Trim Weights?

[ScubaThor]

On my last two dives, I noticed that I have no trouble descending whatsoever, but once I get myself neutrally buoyant at depth, I am having a hard time staying horizontal. My fins tend to hang lower than the rest of my body. I am guessing that I need to move weight around to compensate. My setup is as follows:
Full length 3 mm suit with 3/5 hooded vest underneath. Carry 22 lbs of weight in integrated BC. 9 lb in each front pocket and 2 lb in each rear trim pocket. I'm a little afraid to put much more in the back due to the "non-ditchability" of those pockets. I'm a little over-weighted as is.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
T

 

[1RUSTYRIG]

I run a 5lb "ankle" weight on the neck of my tank when I dive suited. That compliments the 6lbs in the rear trim pockets and the 10 in the front quick release.

If you're overweighted though why don't you lose some of the weight down low? If you are sinking like a rock you should be ok lightening up those quick release packs from the 18lbs you're running now to maybe 14...Just an idea.

 

[ScubaThor]

you should be ok lightening up those quick release packs from the 18lbs you're running now to maybe 14...Just an idea.

That was going to be my next step. Thank you for confirming.
T

 

[1RUSTYRIG]

Are you diving the same water & equipment the majority of the time? I would strongly suggest that you figure out how much weight you need to maintain depth (safety stop) on an empty tank. Diving overweighted is overrated

 

[ScubaThor]

Are you diving the same water & equipment the majority of the time? I would strongly suggest that you figure out how much weight you need to maintain depth (safety stop) on an empty tank. Diving overweighted is overrated

Same gear, same water. Trying to get consistency as much as possible. I find myself having to use my fins pretty regularly to stay at safety stop depth with about 700 psi, so I must be overweighted. I am going to take some weight out of the front and add a pound or two to each rear pocket.

 

[1RUSTYRIG]

if you are finning like a mad man then you have to much weight. Why don't you just burn 15 minutes after one of your dives and figure out what you need? Do your exit then wade back into 10' of water on a 700psi tank and figure out what you need to stay down. Don't fret over where the weight is, just figure out how much. Then go back and distribute. You may find that just removing the extra that you have will be enough to trim you out horizontal.

 

[Heffey]

I have the same foot heavy problem.
I have been moving some of my weight to the trim pockets and this has helped quite a bit.
I dove with a guy on Tuesday that also uses an ankle weight on the tank neck and he swears that it solved his similar problems.
On my next dive I will be dropping some weight and if that doesn't get me where I want to be I will probably try the tank weight.
Jeffrey

 

[davsholm423]

I have some XS Scuba Weight Pouches, these greatly helped my trim and all around comfort underwater. These easily go onto the cam band and can hold up to five pounds each. I would recommend taking more weight off the front of your BCD and moving it to the back. Even though the rear weights are not ditchable, if you run into an emergency you do not need to have 10+ pounds of weight ditched. Just enough to make you positively buoyant and reach the surface. You would run more of a risk of problems by ditching a lot of weight and flying to the surface.

 

[spectrum]

Yup, get rid of the extra weight and then look at distribution. Don't forget cylinder position. You need to find the sweet spot and set that up with consistency too.

I had the same thing when I started. An Astute mentor observed that my feet were drooping but my weight looked about right. My feet were not heavy, my chest was light. I moved some weight up to trim, shifted the cylinder and voila. My bouyancy literally improved by an order of magnitude going from dive 4 to 5!

Pete

 

[ScubaThor]

Sounds like the consensus is to drop weight and re-distribute. Think I'll take you all up on that. Thank you for the suggestions.
T