Wetsuit buoyancy

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A similar solution is a Farmer John bottom and a separate top, either jacket or step-in long-sleeve top. Yje Farmer John dive syou double thickness over the chest& back so is a bit warmer.
I should have said that one BIG advantage of this approach is you are buying separates, so the size of the Farmer John does not have to be the same as the size of the jacket/top. For example I have a Medium Farmer John and an Large top. Works for me!
 
You are adjusting to a thick wetsuit. You are overweighted because you can't descend, so you add weight. Here is the fix. Do the weight check with 500psi in the tank at 15ft. I prefer to do this on a shore dive because it is easier to lay weight on the bottom and check buoyancy. Next, remove all the gas from your BC, everything, not just most. Breath normally, if you sink remove lead, if you ascend add weight. When you don't move you are correctly weighted, now I add one pound back on to account for trapped air in future dives.

Now, on the next dive you will have difficulty descending, this is primarily due to the amount of air trapped in the suit. While vertical on the surface open the neck area of the suit to allow all the air to escape, curl into a ball to help push out any trapped air. This will help, then exhale as much as possible, as you start to descend you can breath normally. The suit will start to compress and your descent speed will increase. Start adding gas to your BC to slow your descent and stop it at depth. Once at depth ensure you are neutral, then use your lungs to ascend and descend around obstacles. You should not need to touch your BC until you have used more of the breathing gas, then might add a bit to BC.

When you are ready to ascend start your ascent with a large inhale. As you ascend you will need to slow your ascent by releasing the gas in the BC. Never add gas to start your ascent, just causes too much too fast. As you approach your safety stop your BC should be empty or very close to empty. To continue your ascent use a small inhale and exhale to control ascent speed. This should be your slowest depth change of the whole dive.

One more note, a new wetsuit will lose buoyancy as it ages. You will be able to drop some weight after the first half dozen dives and again after dozen more. I tend to evaluate my weight at the end of the dive anytime I get the cylinder down below 500psi, just helps validate data I keep in logbook, iphone notes.

Any kit reconfiguration or wetsuit changes will result in a need for re-evaluation, take notes.
 

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