Weight question

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dyarab

Contributor
Messages
166
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0
Location
Atlanta
# of dives
100 - 199
Hello all.

We did our open water certifications this past weekend in Lake Lanier, Georgia (yeah I know, it was supposed to be the Keys but thanks to countless hurricanes that never happened). Water was 73 degrees and visibilty was about 5 ft before we got in and mucked the place up. Then it was about 1 ft.

I was/am using 6 lbs for fresh water. I wear 3 mil full wetsuit(Hyperstretch) and the tank was an AL 80. Knighthawk back inflated BC. I noticed at around 1600-1700 psi I felt a little more buoyant and had to work a little to stay where I wanted(as far as I could tell most, if not all air was out of my BC).

Should I add some weight? I'm thinking 2lbs.(this is for freshwater) I'm just concerned that once we get into salt water(Coz in Oct) with a more buoyant tank at the end of the dive I may have a very hard time maintaining a safety stop.

Am I just being paranoid?
 
Greetings, dyarab!!
I live between Roswell and Alpharetta and dive the lake a lot.
8 pounds would be about right. Sounds as if you've done a better job than most with your weighting at this stage in your diving.

When you get to Cozumel all you'll need is a lycra skin and you can probably drop down to about 4 lbs.
If I may ask, with which LDS did you certify?
 
dyarab:
Hello all.

We did our open water certifications this past weekend in Lake Lanier, Georgia (yeah I know, it was supposed to be the Keys but thanks to countless hurricanes that never happened). Water was 73 degrees and visibilty was about 5 ft before we got in and mucked the place up. Then it was about 1 ft.

I was/am using 6 lbs for fresh water. I wear 3 mil full wetsuit(Hyperstretch) and the tank was an AL 80. Knighthawk back inflated BC. I noticed at around 1600-1700 psi I felt a little more buoyant and had to work a little to stay where I wanted(as far as I could tell most, if not all air was out of my BC).

Should I add some weight? I'm thinking 2lbs.(this is for freshwater) I'm just concerned that once we get into salt water(Coz in Oct) with a more buoyant tank at the end of the dive I may have a very hard time maintaining a safety stop.

Am I just being paranoid?

I agree with The Kracken. Sounds like your weighting is pretty good at this stage. This early into your diving career I think it would be acceptable to add the 2 lbs. With some more dives and an increasing level of comfort and relaxation you will probably remove that 2 lbs and maybe 2 more.
 
Just as an aside, I'm 5'7", 160 lbs, dive a 2/3 full suit at the lake (unless I'm going below 30') with a ss back plate and a Dive-Rite "Venture" wing. With that setup I use no weight whatsoever. An ocean dive in that rig requires me to add 4 pounds which I place in trim pockets located on my tank.

On the occasion that I dive cold water, I wear a 6.5 farmer john/jacket, hood and gloves with the same hardware rig. That wetsuit setup requires 22 lbs. I locate 10 in the trim pouches and the remainder in Dive-Rite quick release pouches located on my waist strap.
 
Thanks for answering guys. I think I will go ahead and add 2 lbs. I will probably hit the pool one more time (the wife will probably need a different BC and will want pool time before we hit Coz... issues during open water but she did well considering) at least before the trip. So I'll give 8lbs a shot and see how it feels.

Kracken we got certed with SeaVentures. They have been excellent with equipment and the trips. Our Keys trip got cancelled twice becasue of the hurricane onslaught, and cancelled third time due to lack of people. They were great and refunded all our money.
 
Glad you certified with them, they're a great bunch!!!

Make sure you join their "Prefered Diver Club", you'll get tank rentals for $5 for a weekend.

I took my Nitrox with them.

My wife and I go to the pool frequently just to putz about and get wet and refine our balance/trim when changing configurations.

I'll be kinda busy for the next few weeks, but about mid December I'll be up for some diving (deer season got in the way).

I'll let ya clamp your reg on my tank and try out the BP/wing setup.
 
The Kracken:
Glad you certified with them, they're a great bunch!!!

Make sure you join their "Prefered Diver Club", you'll get tank rentals for $5 for a weekend.
Already a member.

Thanks for the offer. I may just take you up on that.

As bad as the conditions were, at least for open water check outs, a part of me really liked the low visiblity. Dont kow why... just did. The water temperature I could have lived without.
 
When you get in the pool to practice with the 8 lbs. Take your tank down to around 750-1000 psi and check your weighing. Al80's go positive so you may actually need to add 4 lbs right now and then back down a touch after you get a bit more comfortable.

Welcome to the world of diving.
 
dyarab:
Should I add some weight? I'm thinking 2lbs.(this is for freshwater) I'm just concerned that once we get into salt water(Coz in Oct) with a more buoyant tank at the end of the dive I may have a very hard time maintaining a safety stop.
It sounds like an additional two pounds or maybe three would be a good idea for freshwater. If you are diving the same gear in saltwater, divide your overall weight by forty to come up with how much to add. I would trim out in the pool both with and without the wetsuit to come up with numbers for both possibilites. It is much easier to deal with being a pound or two heavy than a pound light.
dyarab:
Am I just being paranoid?
No. This is a question best asked breathing air at 1ATA in street clothes.
 
Quote:
"The water temperature I could have lived without."

In a 3mm if you stay about about 30' you should be OK. Lanier can get pretty cold below 30'.

I think diving frequently in low visibility makes for a better diver. It makes good visibility dives so much more pleasant.

One thing to watch out for, if you go to the pool to work on your weighting and trim, make sure they give you an 80. They really don't like to give them out for pool work, they prefer the the diver use a 63, but tell them you're working on weighting and trim and they'll comply.

Lead Carrier made a good point. Next time you go to the pool, right before you get out dump your tank to 500 psi and check your buoyancy at the bottom of the deep end. If I'm not mistaken, it's a 12' bottom. This will give you an EXCELLENT opportunity to check your final weighting for a safety stop.
 

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