Weight "guestimating"?

[jlcnuke]

I haven't dove much, and only just did the OW course again last month. Way back when I started diving the first time (over a decade ago, with much less "natural insulation" on me), I had my own gear and wore 6 lbs of lead. When I took it up again last month, with the rental gear it was 14-16 lbs (~3-5 lbs more than the "guidelines" say). Now I have my own gear again and I'll be diving again this weekend, but it's with a class (AOW). I'd prefer not to be "way off" on my weights, and I know we're doing a peak performance buoyancy as part of the class. What I'm wondering is, would it be better to start the class with what's probably "too much" weight (I'm guessing they over-weighted me slightly for the OW class?) or with what is possibly "too little" weight (using the PADI weighting guidelines)? The first dives of the class are beach dives so I guess I'm wondering if it "conservative" is going with possibly too much weight, or if "conservative" would be going with possibly too little weight?

 

[GreggS]

I'd say that if you felt you were overweighted during your OW classes, then you might want to decrease your weight a little bit at a time until you get it dialed in. Guidelines are just that and are not the be all and end all of what you should wear.

I'm 6'2", 250 lbs and according to the guidelines with my gear, I should wear around 22 pounds of lead in salt water but wear 18. In fresh, I wear 10.

Getting your weighting dialed in is an individual requirement. If you are unsure, a little over weighted would be better than being under, especially for your AOW cert.

 

[northernone]

The two scenarios as you described are:

Over weight. You're BCD can handle a little overweight. You'll be less comfortable slightly and use more air, again slightly. But no harm unless signicantly overweight in a way that prevents you from returning to the surface or keeping your head above water. When I'm teaching I'll have an extra 10-16lbs on me in case a student drops a weight and I need to slow an ascent weighted for both of us. It's perfectly possible and provided you're not overweighted to a point your BCD can't provide the lift needed you're fine. If you do get in real trouble do an emergency weight drop. Ideally I keep my weight on several places (belt, pockets, pouches) so I can drop parts of it if needed and not fly to the surface like a rocket all at once.

Underweight. You exhale entirely and duck dive down till you can find rocks or something on the bottom to correct your error. If you're significantly underweight you bob around like a cork and have to add more weight from land/boat.

Guessing accurately wetsuit/drysuit buoyancy and body density takes practice.

I've found the math based weighting guidelines useless for the majority of divers because our bodies and exposure suits vary too much.

If it's a beach dive, doing a predive weight check should be normal and the instructor should be ready to assist you removing or adding weight as needed. No shame in being unable to know something that's not knowable.

In all, I'd rather have too much weight than too little... Too little I'm not a diver, and I love diving.

Well there's my thoughts on it.

Welcome back to diving!
Regards,
Cameron

 

[jlcnuke]

Thanks all.

 

[TMHeimer]

I agree with northernone. A little overweight better than not enough. You don't want to be too light at the end of a dive, especially if you're doing the safety stop on a boat (or deep shore) dive. And the weight guidelines are maybe a starting point, but lots of variation per person. I haven't done a weight check in years. Recently got a new wetsuit, and more recently lost 10 pounds (body weight). Each time I added some lead then removed a bit if it seemed a bit too much thoughout the dive. As long as your close enough or a tiny bit over, no problem. But, I tend to spend a lot of time right close to the bottom as opposed to up & down 10' or so--so a little extra weight really has little effect on my diving.

Of course in doing a proper weight check with a full tank in salt water you do the drill, find the right amount, then add 5 pounds so you're "perfect" with a near empty tank. Or, as often advised, do the weight check with a near empty tank....what's the difference, you still have to add 5 pounds to whatever that was for your next dive with a full tank. So you're 5 pounds too heavy starting every dive.

 

[Snoweman]

Just out of curiosity, where and with whom are your doing your AOW?

 

[jlcnuke]

Just out of curiosity, where and with whom are your doing your AOW?

I'm doing it in Pensacola FL through Dive Pros. I was supposed to be doing it last weekend but the storm messed that up. Fortunately, the same storm rescheduled my work trip to work with the new timeline for the same class.

 

[Snoweman]

I'm doing it in Pensacola FL through Dive Pros. I was supposed to be doing it last weekend but the storm messed that up. Fortunately, the same storm rescheduled my work trip to work with the new timeline for the same class.

I know what you're saying. I did my rescue course a week and a half ago in PCB with Diver's Den. I got lucky with the hurricane, but I can't seem to escape this damn Georgia heat!

 

[TMHeimer]

I'm doing it in Pensacola FL through Dive Pros. I was supposed to be doing it last weekend but the storm messed that up. Fortunately, the same storm rescheduled my work trip to work with the new timeline for the same class.

Are you going with Niuhi Diving?

 

[Bob DBF]

If you are doing a beach dive and PPB first, I would hope your instructor would have you do a weight check in the water and adjust before the dive and another check at the safety stop on the way out.


Bob