Weights and Trim

[goldenwar]

hi, i have about 70 logs and dive in So Cal.

my set up is
halcyon infinity with steel backplate(6lb) and standard weight adaptor(6lb)
7mm wet suit from bare
5mm hood from WaterProof
apeks xtx200 and xtx50
scubapro jetfin
faber steel hp 100 tank
5'7' and 180lb

i just completed my AOW class and at Peak Performance Session, instructor told me that i'm little over weighted.
with current set up my feet keeps sinking and i'm suspecting it's my heavy fins.
but i don't really feel overweighted, i guess i do descent pretty fast but not enough that i can't control it
to remove some weights i guess i can't remove STA and add 2lbs on each weight pocket.

i also want to try diverite xt fins or mares quattro fins but i haven't found the shop that sells it near my home(orange county, SO CAL).

thanks!

 

[BlueTrin]

Are you asking people how to determine if you are overweighted ?

You probably know better than me but I thought the standard procedure is to see if you float at eye level with an empty BCD and normal breathing at the end of the dive without kicking or moving(add 2kg I think if you do it at the beginning, I think the air in 12l cylinder at 220bars is 2.5kg) ?

 

[rongoodman]

Don't forget that posture is an element too. If you relax at the hips and let your feet droop they're going sink, no matter how much weight you have or where you have it. As for the fins, Dive Rite XT Fins w/Spring Heels, or my personal favorite, Deep 6 Eddy Flippers.

 

[BlueTrin]

Don't forget that posture is an element too. If you relax at the hips and let your feet droop they're going sink, no matter how much weight you have or where you have it. As for the fins, Dive Rite XT Fins w/Spring Heels

Actually I have a question for you about trim: do you need to be horizontal when resting with straight legs or only when you bend your legs at knee level ?

 

[rongoodman]

I would say that the default position is flat with legs up, which isn't to say that there won't be times when something else is more appropriate. That's the starting position for modified frog, modified flutter, back kick, and helicopter turn, so it seems a reasonable place to return to.

 

[goldenwar]

Are you asking people how to determine if you are overweighted ?

You probably know better than me but I thought the standard procedure is to see if you float at eye level with an empty BCD and normal breathing at the end of the dive without kicking or moving(add 2kg I think if you do it at the beginning, I think the air in 12l cylinder at 220bars is 2.5kg) ?

hey, i guess my question was little silly and not clear enough now that i look at it lol
i guess i just wanted to see how much weight people around my weight use.
with that method you suggested, i didn't quite understand because in my opinion, you should be sinking with empty bcd even with empty tank.

 

[goldenwar]

I would say that the default position is flat with legs up, which isn't to say that there won't be times when something else is more appropriate. That's the starting position for modified frog, flutter, back kick, and helicopter turn, so it seems a reasonable place to return to.

yea i meant that horiontal position with knee bent up. it takes lots of effort to keep that position since my feet tends to sink. my instructor told me that i shouldn't have to move around too much to keep that position. maybe he just wanted me to be still regarldess of position. i can stay still but with that trim position it takes energy to some move around so my feet dont sink.

 

[rongoodman]

Try the Deep Six Eddy fins or the Dive Rites. Stiff enough for any of the kicks, but quite a bit lighter than the Jet fins. The Jets or similar heavier fins come into their own when you're diving doubles, which tend to put you head down in the water.

 

[BlueTrin]

hey, i guess my question was little silly and not clear enough now that i look at it lol
i guess i just wanted to see how much weight people around my weight use.
with that method you suggested, i didn't quite understand because in my opinion, you should be sinking with empty bcd even with empty tank.

So this website describes the procedure:
Learn fhe Open Water Skill of Proper Weighting

Normally the procedure is taught in either OW or AOW, I am pretty sure that PADI Peak Buoyancy specialty mentions it.

But normally you should be able to float at the end of your dive at eye level with empty BCD and close to empty tank. To sink in that state you just need to exhale to initiate going down, since your buoyancy will continue to decrease as you get underwater.

The AOW material I think has general rules to estimate the weight by using your weight and your wetsuit type and if you dive in salty water. But this is very approximate, I am 90kg but very lean so I am not very buoyant, as muscle is more dense than fat. I even met a guy who was negatively buoyant as he was a cardio runner freak.

EDIT: anyone, feel free to correct me if I made any mistake above

 

[Scuba-74]

hey, i guess my question was little silly and not clear enough now that i look at it lol
i guess i just wanted to see how much weight people around my weight use.

I'm the same weight and dive in similar environment wearing 7mm suit and a HP100 steel. I put 16lb in my Zeagle BC.

I'm 6', which may mean more neoprene in torso, legs, and arms, but I highly doubt that at 12lb you are overweighted.