much more weight

[joel3739]

My only experience diving has been in lakes or controlled locations. In June, I am going to be taking my first ocean dive. My buddy and I are going to Catalina. I know that the water is going to be cold and I am going to have to use at least a 7mm wetsuit. I know how much weight I need in a lake to go down with that much neoprene!!! What I would like to know, is there a formula to figure out how much weight I will need to take to compensate for the salt water?

 

[Blox]

You'll need additional lead for about 3 percent of the combined weight of you and your equipment at the beginning of the dive (assuming that you dive the same equipment and suit as in FW), to compensate for the higher density of salt water (FW has a density of roughly 1.00, while salt water usually has a density of between 1.02x and 1.030)
Example: If you used to use 5 kgs of lead in FW and the combined weight of you and your equipment at the start of a dive is - say - 100 kgs you would need an additional 3 kg for a total of 8 kg in saltwater. I think the books may actually say 5 percent, but 3 percent should do.

 

[m3830431]

Going from a 3.5mm farmer jon to a 3mm full suit, no hood, gloves but same boots. I went from 26 lbs to 14 lbs.

I guestamated 15 lbs. So the loss of neoprene far exceeds the conversion from fresh to salt water. Now if you aren't going to a warmer place, why not?