Weighting Question

[cutt]

Hey everyone, first time poster here, although I've been reading the forums since I got certified in July. Anyway, I live in South Florida and I have been using a 3mil full suit but found that I am just too hot in that. I purchased a 3mil shorty and I am going diving in the Key Largo to celebrate my new job at the end of the month. I have been using 12 pounds of weight with the full suit and I am not sure what I will need with the shorty. Can anyone offer any advice.

BTW I am 6'3 200lbs and am very fit i.e. not a lot of fat on me if that matters much.

 

[Blackwood]

How bulky are your legs?

I'd probably start with 2-3 pounds less.

 

[cutt]

Hey Blackwood, my thighs are about 25 inches round and calves are 17 my inseam is 34.

 

[ChrisA]

Hey everyone, first time poster here, although I've been reading the forums since I got certified in July. Anyway, I live in South Florida and I have been using a 3mil full suit but found that I am just too hot in that. I purchased a 3mil shorty and I am going diving in the Key Largo to celebrate my new job at the end of the month. I have been using 12 pounds of weight with the full suit and I am not sure what I will need with the shorty. Can anyone offer any advice.

BTW I am 6'3 200lbs and am very fit i.e. not a lot of fat on me if that matters much.

Not much of a weight change. You are only loosing about 1/3rd or 1/4th of the suit.
I'd say 2 lbs at most. Here is what you do. Start with your normal weight but put 2 lbs of it inside a BC pocket. Then at the safty stop hand that 2 lbs to your buddy and see if you can still stay at 15 feet with a near empty tank. If you can then get rid of that 2 lbs. You can repeat this drill later. Many times divers as they gain experiance find they can loose weight. But the place to test is AFTER the dive, after your tank is lighter.

 

[www.scubamazing.com]

But the place to test is AFTER the dive, after your tank is lighter.

I thin this is some great advice for ya Cutt. But no matter how you do it, I'm in agreement that 2-3 lbs is the largests the increment should be.

 

[Chad Carney]

cutt,

I think taking off 4 or maybe even 6 pounds of your weight is more correct.

It takes a lot of rubber to cover the circumferance of the your arms and legs. About a third is my experience.

From your description I'm guessing you might be a slight bit overweighted with your 3mm full suit.

I'm built very similar and I'll wear 6 lbs tops with my 3mm shorty and about 10 with a 3mm full. (Assuming an 80 aluminum tank.)

Butt don't go by our guesses. You have time to do a weight test, go make a beach or bay dive. The shallow water will insure that you don't take off too much.

Chad

 

[Walter]

Anyway, I live in South Florida and I have been using a 3mil full suit but found that I am just too hot in that.

Why don't you try it without a wet suit? I use a wet suit in Florida from approximately mid-November through mid-May. The other six months, I dive in a swim suit.