proper weighting

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Dear kwaite

I'm gonna make this really easy. I live in Miami so the water here is the same.

First of all, the summer water temperature is 85-89 degrees! consider using a thermal skin instead of a 2mm suit. You can actually overheat in a wetsuit. Heck I didn't use one all winter! Yes, I realize that some of you are more cold blooded than others and will want a suit. Personally, the suit makes me colder on the boat waiting for the next dive and I find them exhausting--bending limbs against the rubber can really tire you out.

The thermal skin is much better protection against the sun--if you are from up north, you will burn in 30-60 minutes and you can burn even with spf 36 sunscreen!

OK, if you're average size, use 6 lbs and add an extra two for the aluminum tank (80 cu ft). If your smallish, try 5 lbs + 2 or biggish 7 lbs +2. If you wear that suit try 7+2.

It's not scientific, its not based on salinity or density. It just usually works. You can always stuff an extra, extra 2 pounds in the other pocket and still have a ditchable belt. The boats have plenty of extra weights.

This isn't rocket science! And NO NASTY RESPONSES FROM THE REST OF YOU GUYS!!!!!!

Hope you enjoy yourself.

Larry Stein

 

[pt40fathoms]

With water that warm, I'd be tempted to get the bubble bath out.

 

[WreckWriter]

Originally posted by kwaite
I just successfully completed my open water certification dives. I dove in a quarry in Indiana, which is (obviously) fresh water. I used a 5 mm wetsuit, and carried 16 pounds of weight. In June, I'm planning on diving in the Keys. I'll (obviously) be in salt water, and will be wearing a 2 mm shorty. Any advice on how much weight I should try?

With a 5mm suit, unless you are fairly large physically 16 lbs seems like a rather hefty amount of weight. In the same type suit I wear 10 lbs in salt water. I'm 5'9", 175 lbs.

Based on 16 lbs in a full suit, try about 8 in shorty.

Expect Keys water to be about 75 in June.

Tom