Weight adjustment from 7mm to 3mm?

[hank harris]

Is there a simple math formula that would give me a ballpark figure on where to start when going from 7mm to 3mm wetsuit?

 

[Skeeter1097]

you with a 1000 dives asking this question. For me 3 lbs. I lived in Monterey for years but did not dive. I sure would like to make it back there.

 

[hank harris]

yeah, would you believe I've been diving since '69 and never owned or dove a 3mm? And it ain't like it will be hard to figure out once I get in the Coz water, but a math formula would be nice (if there is such a thing), especially since I also occasionally dive in a 1mm and have a 5mm also.

Throwing out a number (e.g., 3 #'s) is meaningless, given the variables that determine how much weight one wears in the first place. And I know for me there will be more than a 3# difference.

 

[Charlie99]

2-3 pounds per mm is a good place to start.

If you have both wetsuits and some lead handy, then you could always just see how many pounds of lead you need to pile onto each suit to sink it.

If you are staying at an oceanside hotel in Coz, then it's easy to check your weighting with a quick shore dive on the afternoon of your arrival.

Have fun!

 

[halocline]

It's going to depend on your size, among other things. A small 7mm going to a 3mm of the same size will change less than a large...I'm sure you've thought of that. I like the idea of testing it out by sinking the suits; all it would take is a mesh bag and a few lbs of lead.

 

[hank harris]

Thanks Charlie and Matt! The mesh bag thing in the pool is a great idea I can try before I go down to Coz. I will post my findings.

 

[willardj]

I don't know about a formula but I wear 15# with my 7mil simi dry and 5# with my 3mil.. in FW & + 7 SW

 

[victor]

Thanks Charlie and Matt! The mesh bag thing in the pool is a great idea I can try before I go down to Coz. I will post my findings.

Remember to convert the weight for fresh to salt water

 

[Charlie99]

Remember to convert the weight for fresh to salt water

The conversion is just 1 pound for every 40 pounds of buoyancy difference between the suits. Since the difference is only about 10 pounds, the correction is only about 4 ounces. In other words, whether buoyancy of the suits are compared in fresh or saltwater doesn't make much difference.

 

[Cave Diver]

If you wanted to get a rough idea, the simplest formula I can tell you is this:

7mil/3mil=2.33

So a 7 mil suit has roughly 2.33 times the bouyancy of a 3 mil of similar cut.

Take the amount of weight you use with the 7 mil, divide it by 2.33 and it should give you a starting point.