need more lift when I switch to a dry suit?

[tep]

I am considering a move to a dry suit later this year. I was in the local shop to talk about a class, and purchasing options. I mentioned that I have a 35 lb wing for single tank diving. It's a Dive Rite - Voyager EXP, if that matters.

They mentioned that I'd need a larger wing to dive with a dry suit. I'll still be single (steel) tank.

Do I?

 

[Landau]

Possibly, depending on your size and how much weight you’ll need to sink all the nice warm fluffy undergarments.

If you had a sudden huge leak from a seal or zipper failure, all the buoyancy from those undergarments will suddenly disappear.

If you are 5 foot 2 inches, 115 lbs and in not so cold water with thin undergarments your are good. If you are 6 foot 4 inches 240 lbs, in really cold water and wearing 3 really thick fluffy layers that need lots of lead to sink - they are probably correct.

 

[tep]

Hmmm - 5'9", 200 lbs. Coldest water I'll be in is 50F (typical San Diego winter).

Today I need about 18 lbs (6 lb plate and 12 lbs of lead) for a 7mm suit with a steel tank. I expect that to go down a bit as I tune things and lose the last 10 lbs of "bioprene".

 

[rjack321]

I am considering a move to a dry suit later this year. I was in the local shop to talk about a class, and purchasing options. I mentioned that I have a 35 lb wing for single tank diving. It's a Dive Rite - Voyager EXP, if that matters.

They mentioned that I'd need a larger wing to dive with a dry suit. I'll still be single (steel) tank.

Do I?

You're fine. The worst of the worst case is a neck seal failure on the surface. Flooding, loss of buoyancy. Can you stay on the surface in a single steel of air with a 35lb wing? Yes more of less if you ditch some lead.

I would not upsize.

 

[Boarderguy]

You're fine with a 35lb wing. I dive with a 32 in single tank. If you can't stay at the surface with a flooded suit then you ditch your weights. Any wing much larger than what you have and you'll likely have issues with it taco'ing around your tank.

 

[Landau]

My opinion, given those numbers.

Let’s say you have a dry suit failure right at the start of the dive. You’ll need 12 (lead) + 6 (plate) + 8 (full steel 100) = 26 lbs of buoyancy. You’ve got 35, so especially if the lead is ditchable, you are good.

But most people need a few extra pounds when switching to dry suit. If you need to add much more and your lead is not ditchable or you are diving a more negatively bouyant tank I’d consider more lift.

Quick test: can your rig float by itself with a full tank and all lead?

 

[lexvil]

Short answer; no.

I could do a long answer and all I would come up with is unlikely.

 

[brsnow]

I hope not I just ordered that wing for dry suit, figured the travel xt I have was marginal.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

No mention of if you are moving to a shell or a neoprene dry suit?

 

[tep]

No mention of if you are moving to a shell or a neoprene dry suit?

Probably a tri-lam from DUI. They are made here in town, and service, if any, would be a breeze. I see mostly DUI on local divers, but have started seeing some Mares X-something-or-other