Weighting Question...

[Superfly]

Hey, guys

Going out tomorrow for my first OW dive with DIR kinds of gear. I've logged hundreds of dives using jacket style BCs and associated recreational gear, but I could use some help estimating a starting point for additional weight to be worn on my weight belt with a DIR rig. Here's my setup:

- Freshwater dive @ 50 deg
- 6'3", 230#, good physical condition
- Oxycheq 30# wing
- XL Diverite SS backplate, 2x SS STA, 2" Hogarthian harness
- Steel 100 Tank
- Apeks DS4 with XTX second stages
- Diverite Can light
- Henderson 7mm one-piece H2 wetsuit with 7/5mm hood, 7mm boots, 7mm gloves
- Mares Volo Power fins, mask, snorkel

When testing out the gear in a pool, just wearing board shorts and no weight belt, I can tell I'm already significantly negative with this setup. Filling the wing to nearly full, and I'm barely staying on the surface. (I plan on getting an AL backplate to get some of the weight off in warm dives).

So, what's a good starting point for the weight belt with the above parameters? I'm sure I'll be adjusting all day, but I want to avoid pinning myself to the bottom of a quarry trying to find out how much weight I should have shed.

Thanks guys!

Brian

 

[TSandM]

It seems very weird to be that negative. Your 7 mm suit with gloves and booties ought to give you a fair amount of positive buoyancy, so although your tank will be about 8 pounds negative, and your plate another 5 or six, and all your other metal stuff another couple of pounds, you shouldn't be getting anywhere near 30 pounds negative, even with no exposure protection. WITH the wetsuit, I'd expect you to be just a few pounds negative with that setup.

What did you use with the same exposure protection and tank, with your previous BC? Generally, standard BCs are a couple of pounds positive, so you can take off two from your total weight. Then the backplate is 5 or 6 pounds of ballast, and the d-rings and what-not a bit more. Taking ten pounds off your prior weight belt is probably a reasonable place to start.

 

[Superfly]

As it turns out, 10# on the belt was the magic number.

 

[rlynch]

in a single tank with a waterproof 7mm suit - AL plate, no can light. I needed 14# with an AL80. That has changed to 4# with a steel plate and can light. (2# in each cam pocket) with the same suit. both weights given with 500psi in an AL80.
This was pre-GUE training for the starting weight.
Granted i don't dive wet much and only in a single when i have to now days. (i do some PADI DM stuff)