Estimate my weight requirement

[jc2]

Just got a complete new gear setup. I know for most accurate determination I should go hop in the pool but in case I don't wondering what people would estimate would be my weight belt requirement.

I'm 5'11 - 185 lbs.
Diving a Tri-Lam Dry Suit in cold (45 degree F) water
Hog Harness
5 lbs 6 oz. BP with 5lbs 3 oz. STA = 10 lbs 9 oz total
Worthington LP 85 Steel Tank (-6 lbs full, neutral empty)
Nothing else of significant weight (aside from the DR Trek Wing and Regulator)

Other scenario will be taking the new setup on a warm water trip for the first time:

78 F water temp
3mm Shorty
Hog Harness
5 lbs 6 oz BP with 2 lbs 1 oz STA = 7 lbs 7 oz total
ALU 80 tank

 

[jonnythan]

I would estimate 0 lbs.

 

[Walter]

Get in the water and do a weight check. Estimates are useless.

 

[diverbrian]

More important factors include your comfort in the water and your build. If you are not comfortable enough in that rig to completely exhale at the moment, you will need more weight until you are. Our shop staff finds that many new divers will lose ten pounds of of lead when they start to truly become at home underwater.

Also, muscle is less buoyant than fat. Contrary to what you hear, many athletic people have trouble floating to begin with. But, having said that, many divers with the theory that "round is a shape" use very little weight because they almost completely exhale like they should (comfort level again).

As well, more important than the fact that you are using a drysuit is the weight of your undergarments.

I could go on, but as Walter said, estimates on the internet won't help you much. Jump in the pool with each rig and see what it takes to do the job without overweighting you. That may even be a good use for a near empty tank .

Oh, and make sure that your drysuit undies and BC are not trapping an excessive amount of air. That can become an issue on ascent as well.

 

[jc2]

Get in the water and do a weight check. Estimates are useless.

That is what I was planning on doing. But you have to start somewhere and it has been so long since I dove (and have never dove with a BP/W setup) I was trying to get a ballpark figure to start with before getting in the water.

 

[Walter]

If you are floating at waist level, you'll need to pick up a bunch. As you get closer to eye level, you start fine tuning with smaller increments.

 

[Darnold9999]

I am quite close to your weight at 5' 10" 175 lb tri lam suit BP/W at 6# using rental AL 80 same temp water. I carry 28 #. Take off 5# for the STA and another 5 # for difference in tank will get you to 18# - would probably start at 24 # expecting to be heavy. A lot depends on your undergarments and comfort level however. If I even add just one extra layer I can't hold a safety stop, take one off and I sink like a stone so 24# is just a wild *** guess.

 

[GreenDiverDown]

I agree with Jonnythan. You won't need to put any on the belt.

 

[theskull]

So the consensus is somewhere between 0 & 24 lbs.

. . . Which is exactly what I was going to suggest!

Plus another 4-6 lbs. if you plan to subject your new gear to salt water.

No substitute for getting in the water when it comes to buoyancy, especially with the variance in how a drysuit will fit and which undergarments you will wear.

theskull

 

[GreenDiverDown]

Oh... sorry...

I mis-read. I thought the question was about using a SS BP and standard STA in warm water with a 3mm shortie, Al80 given a 5'11" 185# diver. In that situation it is very likey that this diver would need no additional weight on the belt.

I won't make a guess on the drysuit...