Lotsa Weight

[TMHeimer]

Haven't done a dive in 3 mil. In salt water with my shorty I need 18 pounds. Body suit only I need 10-12, can't recall which. My angle is ever so slightly torso (head) up--not enough to consider weights on the tank strap. My legs are like rocks and fins very negative. I do think about all that weight if doing a 100' dive--one reason I don't do anything but these very shallow dives solo. On those dives I am able to swim up with BC empty (if it is in fact empty, as discussed).

 

[LariatAdvance]

WOW. I'm exactly 6 feet, 200 lbs, Al80, 3 mil full wetsuit, no hood and I use 20 lbs. Something sounds not right.

 

[Diving Dubai]

WOW. I'm exactly 6 feet, 200 lbs, Al80, 3 mil full wetsuit, no hood and I use 20 lbs. Something sounds not right.

You seem to be carry too much weight too. The same configuration for me, being similar size and weight to you is 2lbs....

 

[TMHeimer]

You seem to be carry too much weight too. The same configuration for me, being similar size and weight to you is 2lbs....

Clarify-- What do you mean 2 pounds?

 

[Diving Dubai]

Clarify-- What do you mean 2 pounds?

When Diving an AL 80 in a 3mm suit (given I'm similar build and weight as poster) I only use 2lbs of weight. I dive a wing with no plate (a DiveRite Transpac Harness and Voyager 36# wing with the rear padding removed)

 

[lowviz]

Curious, exactly how much lead does it take to sink you in a pool with nothing but swim trunks and a full comfortable inhale?

I'm betting on barrel-chested musician. Wind instrument? Look up spirometry and let me know what your total lung capacity is...

 

[Diving Dubai]

Curious, exactly how much lead does it take to sink you in a pool with nothing but swim trunks and a full comfortable inhale?

I'm betting on barrel-chested musician. Wind instrument? Look up spirometry and let me know what your total lung capacity is...

Ohhh! Good theory! I'll be interested to hear the results too.

 

[TMHeimer]

I don't have a spirometer, in fact never heard of it. Clarinet player, not barrel chested. The only way I could score a 5 on the DM float test was by drown proofing. I could get through the first 13 minutes (not easy) but no way the last 2 with hands out of water. Legs like rock. I can float on my back in salt water (barely). In a pool on my back my legs sink very quickly. This further confuses me about why I use so much weight. Maybe my top half is overly buoyant. Still could be that air in the BC thing though.

 

[lowviz]

OK, the jump to conclusions approach didn't work. It is physics, so we break it into pieces.

I am very leg heavy due to a lifetime of running, cycling, hiking, etc. Drown proofing works great for me, arch my back and leave my face just out of the water. I do my hang and then a strong downward scull with both hands while I quickly exhale then inhale. I also have a large lung capacity from either genes, exercise, or both. Just last year during a sequence of swim classes, I found to my great surprise that I can sink and remain sunk in the shallow end of a pool by performing an extremely deep exhale. I also know how much lead it takes to sink me on full inhale. Rather surprising.

So, two questions:
1) How much lead does it take to sink you (in swim trunks) with a full but comfortable inhalation?
2) How much lead do you have to pile on top of your farmer john top and bottom to sink it?

 

[mattia_v]

WOW. I'm exactly 6 feet, 200 lbs, Al80, 3 mil full wetsuit, no hood and I use 20 lbs. Something sounds not right.

That's...a lot. I'm about your size and weight, and with an alu backplate/wing (so a little negatieve right there), adding 10lbs is more than enough to sink me, and I suspect I can drop a few more (will test it out on the next dive trip). I can sink myself in just swim trunks with an exhale alone.