Quick thought - we all talk (often endlessly) about our bouyancy and trim, and I know that every new diver should be taught how to do a correct bouyancy check to test their configuration as we are all different in size, shape, and gear configuration. But - whilst the overall bouyancy might change, the bouyancy of a bit of kit in most cases will not.
Yes tank bouyancy will change as air is used, and neoprene will compress with depth and so on, but basically your dive torch, canister light, regulators and dive suit will have a initial bouyancy at the surface which has got to be addressed in order for you to correctly weight.
I have occasionally seen some items like dive lights give a weight and 'bouyancy' in their descriptions, and BCD's and wings will usually quote the maximum lift achievable (although I have only ever once seen a gear spec which specified whether the lift was in fresh or salt water). But why isn't this common for all spec's.
The spec sheet for a wetsuit in a specific size could tell you its dry weight - important for packing if you travel by air, and its relative bouyancy in fresh water, important for correct weighting.
I think this would make it so much easier to change weights from dive to dive if you needed to.
For example I have a neoprene 5mm two peice wetsuit (long suit plus a shorty that can go over it) - if I do an fairly active dive in the morning and just wear the long suit I need to set my weight accordingly. If in the afternoon I do a slow shallower dive and take my photography gear, so I put the shorty over the top for warmth as I'm not going to be very active, how much weight do I need to add for the extra layer of wetsuit and subtract for the camera gear?
I could do a weight check but it would be so much easier if I knew the bouyancy of each component and could just do it automatically.
I suppose I could do a check of all my kit and work it out, but it would be so much easier if for scuba gear this was in the spec.
Any thoughts or should we start to ask manufacturers this?
P
Yes tank bouyancy will change as air is used, and neoprene will compress with depth and so on, but basically your dive torch, canister light, regulators and dive suit will have a initial bouyancy at the surface which has got to be addressed in order for you to correctly weight.
I have occasionally seen some items like dive lights give a weight and 'bouyancy' in their descriptions, and BCD's and wings will usually quote the maximum lift achievable (although I have only ever once seen a gear spec which specified whether the lift was in fresh or salt water). But why isn't this common for all spec's.
The spec sheet for a wetsuit in a specific size could tell you its dry weight - important for packing if you travel by air, and its relative bouyancy in fresh water, important for correct weighting.
I think this would make it so much easier to change weights from dive to dive if you needed to.
For example I have a neoprene 5mm two peice wetsuit (long suit plus a shorty that can go over it) - if I do an fairly active dive in the morning and just wear the long suit I need to set my weight accordingly. If in the afternoon I do a slow shallower dive and take my photography gear, so I put the shorty over the top for warmth as I'm not going to be very active, how much weight do I need to add for the extra layer of wetsuit and subtract for the camera gear?
I could do a weight check but it would be so much easier if I knew the bouyancy of each component and could just do it automatically.
I suppose I could do a check of all my kit and work it out, but it would be so much easier if for scuba gear this was in the spec.
Any thoughts or should we start to ask manufacturers this?
P