Wetsuit Changes: Weight Changes

[rjpv]

Hey guys,

I've been diving in a 7mm full wetsuit with hood since I got certified, but in a while I'm taking a trip to warmer waters (Maui) where it sounds like I'll be in the 3mm-full or shorty range.

About how much weight should I knock off my usual number to get equivalent buoyancy diving in the thinner/smaller wetsuit?

Thanks!

 

[mobster75]

Well.. from what I recall from PPB: Wn = Weight now used for 7mm/hood/gloves/etc

So... Wn - (5% of your body weight) - 4lbs = New base weight to start your buoyancy check with.

Also, you will need more weight in salt water than fresh. If you currently dive in saltwater w/ your 7mm suit then no additional adjustments need to be made.

If you need to adjust from fresh to salt, assuming you weigh 180 pounds, you would need to add 6 lbs of weight.

For example:

If you weigh 180 pounds and you use about 27 pounds of weight

27 lbs - 9 lbs - 4 lbs= 14 lbs

So you would begin your buoyancy check in Maui in your 3mm with 14 lbs of weight and go from there.

 

[rjpv]

Thanks, thats quite a drop!

 

[tparrent]

Holy Cow! Reversing your equation tells me I will be carrying THIRTYSEVEN pounds when I go from my 3mm to a 7mm for the cold water here!

I better head for the gym so I can either carry that weight OR do away with the need for it (get that bodyweight down).

 

[mobster75]

tparrent:

That's what I'll be diving with this morning... 37 lbs of weight (7mm full exposure). Heh..

 

[mark99]

For me, 26# in 7mm full, 12# in 3 mm shorty

 

[SparticleBrane]

37 pounds of lead is ridiculous, even with a 7mm full on. I dive 18 pounds total (12 on weight belt, 6 pound backplate) wearing a 6.5mm two-piece wetsuit, and 6 pounds (again, backplate) in a 3mm full.

 

[cleung]

Your divemasters in Maui will be able to advise and check your proper weight level there. I did my original OW dives in Canada with 7 mm suit and had 24 pounds. I now dive in warm waters using a 3 mm using 12 pounds so I was able to cut 50% of it. Don't necessarily use that as a formula though. Get a check done on site. But at least this illustrates that your weight requirements will be far less with a 3 mm.