Weighting—just right or too light?

[twinkles]

I just got back from short dive trip down to Nassau. I took my new 5 mil since I tend to be cold natured and expected mid to low 70s water temperature (it was 75). Anyway, I was glad I had the 5 mil.

Since I had not had an opportunity to dial-in my weighting on the 5 mil, I guessed at 16 pounds (I use 10 pounds with my fairly well worn 3 mil “ultra-stretch”).

In any event, 16 pounds seemed to work. It took a little effort to get down, but since I usually fin down head first, after 15 or 20 feet I was sinking easily. At the end of my dives, I was able to hold a 15 foot stop quite easily (with 1100 pounds in the cylinder).

But I tried a little experiment on my last dive and bled my tank down to 500 lbs before surfacing. I was just slightly positively buoyant with my BC empty at 15 feet. I had to consciously fin down gently to hold 15 feet. Not to hard to do, but I would float up slowly if I went motionless.

So what do you guys think? Is this a good weight for my 5 mil, or do I need 2 extra pounds?

(I have to comment that being so close to the weight edge sure made it easy to trim out at depth with just a dollop of air in the BC.)

 

[Cecil]

IMHO the answer is yes. Use the 16#'s for deeper dives with deco limits vs. air. Use 18#'s for shallow long dives.

 

[Scubakevdm]

It sounds like you may be a tiny bit light, but if you are able to compensate with your breathing you may decide you can live with it. As you have noticed, trimming out is much easier like this.

 

[J.A.S.]

add the 2 pounds and try it again at 10 feet rather than 15.
if you still float with 500 and NO air on bc add another 2 pounds.. until can can manage your bouyancy with your breathing motionless.

hope this helps

 

[alphonsis]

At 500 psi, on your last dive of the day, if you were slightly positive at 15ft, I'd add the weight. I tend to be most buoyant on my first dive and the least on my last dive.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I would add the 2 lbs also. I would rather be slightly negative at 15 feet than slighly positive. You are not talking over or underweighted just fine tuning.

 

[diver 85]

add the 2.....no one but you & the boat captain(guy handing out weights) will know......