Lead Weight size question for the tall and skinny

[aoumi]

Hi,

I'm a beginner and setting up a weight belt. I was wanting some help firstly with what size individual weight(s) (individual lead weight unit) I should be thinking of buying? Which is the most popular size for scuba?

(Its all metric where i'm located at the moment, as currently in Asia).

1 KG (2.2lbs), 1.5 KG (3.31lbs), or 2 KG (4.41lbs) units.

I have 7/5 full wetsuit (although its mostly 5mm), with un-hooded small 5mm vest (I feel the cold!).

Steel 10Litre tank, boots, fins, gloves, mask, snorkel.
I weigh 58kg, and 178cm tall (I said tall and skinny!)

I realise the amount of weight for each person varies, so just would like to know what individual size weight to start with (eg 4 x 1.5kg - (about 13.2lbs))??

Thanks!

 

[tplyons]

I normally dive with between 18-20 lbs. depending on what suit I'm diving, always diving aluminum tanks in the quarry.

This being said, I bought 28 lbs. Two of each increment. I have two each 2LB, 3LB, 4LB, 5LB. This provides me the most options when I need to adjust for new gear or environment.

 

[Bob DBF]

I would work backwards, with more smaller weights, so I could adjust weight for different tanks, exposure protection and the possibility that you are overweighted now and will need to remove some at a later date.

As for how much weight you need, ther a number of threads on Scubaboard about the subject. My method is to to do a shore dive with the weight you were trained with and at your safety stop @ 500# (or the metric equivelant) empty your BC and hover. If you sink, with your lungs half full, remove a weight and try again; when you are able to hover or you have to put a weight back on you are good. There are some that feel they should be able to hover at the safety stop with an empty tank, for this just add the weight of the air at 500# to your belt.


Good Luck
Bob
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I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.

 

[fnfalman]

You need as much weight as your body composition and equipment configuration requires. It could be 5-lbs or it could be 50-lbs.

 

[g1138]

Imperial pounds I go with 2 and 3 pounders. They will allow you to hit every measurement of weighting you will need while still having an even amount of weight on either side of you.

Metric, I would go with 1 and 1.5 kilos; for the same reasons above.
Unless you're sporting a large amount of weight where the above methods would take up too much belt space, I wouldn't buy any bigger sized weights. For smaller weights such as 1lbs and 0.5kilos, I wouldn't buy those unless you have a specific reason for it. If you don't know of one, then wait till you do.
Being 1lb over weighted can easily be corrected with your BC; so don't worry about trying to hit the odd numbers. Or in the case of metric, the half-kilos.

For me, the most weight I've ever had to use was 20lbs, so I bought 4x 2lbs and 4x 3lbs. If you know your maximum needed weight then you can go from there, or just go with what you know. Say you need 5 kilos. Buy a total of 6-7kilos so if you suddenly find yourself needing more, you'll have it in your weight bag.
Buy even numbers of 1kg and 1.5kg so you can even out your belt.

If you have all the money in the world then go crazy, but this is how I've kept the lead bill to a minimum when buying my own weights.