My buoyancy is off with my new gear

[lamont]

I think there is definitely a reason you rarely see DIR people in wetsuits when they're that deep... Always keeping some sort of redundant buoyancy is key. Whether it's a dual bladder wing *not dir*, drysuit, or a small ish lift bag *50-100lbs* it doesn't really matter, but having something to get you up in a controlled fashion is key. If you ditch 10lbs of lead at 100 ft you can not possibly control your ascent rate.

Proper buoyancy control:

- wing
- drysuit
- fins ( often overlooked )
- 40# SMB
- scooter

A 7mm wetsuit, particularly a farmer john/jane has way too much crush, and can't function as redundant buoyancy.

 

[kidsdream]

I strongly recommend the Zeagle BP harness weight system. They take up a lot less room than the DR or the Halcyon ditchable pocket systems. And the fact that they are positioned and attach to the BP directly makes them more favorable for trim. Of course with steel doubles they are not required.

 

[leabre]

So i haven't even done Fundies course, so this is a question. What about offsetting the wetsuit bouyancy? If your 7mm wetsuit loses 10lbs of bouyancy as you go deep, wouldn't you need to be able to ditch close to this amount so you aren't suddenly 13lbs negative at depth in an emergency and completely unable to ditch weight?

If you're properly nuetral with no air in the wing at 10' with 500 PSI, then you wouldn't be ditching weight at depth because then you would lose control of your ascent very easily as you'll be positive the shallower you get. Ideally, when properly weighted, you would only ditch your weights at the surface with a full tank if something happens and you need to be lighter.

Because wetsuits compress the deeper you go causing you to become more negative and cold at the same time, a drysuit would be preferred once you plan to reach a certain depth. For me, I don't go deeper than 100' on a wetsuit if necessary but usually about 80' because of the cold.

 

[rlynch]

for the OP.
here is my setup for diving my 7mm waterproof W1 (which i don't anymore since i went to a drysuit)
I am 165lbs

Halcyon infinity 40 - Aluminium backplate

weights for a single AL80 single tank

6lb STA keel weight
ACB pockets - 4lbs each (8 total)
Trim weights on upper cam bands - 2 lbs each.

Total 16lbs

Pro's: swimable from 20 feet ffw, netral at 4 ffw, hold the 10 stop. add a light and remove 2lbs of weight from acb pockets or remove acb pockets completly and transfer to trim weight pouches.

Con's: on the edge of being too light, you have to monitor your weight carefully (both personal and your rig), with a balanced rig ditchable weigh really does not mean anything.

you will need to take the time to properly weight your rig, for you, just take a buddy and a bunch of 1lbs weights and just add till you get it perfect for you. i would personally do it in 4-5' water and fully submerge and hold a position in the water. I leave a pile of weights on the bottom and stuff them in my suit until i can get it perfect. ymmv