noob wetsuit/fin alert

[shugar]

i'm on a SS bp + STA... no weights if i dive in rashies and shorts (plan to get the Larry Balerina Special this summer)

+4 if i dive in a 3mm

love the BP/W... love love love...

now... if only GUE didn't frown on my nice splits hahahahahahahaha

Jag

 

[clgsamson]

now... if only GUE didn't frown on my nice splits hahahahahahahaha

Jag

is that the section between your big tummy and sagging boobs?:11:

 

[fingerling]

that's interesting jag, what do you think given my vs? (ya know, 5'3.5" 140lbs 3/2mm full)was hoping to hear more from SS users, thanks ;^D

just trying to keep an open mind guys

 

[jonix]

that's interesting jag, what do you think given my vs? (ya know, 5'3.5" 140lbs 3/2mm full)was hoping to hear more from SS users, thanks ;^D

just trying to keep an open mind guys

i don't think you'll need any weights. just be sure to fully exhale when descending. the ss will keep you down. it took 12 dives before i got very comfortable with the setup

@jag: +4? even with my 3mm i don't use any additional weights. bing i'm 5'4' 135lbs.

 

[Xizang]

that's interesting jag, what do you think given my vs? (ya know, 5'3.5" 140lbs 3/2mm full)was hoping to hear more from SS users, thanks ;^D

just trying to keep an open mind guys

considering that you just go certified and your wetsuit is still new, you probably need a kilo or a kilo and a half on top of the weight of the SS plate. After 10 to 20 dives, ditch that extra kilo and you'll do fine (as jonix said, just remember to fully exhale when your descending).

Im 5'8, 164 lbs. I used to have a 6lb BP, now I use an aluminum BP and a customize 3 lb STA.

 

[Xizang]

james, July doesn't sound that bad at all yup Barbie's pinay, she's moving to the states or something

guys,

my choices would be:

a) aluminum bp with ditchable weights, which has more allowance to trim my bouyancy, and God forbid, one's that I can ditch, lets say when I have trouble maintaining bouyancy at the surface i.e. bladder probs etc...

b) ss bp w/o (possibly) ditchable weights, which could sink me like a rock, incase a bladder problem does occur... worst case scenarios without losing a rig?

fingerling,
If your getting the Halcyon Eclipse SS rig, that whole thing weighs about 8lbs (4kg). The plate is about 6lbs and the STA with the steel camstraps is about 2lbs. Offhand I think that an SS rig will be suitable for you now but maybe as you become proficient with your breathing and buoyancy you may feel that its too heavy.
Many recreational divers I know who have the right height and body weight ratio, have found the SS plate to be too heavy after 20 or 30 dives on it. They eventually switch to an aluminum plate or switch to an aluminum STA with plastic cam straps.
Note also that if you are switching to a BP/W from a jacket BC, you will probably become overweighted by 2 to 3 pounds because there is less buoyant material on a BP/W.

 

[fingerling]

@axua, that's a great trim but I doubt i'll ever be that proficient, more so, ever have the right height and body weight ratio wow, -8 lbs! it really is that heavy, kinda gives me perspective, but isn't suit+tank (i don't see steel tanks in the future) buoyancy going to compensate for that nearing the end of the dive, especially when ascending, wouldn't want to be too light and shoot up like a rocket... great info tho... just making sure, don't want to end up shelving gears, considering they cost uhmm... thanks, really apreciate it

 

[pakman]

I think Jag might be an exception, but he's a big boy... But for someone your size, it really wouldn't make sense to go with a steel BP if you are diving only thin wetsuits. Plus if you plan on ever doing any travel by plane, the alu BP helps to keep you luggage weight down...

 

[Xizang]

@axua, that's a great trim but I doubt i'll ever be that proficient, more so, ever have the right height and body weight ratio wow, -8 lbs! it really is that heavy, kinda gives me perspective, but isn't suit+tank (i don't see steel tanks in the future) buoyancy going to compensate for that nearing the end of the dive, especially when ascending, wouldn't want to be too light and shoot up like a rocket... great info tho... just making sure, don't want to end up shelving gears, considering they cost uhmm... thanks, really apreciate it

your 3mm bare wetsuit is probably just a pound buoyant and that thing will more positive buoyancy after about 40 to 50 dives. In davao you probably use 80 cu ft aluminum luxfer's which is about 2 lbs buoyant when EMPTY but slightly buoyant (-.73lb) when half empty.

But all this math is really boring and dizzying so I suggest you put on hold the excitement of a BC purchase and get a good regulator or computer first, get out do some diving first on a rented BC, improve your buoyancy and comfort level. Then after 20 or so dives you will have an idea how much weight you really need then you can decide from there whether its alum or ss you need. Your very lucky your in Davao the beach is like 30 min away from the city (?) so a after a month of diving you'll probably get better at your buoyancy. Tell Alex or Nathan F. if you could borrow a rig and check which best suits you.

I use to tell a lot of students before that its better to be negatively buoyant than being underweighted as its easier to just put in more air into the bladder to achieve neutral buoyancy. However I discovered that being overweighted by just 2 pounds has a lot of difference in trim and buoyancy because the more air bubble you have in the bladder, the more unstable it is.

 

[jonix]

However I discovered that being overweighted by just 2 pounds has a lot of difference in trim and buoyancy because the more air bubble you have in the bladder, the more unstable it is.

yup yup.