New BCD, weights?

[SeaFlea]

Greetings all, I need to ask your opinion.

I just bought a OMS IQ harness, with a SS backplate(6 lbs). I'm thinking about how much weight I will need to wear.

To provide a starting point.... I just returned from Bonaire (great trip) and dove with steel 72's. With just shorts and tee shirt I made it fine with 8 lbs. I could have made it OK with 6 lbs but added 2 to help at the end.

In Cozumel they use AL 80's( I think?). Does anyone know the difference in bouyancy between these two cylinders?

I'm thinking the backplate weight will be close but will need to account for the positive bouy. of the AL 80. Maybe add 4 lbs, for a total of 10lbs?

I will of course get out there and strap on a near empty tank and check it, but was courious. I think too much about diving!

thx to all,
Good Dives.

 

[diver 85]

re the Cozumel part.....not all----ie ---since '06 I make 2 quick trips to CZM a year & always have dived steel HP 120's with Aldora...you need to check with them maybe next time.....


& I'm not familiar with 72's, ???probably 5 or 6 lbs delta??......---someone that knows will comment further I'm sure......

 

[scuba127]

Last trip to Bonaire I was using a DSS SS Backplate (for the lst time), 13 CF Luxfer Aluminum Pony Tank with reg, primary reg and 3mm Henderson Hyperstretch wetsuit. With no weight added to this rig, I had to fin hard to get from the surface to my initial shallow depth to start the dive. Close to the end of the dive and the aluminum 80 at least half gone I was working to hold my stop and was expiriencing pain in my lower back and hamstrings due to that effort (I'm not ruling out the possibility that I may not have the harness adjusted correctly at this point). I added 2lbs. which helped but was still having issues shallow at the end of the dive. Given a steel plate and 2 regs technically I should be overweighted if I add weight but I guess the combination of the salt water, 3mm Henderson which I'm pretty sure represents a swing in bouyancy from depth to shallow due to compression of the suit, and the buoyancy swing in the aluminum 80 from beginning to end all combined may require added weight. I reckon everyone is different in terms of personal buoyancy. All that said, based on my expirience, I'd go ahead and add the 4lbs. and if its too much work you're way down from there. Just my 2 PSI.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

3 mil suit, saltwater, DSS single tank rig with ss plate, and al80 I need an extra 4 lbs on the belt.

 

[scubafanatic]

You used steel 72's in Bonaire ? I've never seen those down there, pretty much everyone uses AL80's or AL 63's.

On Cozumel, you are correct, just as throughout the Caribbean, the universal standard tanks are AL80 or AL63 'yoke-style', however, as already mentioned, there are a few 'premium' dive ops that offer larger capacity steel tanks (LP 95's / LP 120's / HP 100's / HP 120's) and some of the AL tank operators can provide, on special request, AL 100's.

It's your call, but I'm not sure it makes sense to lug a 6 lbs BP on a plane, AL or Kydex will save you 4 lbs in travel weight, if you need ballast, just use the on-site dive ops lead instead.

 

[SeaFlea]

Yeah, I thought about AL Vs SS. Increased travel weight, yes. But I think I like the majority of my ballast on my back instead of my side harness. I must say the BP/W config is new to me and I will learn the facts on our May Coz trip.

Another way to look at it.... The airlines are going to get me for $25 for another 50 lbs anyway. Why not use the whole 50.

We'll see. Thx for your input.

Good Dives, Seaflea.