Wetsuit buoyancy character: old vs new

[eelnoraa]

I just bought a new 7mm wetsuit, pinnacle 7mm elastiprene. I have been using a "well used" rental 7mm wetsuit, I think it is H2 Odysse semi-dry. I wonder if it will affect my weight. I think most likely I will be more bouyant, any idea approximately how much?

 

[dkktsunami]

I just bought a new 7mm wetsuit, pinnacle 7mm elastiprene. I have been using a "well used" rental 7mm wetsuit, I think it is H2 Odysse semi-dry. I wonder if it will affect my weight. I think most likely I will be more bouyant, any idea approximately how much?

I can't tell you exactly how much more weight will be required but likely some will. New wet suits can take a while to train - they tend to think that they are the buoyancy boss. I dive a Pinnacle elastoprine 7mm using 13 lbs. in fresh and 19 in salt. I am 155lbs, 6' tall. You will probably need to add at least 2 lbs. above what you are used to for a couple dives until the suit is broken in. I am currently wrestling with a Pinnacle 5mm using the same or more weight that I use in the 7mm but eventually I should be using 4 lbs. less with the 5mm. Good luck.

 

[MtnPlayVA]

I just experienced this same thing. I've rented a Bare 7mm Arctic wetsuit for a year. I finally broke down and bought a new one. Same size, model, etc. The first two dives I did were a little frustrating as I didn't change my weighting or configuration at all. I had a hard time descending and then once I got past 30 feet I sunk like a rock so I was constantly adjusting my buoyancy. The new wetsuit has a much wider compression change than the old rental had so I felt like I was either sinking or floating - never got that comfortable neutral feeling. The other change I noticed is in the trim. I had to move my trim pockets down to the bottom cam strap because the new suit made my legs float so I would end up head down if I stopped moving. I changed where the weights are but didn't change how much weight I was carrying. I've done about 10 dives in the suit now with the deepest being to 100'. The buoyancy changes aren't as drastic now as the first 2 dives.