weight issue

[dani_p]

Im just wondering if anyone knows an answer to this:
I always dive in a dry-suit. I have only done 2 dives in my life in a wet suit. my wuestion is this:
I am going to cuba and I plan on wearing a shorty wet suit. I ahve no idea how much weight I will need. anyone know where to even being with this to figure it out???
thanks!

ps: in the dry suit I wear 30lbs, Im 5'7 and about 135lbs.

 

[String]

Simple solution:- Do a weight check on arrival.

There is no hard fast calculation.

Start at maybe 4lbs and work upwards.

 

[HaoleDiver]

I've found that my 7mm 1-piece Henderson wetsuit adds 18 lbs of weight to me. I wore 4 lbs in Guam, and 22 here in Monterey, CA. Most people I dove with in Guam never wore more than 10 lbs of weight, and that was only the huge guys. I'd say to start with 4 or 6 and see what happens. I'm guessing you'll need about 4 lbs too, but I'd rather be a little heavy that first dive then worry about adding weight to get down.

 

[scubajoe]

My suggestion would be 10.
Try it and see.

Joe

 

[armyscuba]

Im just wondering if anyone knows an answer to this:
I always dive in a dry-suit. I have only done 2 dives in my life in a wet suit. my wuestion is this:
I am going to cuba and I plan on wearing a shorty wet suit. I ahve no idea how much weight I will need. anyone know where to even being with this to figure it out???
thanks!

ps: in the dry suit I wear 30lbs, Im 5'7 and about 135lbs.

We have some Heavy Brine...Buoyancy is easy here..it sounds like You'll need between 8 or 10 lbs. Although our water temps are in the Mid 80's consider a 2mil or 3/2 Full suit..We have some Kick Ass fire coral here and it's Hydroid Season..anyone without a Full Suit is Getting Eaten up pretty Bad...

 

[dani_p]

We have some Heavy Brine...Buoyancy is easy here..it sounds like You'll need between 8 or 10 lbs. Although our water temps are in the Mid 80's consider a 2mil or 3/2 Full suit..We have some Kick Ass fire coral here and it's Hydroid Season..anyone without a Full Suit is Getting Eaten up pretty Bad...

hmmm... so should I rent and not use my shorty suit? fire coral... doesnt sound like something that I want to touch!!

 

[HammerNoMore]

hmmm... so should I rent and not use my shorty suit? fire coral... doesnt sound like something that I want to touch!!

I'd say use your shorty suit and just don't touch the reef.

James

 

[armyscuba]

hmmm... so should I rent and not use my shorty suit? fire coral... doesnt sound like something that I want to touch!!

As You can See..I dive Cuban Water on a daily basis..My answer is still a full suit..just not heavy..go with My recommendations for Mil...but Regardless if Your careful or not. The Surge at the Coral and Reef heads here, particularly at shore depending on tide can be tremendous. I have seen people abort a dive because of getting slammed off the coral and come out bleeding pretty bad. Hydroids are the bigger issue..they run thru June or July..Last Year was bad. This Year is starting off the same way. At the Surface..(Grass) and on the Bottom..(Grass) People are getting eaten up. With some being out of the Water for two weeks. Make sure everytime You dive here You rinse off immediately..If Your on a Boat ..bring a spray bottle of Vinegar. Bring Your Sunscreen..Bring a Hat..and Hydrate..We are at the Mid 80's to high 90's everyday now. Soon it will climb to 130 during the mid afternoon. Those that suffer Hydroid infection look like they spent a day rolling around in Poison Ivy. Don't risk it. Moose coral and Heavy surf will bloody Your knees and elbows upon exit from the water if Your not careful. I have over 400 dives here..take My word for it...The Diving is Great though, Beautiful Coral and Reef. Wrecks..Deep Walls, Schools of fish, Turtles, Rays, eels, Lobster, Manatee, Squid, Octupus, Conch and Trumpets litter the bottom, along with various crab. Bring an underwater camera.

 

[DandyDon]

I'd like to say that I'd never buy a shorty, but I did - when I was brand new. I know that the shops suggest these, but I can't imagine why anyone would want to protect most of their body.

I guess that they want to teach more control, but while "...just don't touch the reef" is a great idea, things happen, i.e. currents, hydroids, wrecks, boarding ladders, etc.

And weighting is totally personal. I think Joe is closer with his 10# start, but I've seen a gal smaller than you need 20# in a 3 mil. She was a nervous newbie, though; you should do with a lot less, but - you just have to work that out when you get there...

 

[IrishAngel]

Dani.. You're lucky to have gotten such excellent local knowledge. Check out the Henderson Aqua Suede 3mil for a suit. 8-10 pounds is a good place to start.. IF you can't get to a pool. If you can.. get some pool time through your LDS and checkout with your vacation rig. A tropical rig is very different from a cold-water drysuit rig.. work out the kinks in your rig.. get your trim & buoyancy set.. add 4-6 pounds to the
weight you used in the pool for a start.. Do an easy first ocean dive..

Have fun on your trip !!! Cuba sounds like a blast.