How much lift do I need?

[Scotttyd]

Question for a newbie picking out a new BCD. How do I determine the buoyancy needed? I am looking at a BC with 35 lbs of lift. I am strickly a recreation diver. Last trip I made I needed 26 lbs of lead in salt water to make me sink. I am 6'2" 225 all muscle (ya right!!) In freshwater I only needed about 16. Any advice?

 

[dkatchalov]

Check out the lift calculator in the BC forum.

This post also belongs in the BC forum.

For single tank diving 35 lb is plenty.

 

[Spragg01]

Off the cuff, that sounds like plenty, esp if you're diving wet. It's c.40% more lift than the maximum weight of lead you would carry. Keep in mind too, that if you're idealy weighted, you need only a very small amount of air in your BC to begin with. If you're using all 35lbs of lift in your BC, something is pretty darn wrong. One other note, if you dive a dry suit, the available lift from your BC becomes more important as a safty concern, but that's a different issue.

 

[AzAtty]

I'm close to your size (taller, but about same weight), and I routine dive a BP/wing with 27lbs of lift. 35 lbs is plenty.

 

[GLENFWB]

I am your size and 35lb is PLENTY.

Question for a newbie picking out a new BCD. How do I determine the buoyancy needed? I am looking at a BC with 35 lbs of lift. I am strickly a recreation diver. Last trip I made I needed 26 lbs of lead in salt water to make me sink. I am 6'2" 225 all muscle (ya right!!) In freshwater I only needed about 16. Any advice?

 

[medic001918]

I agree with others that 35 is plenty. I dive steel singles with a #30 life and I've never had an issue. I just ordered my doubles wing and it's only a #40 lift.

Shane

 

[Blackwood]

There are a couple things to consider.

A) How negative are you at the start of your dive?
You'll need enough lift to ensure that you can become neutrally buoyant at the beginning of the dive (when your tanks weigh the most) and with maximum suit compression (when you produce the minimum buoyant force).

B) Do you feel it is important to be able to lift your buddy in the case that he loses buoyancy?
You can cut him out of his rig and he should be positive (assuming an exposure suit), and if that's your solution, carrying enough lift capacity for two isn't a concern.

 

[SparticleBrane]

26lbs? Good gracious.
What were the conditions -- what exposure protection, temps, etc?

 

[JeffG]

26lbs? Good gracious.
What were the conditions -- what exposure protection, temps, etc?

Thats right in line with cold salt water diving.

 

[SparticleBrane]

If I had to wear 26lbs of lead I'd probably quit diving.
edit: I'll note that I'm specifically talking about a weight belt.