Weight drop cold water to tropical?

[James R]

Yes, it's definitely possible. Not definite, of course.

Also, you may be over-weighted for your drysuit but a bit. What drysuit are you diving? Specifically is it tri-lam, crushed neoprene, etc? What undergarments?

 

[Griffo]

I would recommend going with a 3 mm full rather than a shorty. Half length exposure protection has a tendency to throw off trim. You will probably want to buy a lighter back plate, or even a soft back plate. There is no way you are going to need 20 lbs. I weigh about as much as you, and I only need 16 lbs in a 3 mm full suit. You may actually find that your wife needs as much or more weight than you do (by the way, shame on you for revealing her weight on a public website).

I'll happily disagree with the trim statement..

To the OP - remember that your weight needs to offset mostly your thermal protection and the tank (if it goes positive). A 3mm shortie will offer between +6 to +10lbs of buoyancy (depending on size and age) and an Ali 80 is what, +4 lbs at complete empty? So taking the middle ground and assuming you are leaving some air in the tank, that's about -10lbs of weight needed. Personally I use about -4lbs with an ali plate (-3lbs) and can light (-2lbs)but you are a little larger than me thus more neoprene.

 

[billt4sf]

6'6" 235 lbs with 10 lb plate and 3 mm shorty.... you will need somewhere between zero and 5-6 lbs of lead... Actually I predict 2 lbs will be about perfect..

You were right on. With a 2.5mm shorty and steel tanks (the shop says they are about neutral when empty) I need no additional weight besides my 10lb SS backplate. I did a weight check by emptying the tank to 500 lbs and I could easily sink. I may be even overweighted.

- Bill