Weight Question

[OldNSalty]

Hey all,
I recently moved back to the coast and want to do some diving but I have a very basic question…How much weight should I be looking at starting with? Before I moved away, I dumped all my weights in a box so I don’t recall what I was using and my dive log is still in storage somewhere
I’m about 170lbs, I use Al 80’s and no wetsuit while diving in the Gulf. I went to my LDS and tried out my gear and myself in their pool and they just tossed me about 4 pounds to use with a tank that was about ½ empty. I noticed that at times I felt like I had things under control but at other times I was working the BC to try and find a balance. I don’t know if this was because I had the wrong amount of weight or just rusty. I did find I could hover fine vertically if I kept a very slow kick (was practicing for that all important safety stop and look-see at the end of the dive).
I’ll be heading back to their pool at the end of the week to pick up my gear (while it worked great after being in storage for so long I thought I had best get it serviced). Any pointers on what I should try out to test my buoyancy in search of perfect balance.

Thanks for the input

 

[diver 85]

Here's my deal...I'm 5'10 200...Saturday I dove in fresh water(max depth 18') with an Al80(full thru 400 PSI) with a Zeagle Scout BC, 3mm booties, skins, a 2mm shortie, a 2 mm chicken vest, & + bouyant fins-----used 6 lbs & was perfect from beginning to end of dive(2600 lbs used).......2 to 4 is about right, next time try 2 or zero IMO..........

 

[herman]

It really seems to depend on the person. I am around 165 and with no wetsuit and al80s I dive no weight in fresh water and 4 in salt....and just spent 2 weeks on Boniare doing it....the weight person at the dive shop gave me a strange look and ask "Only 4 lbs??" 0 in fresh and 4 in salt puts me about 3 lbs negative at first and around 1 lb positive at the end of the tank, easily in the range I can deal with with breath alone. I rarely use the BC except as a raft and occasionlly dive without a BC at all.

 

[OldNSalty]

This is good info but it begs a question-“If it turns out I only need about 2 – 4lbs then why a weight belt?” I know the technically correct answer is always the weight belt but do you still dive with one if you are only talking 2 to 4 lbs? (maybe this is a separate topic&#8230

 

[don Francisco]

Why not a weight belt? Even for 2-4#s, what are you going to do, carry them in your hand for the whole dive? Though if you're carrying only a few pounds or so you can stuff them in a pocket since ditchability won't be super critical.

 

[OldNSalty]

Well, yea...I assumed it would be in the pockets of the BC and having to ditch was the question at hand-sorry if that wasn't clear.

 

[herman]

I personally don't see the need for one if your only diving a couple of pounds as long as you can secure them somewhere like a BC pocket.