How much more weight to use going from 3mm to 7mm?

[Torontonian]

I usually dive during warm water vacations in FL or the Caribbeans, wearing 3mm long. I'm 5'9", 180lb, size L. With a Golem BP/W set up (6lb steel BP, 35lb lift wing), I usually use 2 lb of weight, and have tried once no weight (carrying an old MX10 camera and strobe) and still ok.

Coming to SoCal, to dive in Anacapa and Catalina islands, I'll be renting 7mm wetsuit and hood. How much additional weight might I need?

Thanks.

 

[David_57]

Let see down south in warm saltwater in a 3 mil with s/s backplate aluminium tank I use 4lbs of lead, when I was in Florida I used a 5 mil and required 10 to 12 lbs of lead, so I would hazard a guess and add about 6 to 8 lbs for the additional 4 mil add your 2 lbs that would bring it to 8 to 10 lbs. Another consideration is the type/size of tank the best way is to make a weight check dive, normally the dive ops have a shore dive area to provide for this when you do the check out dive you should only have about 500 psi in the bottle.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

For the same style of suit, I have an 8lb difference from 3/2 to 7/5mm with a hood (I am 220lbs XL). Be aware that many rentals are farmer john + jacket, not a jump suit. In this case you might need a bit more (10-11bs or so), but again as with as w/s, the bouyancy depends on the age of the suit to some extent so rent a few pounds extra lead in small sizes that you can use to trim. Have fun, I love Anacapa / Catalina.

 

[robint]

Yeah, it all depends on the suit and your density of muscle to fat. When you rent the suit, ask the store how much you should take.
I am only 5'3" and 125lbs, and in salt water with an aluminum 80 I still use 18-20lbs of lead with my 7mm fullsuit, hood and gloves. My hubby is 5'9" and 180lbs and with the same type suit needs 22-24lbs.

 

[ShakaZulu]

You would need at least 14lbs + 6lbs (plate), using AL tanks....with steel, drop it down to 10lbs.

 

[Gombessa]

In my limited experience diving wet, 3mm suits are fairly uniform, and the weighting you're using is fairly standard.

7mm suits can vary a lot - one piece or farmer-john? Attached hood? 5/6/7 or some other variant? I need something like 26-28lb total (12lb on plate, 14-16 on belt) with a thick farmer john. With a single piece for warmer SoCal waters, you can probably get away with 20-24 or maybe less (so 14-16 on the belt, since it doesn't sound like you dive an STA).

That should just be a ballpark to get you started - do a quick weight check when you get there of course (we were recently diving the channel islands, and more than one person mentioned that they felt more buoyant there than back "home", so fine-tuning may be needed).

 

[pasley]

Me - Male 6Ft, 144 lb
Caribbean 3mm SS BP 6lb, 30lb wing, Al 80, lead 6lb, total =12 lb
SoCal Drysuit - SS BP 6lb, 30 lb wing, Steel Tank -2 lead 16 LB = 24 lb
SoCal 7mm Wetsuit BP 6lb, 30 lb wing, Steel Tank -2 lead 10 lb total= 18lb with AL tank - 20 lb

SHAKA ZULU I think has it about right. My recommendation, Start with 14 lb of lead in addition to the BP, from there you may be able to shed a couple of pounds or need to add, depending on your body fat and comfort level in our waters.

Better to have additional weight available than to need it and not have it. As always a weight check before you start the dive is recommended.

 

[Torontonian]

Thanks for all the advise. I need a bit of weight then.

 

[drbill]

General guideline we use around here is 10% of body weight plus 5-7 pounds. Of course that depends on your body type, but it seems to be a pretty good guideline for 7mm suits.