hi guys and gals..went diving yesterday to get used to the drysuit..i had 24 lbs of weights onme and still couldnt get below the surface..i did purge the suit of air before i went inand it did help but still no luck..is it normal to have to have more weight then that to get under?im only 5 foot3 and 110 lbs..can someone help me out there as this is getting frustrating to say the least lol..someone suggested that i wear a soft weight belt..would apreciate any help..thanks as i have a clean up dive coming up next weekend we are going to be cleaning up crystal bay thats about 20 minutes from here..
drysuits and weights
- Thread starter snuggle
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Dryglove
Contributor
You could always check with bob3 for a set of commercial diving lead boots 
GearHead
Contributor
Regarding the soft weight belt, they are more comfortable, but for getting beneath the surface, lead is lead. It would be helpful to know more about your rig before someone accidentally gives you bad advice.
What kind of drysuit are you using (trilam, neoprene, compressed neo)?
What kind of clothing and undergarments are you wearing underneath your suit?
What kind of BC do you have?
And more importantly, what kind of tank are you diving with (size, steel/AL)?
What kind of drysuit are you using (trilam, neoprene, compressed neo)?
What kind of clothing and undergarments are you wearing underneath your suit?
What kind of BC do you have?
And more importantly, what kind of tank are you diving with (size, steel/AL)?
tinman
Contributor
...When you say purge, was this a shore dive where you could walk in to shoulder height and let the water column squeeze all air out of the suit with purge value open and/or with neck seal held open? BC & lungs emptied at point of submerging?
Try a search under drysuit and Uncle Pug, I recall he has gone down this road before...
norcaldiver
Guest
Depends....
I think it is common for people to use more weight with a drysuit IF it's a stock size, not custom made for you and your body type. I had to add a little weight, because my suit doen't fit like a glove. There are some air pockets , especially in the boots, so that throws off the bouyancy.
Even fully vented, there are "crumple spaces" and even tho the suit feels like it squishing me, anything that doesn't touch you flush is an airspace.
Then you have the guys that are my HT/WT and have the custom suits that is like a second skin. They use about half the weight that I do...grrrr.
I think it is common for people to use more weight with a drysuit IF it's a stock size, not custom made for you and your body type. I had to add a little weight, because my suit doen't fit like a glove. There are some air pockets , especially in the boots, so that throws off the bouyancy.
Even fully vented, there are "crumple spaces" and even tho the suit feels like it squishing me, anything that doesn't touch you flush is an airspace.
Then you have the guys that are my HT/WT and have the custom suits that is like a second skin. They use about half the weight that I do...grrrr.
i have a 7mm neoprene drysuit,an aluminum 80 tank and a dacor bcd..its an older model but works fine..as for the purge..yes tinman i went into the water without a weightbelt to my shoulders and opened the neck seal just slightly to let the air out of the suit and i dont wear anything but sweatpants underneath..i do apreciate everyones help here..its getting abit frustrating..
Soggy
Contributor
With a 7mm drysuit and Al80 tank, 24 lbs doesn't sound too unreasonable. Are you wearing a jacket BC or BP/Wings? What's your build?
Make sure you exhale completely and that you aren't kicking at all...in fact, try crossing your ankles to ensure this.
A steel tank would be a good investment (or rental) and will take probably 4-6 lbs off your belt.
What is your build?
Make sure you exhale completely and that you aren't kicking at all...in fact, try crossing your ankles to ensure this.
A steel tank would be a good investment (or rental) and will take probably 4-6 lbs off your belt.
What is your build?
Depending on what you are wearing for insulation you may need more or less weight than with your wetsuit. I would get in a pool or something if you can and figure out what you need and where you need it to get your trim right.
pdoege
Contributor
You may need quite a bit of weight to get down.
How much weight do you wear with a 7mm wetsuit?
Peter Doege
How much weight do you wear with a 7mm wetsuit?
Peter Doege
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