Weight question

[Netsloth]

Ok, I have a question:

I am diving a DSS large stainless plate with a 26# wing. In fresh water, with my 3mm Pinnacle wetsuit, I am just slightly too bouyant. (At the surface with a full AL80)

I have a set of 8# plates for my backplate. With the plates attached, I am very close to perfect.

My question is: should I dive with the plates and no weight belt, or should I take the plates off and put 8# or so on a weight belt?

 

[rjack321]

Needing 8 lbs is way more than "slightly bouyant". Something about this doesn't add up.

Try a 4 and/or 6lb weightbelts to see what the correct amount is first. Get someone to help you and confirm that your wing is truly empty of gas at 15ft, with 400psi in your tank.

 

[Netsloth]

Needing 8 lbs is way more than "slightly bouyant". Something about this doesn't add up.

Try a 4 and/or 6lb weightbelts to see what the correct amount is first. Get someone to help you and confirm that your wing is truly empty of gas at 15ft, with 400psi in your tank.

I'll have to check this weekend. I've only had access to a pool, so it's tough to judge in 6 ft.

I'm almost positive that I need right around 4# to get under. But that's with a full tank. I'll be more positive with 500 psi, so I figure 8# is close to perfect. I will take your advice and try ~6 lbs this weekend.

Funny, 8 lbs didn't seem like a lot to me. When I was diving a BC, I think I was using like 18 or 20 lbs.

So am I to gather that you'd suggest a belt, then?

 

[DIR-Atlanta]

My question is: should I dive with the plates and no weight belt, or should I take the plates off and put 8# or so on a weight belt?

As rjack321 mentions, you need to verify that the 8 lbs of weight is correct. Once you have that dialed in, then try to swim the entire rig up from your maximum planned depth with a full tank and no air in the wing. If you can do that, then it is "balanced", and it should be safe to use the plates. If not, then you need to put some of the weight on a belt to make it ditchable.

 

[Netsloth]

As rjack321 mentions, you need to verify that the 8 lbs of weight is correct. Once you have that dialed in, then try to swim the entire rig up from your maximum planned depth with a full tank and no air in the wing. If you can do that, then it is "balanced", and it should be safe to use the plates. If not, then you need to put some of the weight on a belt to make it ditchable.

That makes sense. I'll be at Gennie this weekend, I'm going to bring a belt, so that we can get it worked out.

I appreciate the help, guys.

 

[rjack321]

I doubt you'll have a problem swimming the 8lbs up so its probably ok to put on the plates, but try to get the amount dialed in first. Then decide where to locate it base on a combination of your trim needs and having some be ditchable (if needed to swim up with a full tank and empty wing as DIRAtlanta describes).

I meant that "slightly bouyant" is generally thought to be plus minus 2 lbs, not plus minus 8, lol.

 

[Netsloth]

I doubt you'll have a problem swimming the 8lbs up so its probably ok to put on the plates, but try to get the amount dialed in first. Then decide where to locate it base on a combination of your trim needs and having some be ditchable (if needed to swim up with a full tank and empty wing as DIRAtlanta describes).

I meant that "slightly bouyant" is generally thought to be plus minus 2 lbs, not plus minus 8, lol.

Without the plates, I can submerge and sink on a full tank, but when I take a deep breath, I start to pop back up. The 8# sinks me quick, so I'm probably closer to needing 2 or 4.

I'd always thought it was better to be heavy than light, though, so I figured 8 lbs wasn't that big of a deal. I can see how it can be when the total weight amount is ~10 vs. ~20.

 

[Thalassamania]

I'll have to check this weekend. I've only had access to a pool, so it's tough to judge in 6 ft.

Once you get trimmed out to your liking do it again at 5 ft. By remembering the difference between 10 feet and 5 feet you'll be able to set yourself up in the pool in the future as long as you don't change your suit.

 

[rjack321]

4 lbs over won't kill you. But if you take the time to dial your weighting in exactly you'll be amazed at how much easier bouyancy and overall movement is (with the least amount of mass that is). Its most noticable when you have some but not a zillion dives. At some point you can dive most anything, but until then spend the extra 15 mins once to get yourself setup.

 

[rainman_02]

Without the plates, I can submerge and sink on a full tank, but when I take a deep breath, I start to pop back up. The 8# sinks me quick, so I'm probably closer to needing 2 or 4.

I'd always thought it was better to be heavy than light, though, so I figured 8 lbs wasn't that big of a deal. I can see how it can be when the total weight amount is ~10 vs. ~20.

Then you most likely need at least 6lb, just to compensate for the weight of the gas you will breathe. Do this check with 4-500 psi in the tank. Not with full tanks.