weighty issues ?

[cra2]

I'm a new diver - weigh 205lbs.
In saltwater, I put on a 5mm wetsuit and a rental jacket BC.
I dump the air on the surface and exhale deeply.
I SLOWLY start to descend..sometimes requiring kicking a little to get me under the surface.

That's with TWENTY aching POUNDS on my belt!!!!!!!!

Are 5mm's THAT bouyant???

Would a bp/w setup allow me to get some of that weight off my hips and just have the desirable SMALL amount of ditchable weight?

 

[JimC]

20# is reasonable for a 5mm in salt water with an AL80.

Bp/w will move at a minimum 5# off the belt. It will also probably drop 2-4# in weight over all as you loose the boyancy in the jacket BC's padding. That will depend on the BC's make. There are also some ways to add extra non-dichable weight to the bp/w that are not avalable on a BCD, such as weighted STA's, thicker plates and channel weights.

 

[simbrooks]

Chuck,

i was out in SoCal the other week and took out 14# (probably could have done ok with 12#) with my SS BP and very light STA (plastic) - i was wearing a 5mm with 3mm hood and 2mm gloves. In fact on one dive my buddy (who was wearing a two piece 7mm suit) realised they werent weighted enough, so i gave up 4# and dove with that one on 10#, but i was very light at the end and had to keep my lung volume really down as i ascended at the end. So altogether my weighting was about 20# total, but i could have gotten away with 18# i reckon - i just didnt have the option to remove only 2#. Also i have another few pounds on you being at 225# (last check, might be around 230 now). Those were all AL80 shore dives.

One other solution would be to thin out your neoprene, its about 82-84F now off the coast, i was in a 1mm the other day for shore and deeper wreck diving (Speigel Grove, Duane) and was fine warmth wise. On those dives i used my AL BP and about 8# i believe, but could have gotten away with 6# if i'd tried harder. AL80's again.

All these weights were originally from diving springs and adding 4-6# or so in those suits and just pure guesswork for the 1mm.

 

[cra2]

Simon, you're a warm-blooded englishmun, I tell ya.
In a 5mm, I have YET to feel comfortable (temperature-wise) except for the West Palm Beach boat dive we did a few weekends ago.
I've been chilly, to the point of shivering in all the springs, rivers, and ocean dives we've done this summer.
I even bought a hood now to try and keep my head warmer.
Maybe I'm just too thin.

 

[simbrooks]

Maybe I'm just too thin.

At 205# i would say this is not the case, i know i am not at 225#. Scubafool is around my height and if is over 180# i would be shocked - now he is thin and gets cold easily (no disrespect meant buddy).

Everyone was either in light skins, 1mm or at worst 3mm this last weekend - but it is a personal thing as to what you are comfortable with.