Overweighted at depth vs can’t hold safety stop

[Dogbowl]

I’ve been here in Coz diving for the past several days. The instructor gave me 16 lbs of weight, which I split 5/5 on my waist and 3/3 on my 2 trim pockets. I’m wearing a 5mm wetsuit, 3mm beanie, 6.5mm boots and a travel bcd (Oceanic Biolite).
Using AL 80.

On the first dive I was able to descend but felt butt heavy at depth, and upon surfacing, was unable to hold a safety stop well.

So the instructor gave me another pound for a total of 17. I was again butt heavy at depth but was able to hold a safety stop by myself.

Day 2, with the same amount of weight, I was so butt heavy I couldn’t maintain horizontal trim. It was a horrible dive.

Any suggestions?

 

[_Ralph]

Make sure your arms are out in front of you.

If wearing a weight belt, wear it up higher towards your chest.


_R

 

[flyboy08]

Loose all that neoprene! Get neutral boyant gear such as Sharkskin....man, that's a lot of weight your carrying?

How's your air consumption compared to previous dives? Buoyancy at your safety stop should only be controlled through your breathing.

 

[guruboy]

can you get two trim pouches to add weight on the tank strap?

 

[stepfen]

Also make sure there is no air "hidden" anywhere especially towards the end of the dive (eg safety stop) . Common places where air tends to settle: mainly BCD but also hoods etc.
Usually new divers (including me) assume that by pressing the purge button all the air goes out of the bcd automatically. It does not. We need to move our body to lead all the air out of the bcd through the valve.

 

[Marie13]

can you get two trim pouches to add weight on the tank strap?

OP already has those.

 

[stevensamler]

I’ve been here in Coz diving for the past several days. The instructor gave me 16 lbs of weight, which I split 5/5 on my waist and 3/3 on my 2 trim pockets. I’m wearing a 5mm wetsuit, 3mm beanie, 6.5mm boots and a travel bcd (Oceanic Biolite).
Using AL 80.

On the first dive I was able to descend but felt butt heavy at depth, and upon surfacing, was unable to hold a safety stop well.

So the instructor gave me another pound for a total of 17. I was again butt heavy at depth but was able to hold a safety stop by myself.

Day 2, with the same amount of weight, I was so butt heavy I couldn’t maintain horizontal trim. It was a horrible dive.

Any suggestions?

On your next dive do a weight check at the end with 500 psi in the tank. Remove some weight in small increments dump all gas in the wing , drop to the 10' stop if you keep descending remove more weight and repeat until you can hold stop while using lung volume to maintain depth. While using lung volume only increase lung volume to slowly ascend when it is tts.Enjoy and safe diving.

 

[ljwillia]

I also use a 5mm in Coz and everyplace else. I get cold even in very warm water. I just got a new wetsuit before our last trip. It was like diving in a balloon. I started with 16lbs but had trouble descending and holding a safety stop. I added an extra 2lbs of weight and was heavy at depth but had no trouble with the safety stop. Here's what worked for me.

1. I redistributed weights so most were in my front pockets 1-lbs in each rear trim and 2 lbs on my tank strap.

2. Put my wetsuit on in a pool so it was saturated before my first dive (also easier to get on)

3. As I descended pulled down the collar of the suit to get rid of air bubbles.

4. Small adjustments at depth to maintain buoyancy.

5. When time to dump air I found I had to extend my inflator, and lay way back. I was getting small pockets of air at the top of theBC. I swore I was completely dumping until I tried that position. I was shocked by the amount of air that was released.

While I still feel that I'm overweighted at depth I prefer to be able to hold my safety stop without struggling.

Good Luck and Happy Diving

 

[tursiops]

In addition to all the other good suggestions, most divers (who do not get to dive very often) get more relaxed after a few dives, and this will allow you to drop some weight. So, don't do the (really important) weight check just on your first dive.....do it again after a day or two of diving. You'll likely be able to drop 2-4 pounds.

 

[guruboy]

OP already has those.

He didn't say where they were.

Assuming on the tank strap, try putting the 5's there instead.