Question regarding weighting

[MaizeNBlue88]

I'll get right to the point; I'm a newer diver, about 5'11" and 170lbs. I was recently diving in fresh water with a steel80 and 7mm wetsuit with gloves, boots, and hood. While only using 6lbs of lead I still had a little trouble with my trim. My body kept wanting to go into a more inclined position and I had to consciously keep my feet from dropping. I'm being told that I may be just a tad overweighted. Whenever I look at diving weight calculators they're saying to use 12, 15, or even 18lbs of lead! How is it that I may need to drop even lower to 4lbs when everything I'm reading is telling me otherwise? Does anyone else dive 4lbs in similar conditions? Would body density effect it much more than a couple pounds?

 

[lucca brassi]

If you head heavy try:

- put your tank lower ( but you still to have reach your vent )
- put your weights lower on belt
- use heavy rubber fins ( jetfins , turtles )

 

[CWC]

I wouldn't put too much blind faith into the figures from the "diving weight calculators." They were probably assuming you would be using the more common aluminum tank, instead of the heavier steel tank you're using. Also, as you mentioned body density will have an effect, and it can be significant. The best thing to do is to forget about the calculators and just do a pre-dive weight check, as you should have been taught in your Open Water class. Be sure to note in your log book how much weight you needed for that particular combination of exposure protection. That way you can just look it up next time instead of doing the weight check.

 

[MaizeNBlue88]

Actually quite the opposite. My body is going slightly vertical with my feet down. What I plan to do this weekend is go to 4lbs of lead. I suppose putting my tank slightly higher up as well may help. And putting the weights lower isn't really an option because I use the Apeks WTX harness with the SureLock weight system. Thanks for the suggestions though, sorry I wasn't more clear.

 

[RJP]

Are your knee's bent?

If not, bending them as shown will bring your center of buoyancy closer to your head and help keep you from drifting feet-down.

 

[TSandM]

The beginning of correct trim is posture. If you drop your knees, you will rotate to a feet-down position. Make sure your body is flat from shoulders to knees, and then the degree to which you bend your knees can affect how much of a lever arm your legs and fins exert. Most people in heavy wetsuits will tend to be feet UP with steel tanks, so I suspect there is a posture issue involved here.

In addition, try extending your arms out in front of you, and see if that makes you more stable.

Once you have the posture nailed, have your buddy check your static weighting. Get into a good horizontal position (by swimming, if necessary) and then stop moving. If you then rotate feet down, you need to move some weight up. But the buddy can ensure your posture has been maintained.