how much more weight?

[Sprinter]

I wear 18 lbs on a 2 piece 7mm wetsuit. I will be shifting to a 4 mm drysuit with weezle undergarments and wonder how much weight do I need to add? Apart from a pair of ankle weights, how much more lead would I need?

Thanks.

 

[jiveturkey]

Nobody can tell you for sure. You'll have to do a buoyancy check.

I just switched to a drysuit and went through the same thing. You've got at least 2 variables in there. The new suit is going to change your buoyancy and the thickness of the underwear will change it too. I tried my shell suit in a pool with no underwear and had to make adjustments a second time when I got into open water with my thick undies. I don't use ankle weights at all. I just made sure my new ds finss were negatively buoyant before I bought them.

 

[Sprinter]

Here's what I found out: With 24 pounds I was slightly buoyant. My buddy says that is fine and I would sink if I get down below 10'. I added 6 lbs more and that made me slightly negative. I'll probably settle for 28 lbs.

 

[markfm]

Yay -- someone else with 28

 

[H2Andy]

I'll probably settle for 28 lbs.

don't forget that you are going to be at your lightest at the end of the dive,
with a near-empty tank

my suggestion is to get a tank with about 500 psi and weight yourself so that you
are neutral to sligthly negative at the surface. that way, you will know that you
can control your ascent from 15 feet or so with a near-empty tank.