I'm getting ready to do my first colder water dive. I have been just diving in a 3mil suit, but I'm going to go diving in a lake in january w/ a rented 7mil suit. In the 3mil suit the six pounds of my backplate are plenty to sink me with an empty tank. How much extra lead am I going to have to add for the extra thickness? I only have a 30lb wing. Is that going to be enough lift for the extra weight?
Cold Water Dive Weight
- Thread starter NAVMED82
- Start date
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NAVMED82:
You are just using the weight to offset the bouyancy so 30lbs of lift is irrelivant. You are currently negative with empty tank so you shouldn't be more than 5-6lbs negative with a full tank. Now if you change your suit to a 7 mil versus a 3 mil you still should only be 5-6lbs negative with a full tank once you set your bouyancy. That is all the BC will need to lift.
As for the weight you will need I would suggest using the 8-12 lbs (based on the rule that a men's large suit will be 2-3lbs positive for each mm). This will probably get you really close.
mnj1233:
Remember he is already wearing a 3 mill and carrying no lead. He will essentially only be wearing a 4 mil as compared to his normal setup.
Good point though. NAVMED82 do you normally wear a 3mil full or shorty and do you wear booties with it as well or not. I still say that 8-12 (probably leaning towards 10-10lb range is going to be about right if you are going from a 3 mil full with booties to a 7 mil full with booties. It will also matter though depending upon your current suit size that you wear also. My numbers are based on a large suit.
BabyDuck
Contributor
of course, it's hard for anyone to choose lead for anyone else, but i need 5 in my 3mil jacket and 8 if i add the 3mil john part and 3mil hood, so my personal experience wouldn't be for as big a jump in needs. i think it boils down to - pick a number and do a check and refine from there!
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