lucas, so a little saltier than up here. I didn't record my weight from Monterey, but I think I was in the 30 - 34 lb range since I doubled up another vest and had 5 mil gloves....and was still cold.

With the fleece and the dry suit with the 5mm hood from the above mentioned hooded vest (I decided I didn't like the hooded vest so I took some scissors and created a great hood and a separate great vest) and 3 mil gloves and a steel LP 95, I was 36 lbs. With the REI gear I was 34 lbs and a bit heavy. The Pinnacle is actually a bit too long for me (XXXL) so I had to pull up the sleeves and legs....so it was kind of bunched up...once I got down and got vacuum packed I was much less buoyant. There was less of this effect with the REI gear.