Negative without any weight belt...

[cybordolphin]

I am negative with a 7mm semidry, HP120, SS BP, SS STA.

Figured I would need around 4-6lbs. on a weight belt..... but turns out I sink without any weight.

Hmmmmmmm.... Should I worry about it..... or not.... as long as I can swim it up?

[tombiowami]

Is that at the beginning of the dive or at the end with a couple hundred psi left?

Tommy

[Rick Murchison]

You may indeed have a problem once your semi-dry compresses at depth. Recommend a simple test - from 100' or so, dump your BC entirely (simulated BC failure) and swim it up. Then you'll know whether to rush out and buy that fancy new drysuit!
Do carry a lift bag as a back-up to you BC as a routine matter.
Rick

[cybordolphin]

That is with approx. 1800lbs. in the steel HP120 tank.

Wondering what I should alter first. My BP, remove STA and go cam strap only, use an AL tank, or?

Lol.. and I already ran out and bought that drysuit......

[Cave Diver]

I have the same problem. I ran a bouyancy check on my last dive. At 15' in freshwater with no wetsuit, no weights and 500 psi left in an aluminum tank I had no problem holding a horizontal safety stop for 3 minutes. After I surfaced, I decided to see just how bouyant I was. With 420 psi remaining in tank, I let all air out of wings and I drifted down to 20' with no effort. Even when diving a 3 mil wetsuit I rarely need more than about 4lbs even in salt water.

[cybordolphin]

Wonder if I should try using a lighter BP (mine is currently 9 lbs.) or make a change to my rig so that I need/can use some ditchable weight?

What would you switch out first? I was thinking of trying out an AL tank also... but really like my new steel.

[Padipro]

Why not switch to an aluminum BP instead of the SS. That's a few pounds less to start with. I'm diving with an aluminum BP, double AL 90's and a 5 mil semi-dry, of course this is in South Florida waters, and don't have a lot of extra weight near the end of the dive. I'm a little heavy at the begining, but that I can live with.

Scott