Question about proper weighting

[jbd]

Hi All,

I recently bought all my gear and have done a few dives and now I have some questions about weighting. Here is the important info:

I am 5'9", 153 lbs, aquaflex 7mm one piece wetsuit, 5/3 hood, booties, gloves, sea quest latitude BC, al80 tank, 24 lbs weights (the BC is weight integrated).

I can't seem to get netural. I have to let all of the air out of my BC and kick to get to the bottom (the dive site is at 30'). Once I am at the bottom I am *almost* neutral, but still a little positive. Of course, at the end of my dive with the empty aluminum tank, it's pretty hard to stay down and control my ascent as well as I would like.

The LDS says just throw 4 more lbs in the back of the BC. 28 lbs sounds like a lot for me. Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks!

28 lbs "seems" a little heavy for your stature and equipment but as The Kraken aptly notes, "it takes what it takes". Also as another respondent noted, as you gain experience, and consequently relax more, you will more than likely be able to lose some of that 28 lbs, quite possibly down to 18 to 20 lbs.

Recommendations:
Most important--get someone to help you go through a proper weight check before you do anymore diving.

Next most important--do lots of diving in a place you are very familiar with. Do this with dive buddies that are very familiar to you; preferably someone with plenty of experience who can act as a mentor to you.

 

[rawls]

Let all the air out of you BC and take a normal breath and you should be floating eye level at the surface...work with it in the pool then adjust for the weight of salt water...

 

[Hollywoodivers]

Get rid of the aluminum tank...why would anyone want an aluminum tank ? They are cheap but not even worth the 110 bucks that they cost. Do it right...dive steel. It will feel so much better and your diving won't be so much work. Why is steel better ? Less bouyant. Dry weight ? almost the same...Try renting a steel if you don't believe me....It works Hal