Weighty Question

[chazdonaldson]

I recently made the move from wetsuit to drysuit, and I experienced some startling problems with how much weight I needed to get submerged at the start of my first two open water dives. I normally dive with the following stats, 7M hooded fullsuit and a 5M step in vest (BARE), and I am 5'9", 190. I normally dive with 32 lbs. in my DUI harness. When I dove in a 7M Neoprene Drysuit (Harveys DS, BARE T-100 UG), I needed 51 lbs. to get down. I have 33 dives and pretty good skills, and I am not breathholding or changing any other piece of equipment in the equation. Any thoughts how I can get that weight down to a reasonable level??

 

[Don Burke]

I recently made the move from wetsuit to drysuit, and I experienced some startling problems with how much weight I needed to get submerged at the start of my first two open water dives. I normally dive with the following stats, 7M hooded fullsuit and a 5M step in vest (BARE), and I am 5'9", 190. I normally dive with 32 lbs. in my DUI harness. When I dove in a 7M Neoprene Drysuit (Harveys DS, BARE T-100 UG), I needed 51 lbs. to get down. I have 33 dives and pretty good skills, and I am not breathholding or changing any other piece of equipment in the equation. Any thoughts how I can get that weight down to a reasonable level??

The same way you get to Carnegie Hall, practice, practice, practice.

Start working on less air in the suit. I wear the same Bare UG, a Bare membrane suit, a steel backplate, and an AL80 and it takes about 24 pounds.

That 32 pounds sounds like a bunch to me, but I am not a thick wetsuit kind of diver.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

I think everyone has had an experience like yours when they first try a drysuit. I dive with a 7.5 mm neoprene O'Neil drysuit. I use a 6lb stainless backplate and 8 lbs on a weight belt and dive with a 100 or 120 Pressed Steel HP tank. When I dive with double I don't use either the weight belt or the stainless plate. When I first started I could barely sink with three times this weight.

Before I jump in I try and purge the suit and then when I just in I will purge again at the surface by allowing the water pressure to force the last bit of excess air out. I break the neck seal to get that last bubble out. Then with a deep exhale its a slow fall.

Get use to putting just enough air in your suit to eliminate the squeeze. It's okay if you feel a little pressure just don't let it squeeze or hurt you. It's real easy to add too much air. It's just a matter of practice and patience.

Jim
Louisiana

 

[matt_unique]

I recently made the move from wetsuit to drysuit, and I experienced some startling problems with how much weight I needed to get submerged at the start of my first two open water dives. I normally dive with the following stats, 7M hooded fullsuit and a 5M step in vest (BARE), and I am 5'9", 190. I normally dive with 32 lbs. in my DUI harness. When I dove in a 7M Neoprene Drysuit (Harveys DS, BARE T-100 UG), I needed 51 lbs. to get down. I have 33 dives and pretty good skills, and I am not breathholding or changing any other piece of equipment in the equation. Any thoughts how I can get that weight down to a reasonable level??

Keep in mind the variables relating to weight requirements. I love the arguments that ensue when people think the weight they use (by itself) is a measure of skill. (Not in this thread but other threads). The thermals used have perhaps the largest impact on weight requirements. If you were using say Weezle Extreme's you would need tons more weight than if you were wearing a thin fleece thermal. I use the O'Neill neoprene drysuit and when I am rigged for my entry level tech dives with my thicker winter thermals I wear 28lbs of lead. This means double alum 80's, SS bp, stage bottle (40 or 80 depending upon the dive), reels, lights, lift bags, etc., etc. When I am doing a recreational dive (with doubles) I have less gear and wear 33lbs of lead.

--Matt

 

[FatCat]

And another thought:

The amount of air you put in a drysuit has a direct effect on the suits insulation capacity.

I used to dive with a bare minimum of weight: 6 kgs for a 4 mil compressed neoprene drysuit with 200 g undersuit and a steel 15 liter cylinder, which worked fine for my 1.85 m and 85 kg bodyweight (do the conversion math yourselves, guys). Only thing was: after 45 minutes or so, I got freezing cold.

So now I've added two extra kilos and I'm toasty warm. I gladly suffer the trade-off in drag if it keeps me warmer.

 

[colonelchuck]

And another thought:

The amount of air you put in a drysuit has a direct effect on the suits insulation capacity.

I used to dive with a bare minimum of weight: 6 kgs for a 4 mil compressed neoprene drysuit with 200 g undersuit and a steel 15 liter cylinder, which worked fine for my 1.85 m and 85 kg bodyweight (do the conversion math yourselves, guys). Only thing was: after 45 minutes or so, I got freezing cold.

So now I've added two extra kilos and I'm toasty warm. I gladly suffer the trade-off in drag if it keeps me warmer.

Fat Cat has a great point. In Cctober, I worked hard at reducing my weight while diving in the Channel Islands. During the dives that Chaz described to start this thread, I used that same reduced weight. I froze my tail off in Puget Sound. Next dive up there, I'm back to an extra 4 pounds of so to allow for a bit more air in the suit.

 

[mikedarmody]

I started diving in a 7mm wetsuit with 3mm gloves/hood/booties. I started out on dive 1 with 43 lbs. Now after 40 dives I am down to 26 lbs and I added rubber by changing to a 5/3mm hood. I guess what I experienced is that good breath control, experience and calmness have had a big effect on my lead reduction. Are you tracking your weight usage (amount and placement)?

I know there's a difference between wet and dry but it's amazing how simple things can transcend your gear choices.