With an Al 80, that still seems to be far too much weight
Let's discuss peoples over-reliance on BC's and over-weighting.
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With an Al 80, that still seems to be far too much weight
archer1960
Contributor
It might be a little bit much; maybe 8lb would work, but I have a bit of floaty bioprene and a big mask to counteract, too. I didn't try anything below 10, largely because I just wanted to get into the water and start looking at things, rather than spending more time on perfecting my weights.
ScubaJill
Contributor
I don't know. Wouldn't it depend on his weight and body composition (i.e., percentage of fat)? He's using 50% more weight than I use in similar circumstances (16 lbs in a 7mm and 8 lbs in a 3mm). *If I'm doing my maths correctly.*
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archer1960
Contributor
I know my cold-weather weight is good; I tried 22 lb, and couldn't hold depth. I set my weights for 6' though, because of all the shallow shore diving I do, so that makes me a bit heavier than someone who sets their weights for 15'. That's with a thick 7mm suit, 5mm hood, 5mm booties + 3mm socks, dry gloves, and an AL80. I think my BC is pretty light compared to many as well, though I haven't tested its buoyancy all by itself. I also am 6' 190lb.
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I think you should start an online business telling people how much weight they need. I've never seen anyone that could do that very precisely in person so you must be very good to do it on the internet.
I won't argue your cold water setup. It seems fine.
Your warm water though.. I'm 6'3 & 200lb, so not dissimilar to you. A full 3mm and Single Al 80 requires 2lb. Okay I'm divign a wing (no back plate) so a BCD maybe 6lb total. Although I dive frequently - regular and frequent experience counts
I'm not having a go at you, just pointing out that people do get accustomed to weight. I be if you took 1lb off every 2 dives on the trip you'd be surprised that you could take off some more. Have a go one day
ScubaJill
Contributor
Well, you should need more weight than me. I'm 5'6 about about 150. Female. I almost never empty my tank, and haven't weighted myself in a variety of conditions with an empty tank, so my feel for proper weighting almost always includes weight from the gas in the tank. I should mention that I have 2 dives in the 7mm, both in a quarry and getting that correct weighting will be a work in progress.
archer1960
Contributor
It wouldn't surprise me a bit, but the dive shop didn't have any 1lb weights, so I couldn't get the distribution I need to keep my trim proper if I went lighter. So I made the conscious decision to dive a bit heavy in order to be in good trim in the currents in Coz.
OP
My weight changes almost every dive depending on what I am doing. Weight is a personal thing and what is good for one isn't good for another person.
If you need to fill your bc half way to hit neutral at depth you can drop some lead. If a BCD was designed as a diver elevator device it would be called that, they are for COMPENSATING for the compression of the suit and your air spaces (you don't breath as deeply underwater as you do on surface, at least I don't). I think somewhere along the way people forgot that. You would be surprised how much less drag you have when your BC has less air in it (or none at all).
If you need to fill your bc half way to hit neutral at depth you can drop some lead. If a BCD was designed as a diver elevator device it would be called that, they are for COMPENSATING for the compression of the suit and your air spaces (you don't breath as deeply underwater as you do on surface, at least I don't). I think somewhere along the way people forgot that. You would be surprised how much less drag you have when your BC has less air in it (or none at all).
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