How much weight to begin with?

[chris kippax]

Hi all
Just wondering on a start point for weighting. Contributing factors listed below.
Hp100 steel tank
Fusion bullet drysuit
Wing type bcd (no backplate)
Dui polartek ug with a layer of polypro
Hollis F1's
I usually wear 6lb for diving with a 5mm. First dive will be a shore dive with surf entry so I'd rather not have to get back out to add weight. I was thinking 12lb but that might be a little conservative.
Thanks Chris

 

[Oldbear]

What is different between you 5mil wet suit dives and your Fusion Drysuit planned dive parameters listed above?

 

[chris kippax]

Hi Old bear
The only difference is the exposure protection.
Thanks

 

[Oldbear]

It is my bed time here but you should be able to find the buoyancy differences between you 5mil and your Drysuit from the manufactures' site...

Looking at a PADI Adventures in Diving book (AOW) they list the following:

5mm wet suit - 10% body weight
Dry suit shell with light undergarments - 10% body weight + 1.5 to 3 kg / 3 to 5 lbs
Dry suit shell with heavy undergarments - 10% body weight + 3 to 7 kg / 7 to 14 lbs

 

[Doby45]

I added 4lb, going from my 5mm to my Fusion Bullet. Mid-weight undergarments. Key is to do your buoyancy check at your safety stop with 500psi, comfy squeeze on suit and no air in BC.

 

[urbaneve71]

I found that calling my LDS was the best thing I could do (I'm lucky enough to have a great one)

He asked me a few questions and then informed me of what weight I should be using. You might want to give that a try.

He also informed me to play around with weights to see what worked for me...but he gave me a general idea of what I should use.

I dive a 3mm long suit and once I told him what bcd I used and suit I used and a few other questions....he qaa right on the money