Noob questions about various weight(s) topics .....

[Watterlogged]

Thanks everyone for all the answers. It definitely cleared up a few things. I think I'll carry forward with the following plan:

1. Wetsuit should be 3 mil or less
2. Get some real fins instead of my little shorty travel fins
3. Establish my neutral point with an AL80 at 500psi using permanent weights
4. Add 2 to 4 lbs as drop weight

As I understand it this will put me good enough at safety stop, the ability to kick to surface if needed, and the option to adjust weight as needed in the weight pockets until I determine my final weight plan.

I have only been comfortable in a 3 mil in a few places at a few depths. Striving to participate AND get the required 25 posts. Difficult "balancing act". Did you see that ?

 

[Watterlogged]

In an attempt to follow this thread .... i realize i was probably "out of my depth" by even learning to scuba ! In 21 yrs time MUCH of this thread is "over my head" and i am amazed i haven't drowned or had some near misses of some sort. I stay very shallow though ( rarely deeper than 80 ft and never more than 100 so that's likely been a huge help.

 

[Watterlogged]

Looks cool and might keep you under any airline weight limits? Not a big advantage IMHO, but marketing is strong in this industry.

I dive lots of lakes n quarries in Ks and Mo. My hollis is a chunk ! Its like a potted steel brick but i am assured and promised it won't freeze. Wasn't there a scubapro commercial where they literally SHOT one of their regs with a pistol ?! To show the world they were bulletproof ?! Now i gotta go look for that on youtube again :/ im nearing the 25 required posts

 

[lowwall]

3. Establish my neutral point with an AL80 at 500psi using permanent weights
4. Add 2 to 4 lbs as drop weight

Nope. There's absolutely no advantage to carrying extra weight just so you can drop it. Do this instead.

3. Establish my neutral point with an AL80 at 500psi using permanent weights.
4. Go diving.

Or

3. Establish my neutral point with an AL80 at 500psi.
4. Make 4 lbs of that weight dumpable, with the rest fixed.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

1. Wetsuit should be 3 mil or less

I’d scratch that off your list. Many divers regularly use 5mm and 7mm wetsuits without issue. I certainly do. I’m only in a 3mm in the summer. I do most of my dives in South FL in a 5mm, often with a hooded vest as well.

 

[xanaphyst]

I’d scratch that off your list. Many divers regularly use 5mm and 7mm wetsuits without issue. I certainly do. I’m only in a 3mm in the summer. I do most of my dives in South FL in a 5mm, often with a hooded vest as well.

I only dive warm water. When I dove in West Palm Beach it was 81 and I had to remove my wetsuit because it was too hot. It was 5 mil and I couldn't take that much heat.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I only dive warm water. When I dove in West Palm Beach it was 81 and I had to remove my wetsuit because it was too hot. It was 5 mil and I couldn't take that much heat.

Yeah, but if you come back in the winter and it’s low 70s or if you hit an upwelling and it’s in the 60s, you sure are gonna wish you had a 5mm.

 

[Doc Harry]

When I am properly weighted on a typical single-tank recreational dive in a 3mm wetsuit, my BC is empty halfway through the dive and I am breath control only all the way to the surface.

Being overweighted means you would be fooling with the BC throughout the entire dive.

 

[lowwall]

I only dive warm water. When I dove in West Palm Beach it was 81 and I had to remove my wetsuit because it was too hot. It was 5 mil and I couldn't take that much heat.

I'm with you. I'm generally diving in a sun shirt if the water is 82+. I do take a 3mm vest (around $40 on Amazon) just in case I want something in between nothing and a full suit. It's also a nice layer if the 3mm isn't quite enough for cooler water.

 

[Watterlogged]

I’d scratch that off your list. Many divers regularly use 5mm and 7mm wetsuits without issue. I certainly do. I’m only in a 3mm in the summer. I do most of my dives in South FL in a 5mm, often with a hooded vest as well.

i could wear a 3mm around the campfire and get a chill !