Sinking a wetsuit

[LI Diver]

Does anybody know if there is a table or any refernce to what I am about to state.

How much weight does it take to sink a wetsuit of a particular style and size in a particular type of water? For eg. A new 3mm shorty in size mens large in salt water. Of course there will be slight variations from 1 mfr to another or even a different salinity water but shouldn't it be very close. Close enough so that if you know your weighting in a bathing suit or another type of wetsuit then you could do the math and get close for a starting point and then do the middle of mask test or just do a shallow dive and then tweak it on the next dive. I am not playing down the importance of a actual test but just trying to get in the neighborhood.

 

[DandyDon]

I figure 4# for my 3 mil. The differences for the suit alone is very little between FW and SW.

 

[Hank49]

I can say this much. When I go from a 3mm shortie to a 3mm full suit, I add 4 lbs.

 

[LI Diver]

I figure 4# for my 3 mil. The differences for the suit alone is very little between FW and SW.

Thanks Don, I assume thats a 3mil full .......because I know how you feel about shorties!

 

[DandyDon]

I can say this much. When I go from a 3mm shortie to a 3mm full suit, I add 4 lbs.

No way?! :11: The legs and arms need 4#? Maybe you shortie is very old and your long is new...?

Thanks Don, I assume thats a 3mil full .......because I know how you feel about shorties!

:lol:
Uh yep...!​

 

[Nomad]

The age of the wet suit will also come into play.

As a wetsuit ages, it looses the ability to "bounce back" after a dive. This will impact the thermal protection, as well as the bouyancy of the suit.

 

[LI Diver]

The age of the wet suit will also come into play.

As a wetsuit ages, it looses the ability to "bounce back" after a dive. This will impact the thermal protection, as well as the bouyancy of the suit.

Thanks Nomad, thats why I put "new" in the post so I would have some reference

 

[LI Diver]

Mine happens to be a new long sleeved shortie so I am expecting like 3-4 lbs xtra should get me right. How would I add 1lb if weights are usually added symetrically?? A tank weight or something?

 

[DandyDon]

Mine happens to be a new long sleeved shortie so I am expecting like 3-4 lbs xtra should get me right. How would I add 1lb if weights are usually added symetrically?? A tank weight or something?

I carry 2 - 1# soft weights with me on trips for fine tuning, as Ops usually don't have them. Maybe they did at one time, but these are too easily lost or stolen.

You'll generally adjust weighting in 2# increments, but if you want to adjust by just 1, it won't hurt much to have one side 1# heavier than the other.

 

[eponym]

And if you ever needed a more accurate measure, or you went, say, to a seven-mil, you can put a couple of weight belts around the suit and add weight as needed to get it to sink. Make sure the air's out of it--fold it up underwater.

Bryan