Estimating Dive Weight for New Gear

[jjjjeremy]

Does anyone have formulas for estimating dive weight? I have all new equipment, and I want to be in the ballpark when I take it out for a test dive. For freediving in a 7mm two piece wetsuit with booties, hood, and gloves we say 10% of the diver's weight +5 lbs. Assuming the rest of my rig is neutral, and I'm using an AL80, add ~5 lbs to that? So 30? That seems HUGE. The last time I was diving was in the Carribean in a 3mm shorty with booties and an AL80, and I was doing alright with about 14lbs.

7mm Two-piece Freedive Wetsuit
Harness/Wing System w/ 45lbs of lift (Dive Rite says it's neutral)
200lbs on 6'3" frame, borderline "overweight" BMI
Saltwater
Novice diver
Low volume mask

Putting that all in to the DiveBuddy weight estimator I get 37lbs, which again seems way off to me. I have enough weight lying around that I can take that out, but I'd rather not if I don't need to.

 

[Adam Grose]

Hi, Jeremy.....

Give this a try: Basic Weighting Guidelines :: Central Oregon Diving Connection

Adam

 

[jjjjeremy]

So I guess it's the same for freediving, which means that the calculations may assume that the dive gear is neutral, but isn't an AL80 about 4-5 positive when empty? I want to make sure that I'm not floaty for my safety stop.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Buy a fish or luggage scale and weigh the gear in the water. Do a proper buoyancy check in your suit, mask, fins, alone. Get that settled. Then add the weight needed for your gear.

 

[jjjjeremy]

So dive down with my gear and hold the scale upside down?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

No you just need to set it in the water and see what it weighs. the scale does not need to go in the water.

 

[jjjjeremy]

That's assuming that the gear is negative, right? If it's positive, I don't understand how putting it in water will help.

I guess I could just clip on weight pound by pound until it sinks.

 

[neonstingray]

You don't have any access to a pool? From there you could just adjust for the saltwater. If you don't have access to a pool I'm guessing you wouldn't have access to a volume of water large enough to do Jim's test. Barring all that, I'd just try to estimate based on previous gear.