Overweighted for OW Class

[bolantej]

Just curious about something. I know the textbook method of properly setting up your weights. Should I be weighted enough to be able to stand on my knees without bobbing in a 4' pool? It's funny, because during my pool class I was really buoyant and the instructors wanted us to be able to stand on our knees in the shallow end to do the mask clearing drills and whatnot. It was not set up the way the text book says and I was basically told to just keep shoving weight in there until I sank, which was like 35 lbs plus two 2 lbs ankle weights and I'm only 260lbs. I don't get it. I think it's way too much. I was wearing a 7mm wetsuit and boots.

Thanks.

 

[hdtran]

A 7mm suit is pretty buoyant. Add the surface area of the wetsuit, and you can get some serious buoyancy!

How close to neutral are you in the swimming pool without gear? Can you exhale & sink naturally? If so, 39lb of weight may be a bit much. (On the other hand, I'm 5'7", I weigh around 165-170, and when wearing a 2pc 7mm, I take 28lb...)

Don't sweat it (yet). Once you master the mask clear, regulator recover, etc., you'll work on getting your buoyancy fine-tuned. Sounds like your instructors want to make absolutely sure you're planted, so that you don't have to struggle with floating off and mastering a skill!

 

[bolantej]

so that you don't have to struggle with floating off and mastering a skill!

Thanks for responding. It's funny that you say that, because the problem I was having most was floating at the surface with my rear inflate BC. I was so overweighted that I was thrusting forward and unable to lay on my back. Maybe I'll just get some ankle weights to keep me still for class.

 

[Skeeter1097]

Some people think to hard on th number. You and all divers need to descend into the water in order to dive. I f it takes 35 or 28 that is that. I am 6' 1" 280 and need 26 lbs with 6 MM 2 peace.

 

[oly5050user]

Just curious about something. I know the textbook method of properly setting up your weights. Should I be weighted enough to be able to stand on my knees without bobbing in a 4' pool? It's funny, because during my pool class I was really buoyant and the instructors wanted us to be able to stand on our knees in the shallow end to do the mask clearing drills and whatnot. It was not set up the way the text book says and I was basically told to just keep shoving weight in there until I sank, which was like 35 lbs plus two 2 lbs ankle weights and I'm only 260lbs. I don't get it. I think it's way too much. I was wearing a 7mm wetsuit and boots.

Thanks.

someone your size in a 7mm suit probably needs 32-34 lbs in salt water..fresh water probably 26-28 lbs.

 

[yangnome]

I'm 245 and wearing a 7mm suit during my class, I wore 35 pounds. IIRC, the forumla my instructor gave me was 10% of body weight plus 10 pounds. I rounded up to 35 so I could wear the seasoft belt and it worked well both in the pool and in the ocean.

 

[Skeeter1097]

Yangnome, That is wrought I have been told a few times too. Plus empty tank bounce change.

 

[hdtran]

I'm 245 and wearing a 7mm suit during my class, I wore 35 pounds. IIRC, the forumla my instructor gave me was 10% of body weight plus 10 pounds. I rounded up to 35 so I could wear the seasoft belt and it worked well both in the pool and in the ocean.

10% + 10 lb is an extremely rough rule-of-thumb, that also depends on exposure suit.

When wearing a shorty, 18 lb is more than enough weight for me (10% + 1 lb).

If I ever were lucky enough to go diving in 85 F water, with no exposure protection, I'd probably take 8-10lb (5lb for the tank + 5lb for me).

24-26 lb seems to be good with a 1pc 5mm, which is the 10% + 10 lb.

I'm a warm water wuss, so I'm sure that 10% + 10lb would be woefully light for the drysuit gonzos!

It is a good idea to log what kind of suit you're wearing + what weights you're taking. This helps you fine tune, and perhaps shed weight. When I started learning, I needed more weight. Once I started consciously exhaling & being still, I found I didn't need as much weight to descend. You may also need to vent your wetsuit to get trapped air out. My first post-cert dives, I was attempting all these tricks in order to descend without carrying a ton of weight :14:

 

[TSandM]

Remember, the textbook is weighting you to be neutral at a safety stop. In the pool, they do want you heavy enough to stay underwater while practicing skills. If you were weighted neutral at 4', then every time you took too deep a breath or moved your feet, you'd float off the bottom. They don't want to deal with that at the beginning, so they weight you enough to be stable on your knees so you can focus on the skills.

Hopefully, for your open water dives, they will ensure that your weighting is more appropriate.

 

[rongoodman]

I just did my OW dives in a 7mm 1-piece suit with a 3mm shorty under it. I'm 5' 8", 157, using a LP85, and a rental BC. 22 lb was fine, 20 worked but was probably a little light. Lake George was chilly, dark, and claustrophobic!