Weight Fine Tuning

[triton94949]

That's kind of what my thinking was also... I've tried more than the 30 I'm diving with now and it does make the shallow depths more manageable... I think I've also got some of that "taking big gulps of air" going on. On descent, I'm midful of shallow breathing and it helps, but I probably have the newbie deep breathing thing going on (I'm right at 30 dives now - so things are getting better).

Once I'm down to 10-15 ft or deeper, I'm fine, and I have plenty of lift to stay neutral down at 100 ft (the depest I've gone so far-AOW course). Below that, I'm pretty good staying exactly where I want to be - the other day my buddy and I lost the ascent line and wound up doing a free-water safety stop at 15 ft - no problems. "Runaway descents" are not really a problem either, because I have no problem anticipating the loss of buoyancy in the 10-15 ft range and add air to compensate.

So my question is: Would you add the extra weight to compensate for the first and last 20 seconds of your dive and tote around the extra 4-5 lbs for the rest of your dive? Or would you just deal with the "hard to descend" and "having to flare fins and wave arms" to slow the ascent? Ideally, I'd like to be able to get neutral anywhere in the water column (including just below the surface if needed), but those 4-5 extra pounds make me have to fiddle with the inflator a bit more as I move around the bottom (plus it makes the walk to the water, and the surface swim less enjoyable).

I guess it's kind of a catch-22...

I would recommend a drysuit. Then the issue of variable buoyancy of the suit goes completely away.

 

[mack50md]

I'm diving pretty close to your configuration at 32 lbs of lead (7mm farmer john)

It was mentioned in a thread similar to this a while back that some new divers tend to unconsiously kick there fins on a decent. Even a small kick can intefere with your decent. Sure enough...I was doing it. Now I try to be aware of what my fins are doing on a decent. Crossing my legs at the ankles helps. Goin' down has been easier.

 

[Charlie99]

Newbie here trying to fine tune his weighting.

HOWEVER, I have a hard time descending to start the dive ...

those last 8-10 ft on the way up, I have to work not to exceed ascent rates on the computer (again, paddling arms or whatever slow myself). And it's very hard for me to stay shallow and stay down (10 ft or so).

I've tried more weight (4-6 lbs or so) and it does help the descent and the last part of the ascent. Should I add it back?

Ignore the difficulty in descending, since that could be nothing more than your gear and wetsuit having a little bit of extra floatation because they are yet fully saturated with water.

If you are having trouble controlling your ascent rate in the last 10 feet, then adding back the 4 pounds is a good idea, provided that you aren't adding the weight to counteract upward finning that you aren't conscious of.

Two easy ways to make sure that you really need the weight as opposed to bad technique of finning upward ---
1) ascend in a horizontal position, or even a few degrees head down, or
2) cross your legs and hold your fin tips ... aka "lotus position'.

The goal is to use the RIGHT weight, not the least possible weight.

 

[latitude]

Ignore the difficulty in descending, since that could be nothing more than your gear and wetsuit having a little bit of extra floatation because they are yet fully saturated with water.

If you are having trouble controlling your ascent rate in the last 10 feet, then adding back the 4 pounds is a good idea, provided that you aren't adding the weight to counteract upward finning that you aren't conscious of.

Two easy ways to make sure that you really need the weight as opposed to bad technique of finning upward ---
1) ascend in a horizontal position, or even a few degrees head down, or
2) cross your legs and hold your fin tips ... aka "lotus position'.

The goal is to use the RIGHT weight, not the least possible weight.

That sounds like the way I was going to go with this...

I've heard about "unconsciously" finning being a common beginner mistake, and have been mindful of that (crossing legs, etc). I've also been careful to make sure my BC is completely emty of air before proceeding up from the safety stop.

I'll add the weight and deal with toting it around... Although difficult, I think It'd be good to be able to maintain neutral buoyancy anywhere in the water (even only 5 ft down if necessary). I guess this is more important than floating eye level with an empty BC and holding a normal breath like the agencies teach... At least until the budget allows a dry suit!

Thanks for the inputs!

 

[ScubaNorth]

First so far so good. You see you have a few issues that is the first step. Now there are a great number possible answers to your problem. This is a learn as you dive type of thing. I shed weight the more I dive and the more control I gain. The number one thing that helps is when you get comfortable enough to relax, being all pumped up makes decent harder. I found when I started that a few "soft" weights in the BC pockets helped and you can add and remove easily. This is a hard question to answer as your gear and body type are different than the next guys. My advice try not to use your BC as much as your breathing control to ascend and descend and practice this a lot. That is what helped me get relaxed enough to start shedding weight.

 

[donacheson]

Newbie here trying to fine tune his weighting.

6' tall, 220 lbs, diving a 7mm wetsuit, usually dive an AL80.
Currently using 30 lbs of weight and I think it's too much. Here's why:

Doing the "hold your breath and float eye level with 500psi in the tank, empty BC", puts me slightly below eye level (means over weighted). I can hold my 15 ft safety stop with no air in the BC just fine (means enough weight).

HOWEVER, I have a hard time descending to start the dive (I have to swim down, even if I concentrate on breathing shallow), and those last 8-10 ft on the way up, I have to work not to exceed ascent rates on the computer (again, paddling arms or whatever slow myself). And it's very hard for me to stay shallow and stay down (10 ft or so).

I've tried more weight (4-6 lbs or so) and it does help the descent and the last part of the ascent. Should I add it back? Will the descents/final 10 ft of ascent get better as I feel more comfortable in the water (I'm careful to to be kicking while descending/ ascending now)? Would you add the weight for comfort now and reduce it later? Based on the "float test" I'm heavy, and I know underwater I'll have an easier time with less weight, but I'm afraid of the "runaway ascent" and hate having to work so hard to descend...

I'm sure it's a newbie thing...

Most likely you're underweighted. You should be able to be neutral just below the surface with an empty BC and near empty tank breathing normally in order to complete your safety stop in comfort and make a controlled ascent to the surface at the end of your dive. Since you began the dive with 5 or 6 pounds more air in your tank, you should be able to descend easily just by venting air from your BC. You will have to add air to your BC during the dive to compensate for both exposure suit compression and the weight of air in your tank.

The volume of air in your lungs is a factor. You can probably hold 12 or 13 pints of air in your lungs - that's 12 or 13 pounds of buoyancy. That's why breathing normally is important. As another responder has pointed out, as you gain experience you may learn to take advantage of the air in your lungs to control your buoyancy.

 

[divenut2001]

You've really got some good advice so far. Checking my log book when I first started diving I was using 32lbs with a 7mm wet suit, hood & booties, aluminum tank and jacket BC. As I got more comfortable and with help from more experienced divers I slowly dropped weight off my belt. Today I use a steel 95cf, BP/WING and 10lbs on my belt.

As you get more comfortable you will drop weight and have more air at the end of the dive. You will use your lungs more than your BC. You will find that you're not working as hard and enjoying the dive more. Congratulations and good luck.

 

[Tanked Monkey]

I too noticed some problems with extra weight when I first began. Now I have about 45 logged dives, and have it ironed out. Although I still have to "breach" when I first descend just to get me down that first 3-5 feet. After that, my weighting is fine, including the safety stop and final ascent. I chalk it up to air in my wetsuit or wing somewhere, that doesn't really come out easily until after I descend a bit. I started with 18lbs in my belt, and am happy to be wearing much less now.
FWIW, I'm 5' 9", 170lbs. In fresh water, AL80, full 7mm suit, 5mm hood, 5mm gloves, I wear 4lbs + my BP(6lbs) = 10lbs.
Patience and practice, it will come.

Mike