Wetsuit Weight Adjustment

[SwimsLikeRock]

So far... All my dives have been in New England waters with full 7mm wetsuit. I'm off next week to the Caribbean and will do my first warm water dives there. I've got a little 2mm shorty I'll likely wear or may forgo the wetsuit altogether.

Up here, I've been rather neutrally buoyant with 26-27 pounds of weight. How might I expect to adjust that with less wetsuit?

 

[donacheson]

So far... All my dives have been in New England waters with full 7mm wetsuit. I'm off next week to the Caribbean and will do my first warm water dives there. I've got a little 2mm shorty I'll likely wear or may forgo the wetsuit altogether.

Up here, I've been rather neutrally buoyant with 26-27 pounds of weight. How might I expect to adjust that with less wetsuit?

If you were neutral close to the surface, you'll probably be able to take off 15 to 20 lbs, depending upon the size of your wetsuit.

 

[devolution365]

My husband wears 30lbs with a 7mm full suitin cold water, and 20lbs was perfect for him in the caribbean with a 3mm shorty.

YMMV, but that's what worked for him.
-Erica

 

[careerdiver]

The best thing to do it check your bouyancy as soon as you get down there. If you are diving from the boat, you might want to ask if you can check your bouyancy as soon as they stop. They will usually allow you to as long as you are ready to hit the water as soon as they stop. While the other divers are getting geared out you can be checking your weight.

With a 2mm shortie, I would estimate about 4-8 pounds to start off with. In salt water, wearing a full length Henderson Trilam, I wear 4 pounds in salt water.

 

[Notso_Ken]

So far... All my dives have been in New England waters with full 7mm wetsuit. I'm off next week to the Caribbean and will do my first warm water dives there. I've got a little 2mm shorty I'll likely wear or may forgo the wetsuit altogether.

Up here, I've been rather neutrally buoyant with 26-27 pounds of weight. How might I expect to adjust that with less wetsuit?

When I have had the ability (like warm water in the upper 50s) to go to a 2 piece 5mm, from my normal 2 piece 7mm, I took off about 6-8lbs of lead. That would suggest 12-16 to go to a 2 piece 3mm. Not sure how linear the relationship is tho.


Ken

 

[Imagesetter]

I normally wear a 7mm with hooded vest and use 26 lbs. with an aluminum 80.

With a full 3mm and aluminum 80, I was at 14 lbs.

 

[naskatucket]

i'm 175lbs., with a shorty in the bvi's this past fall, 16lbs. did the trick.

 

[spectrum]

Well as a fellow New Engalnder I can tell you this...

In salt water when I dive my 7mm ful suit and 7mm hooded step-in which is esentinally the same rubber as a john, jacket and bibbed hood I wear 26 pounds with an E7-80.

In freshwater with my 3mm, same cylinder I need about 2 pounds

But If I did that 3mm dive in salt water I'd add 6 pounds for the density change making it 8 pounds.

And since I'm on vacation without my beloved E7-80s I'd need to add another 7.7 pounds to compensate for the buoyanvy properties of an AL80 making my best guess starting weight 15.6 or 16 pounds. The 3mm fullsuit, let alone your shorty is not all that buoyant but 14 would not surprise me in the least.

YMMV depending on suit, body style and other gear details.

Pete

 

[mark99]

I normally wear a 7mm with hooded vest and use 26 lbs. with an aluminum 80.

With a full 3mm and aluminum 80, I was at 14 lbs.

Exactly the same for me.