Weighting

[HybridDiver]

Hello, So today im diving with 15 pounds with my drysuit, backplate, wing and im still heavy. I have air in my BCD, and everytime im take a breath I sink. So im a small guy, im going to take 3 pounds off. I will now have 12 pounds of weight, Im 5-5, 115 pounds, 120 pounds on a good day. I dive, Single Steel 100 tank, 5 pound backplate. Just want to know with all you pros out there, does this seem right?
Chris

 

[Ben_ca]

Doesn't matter what we say... whatever advice you get here is a starting point... more applicable if you do not have any water nearby.

Jump back in the water and try to hold a 10-5 ft stop... keep taking out weight until you can do it with minimal air in your drysuit, 500 psi in your tank and an empty wing.

use that for your starting point next dive... then at the end of the dive do another wt check

 

[spectrum]

Your post does not support your conclusion.

What makes you think you are heavy? How deep were you with what sort of gear. Everyone is less buoyant when they exhale.

Pete

 

[HybridDiver]

I think im heavy because, On the surface with a full bcd pretty much and little bit of air in the drysuit to keep me nice and toasty I was still sinking. I played around 25 feet today on a wall with lots of clams and what not. Everytime I would breath I would raise and everytime I exhaled I sank like a rock. I spent 10 mins I had my bouyancy worked out and then same thing, I started from the start to the finish playing around and everytime I Exhale I sank but everytime I inhaled I seemed to raise but not to fast.
Chris

 

[dumpsterDiver]

You sound extremely over weighted if you sink at the surface with the BC nearly full.

 

[HybridDiver]

we will have to see ima dive 13 pounds tomorrow may even do 10 pounds. Hopefully little better dive.
Chris

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I dive with a 7mm wet suit and carry 8# in each integrated pocket, 5# in each trim pocket, 5# on my tank boot, and 1.5# on each ankle and I barely sink but it took at least 5 or 6 dives to get this figured out and as soon as you change one little thing your weight must also change.

A good thing to do it try and find out how buoyant (positive or negative) each item in your setup is that way you have a place to start from and that makes it super easy to adjust wait with different setups. But its alot of work sometimes to figure this out.

 

[SparticleBrane]

I dive with a 7mm wet suit and carry 8# in each integrated pocket, 5# in each trim pocket, 5# on my tank boot, and 1.5# on each ankle and I barely sink but it took at least 5 or 6 dives to get this figured out and as soon as you change one little thing your weight must also change.

A good thing to do it try and find out how buoyant (positive or negative) each item in your setup is that way you have a place to start from and that makes it super easy to adjust wait with different setups. But its alot of work sometimes to figure this out.

34 pounds? Good gracious.

HybridDiver you sound quite overweighted as well. Do what was suggested (15ft at 500psi with no air in your wing) to see what the deal is.

 

[Kbear]

Holy S NorthWoods. That's a lot of weight.

I typically dive a 5/4/3 or a 4/3 wetsuit. I'm 6'4" 215 lbs and I usually dive with 16 lbs. 5 in the integrated and 3 in the trim. I can't see how you can even surface with that much weight, even on a 7mm. How often do you have to screw with your bc when you’re at depth to maintain neutral?

Also, what tank are you diving with? Steel (fill in the blank) or AL (fill in the blank)?

 

[TheWetRookie]

Hmmm, sounds like we got some warm water divers here. 34 lbs in total or more is not uncommon for cold water diving. 44f, now up to 48f

Hybrid, do what I have done, Check your bouancy and the end of your next dive and take off weight as needed, then from there keep dropping weight every dive until you are comfortable/happy with it.

I started with 40 lbs and am now down to 32.5. I am pretty sure I can drop another 2.5 which I will try next dive. My biggest challange was getting the air out of the drysuit at the end of the dive as I am approaching the shallows. Royal pain floating to the surface. Not anymore though.