Leg weights

over50diver · May 25, 2009

I'm wondering . . . I've just gotten some leg weights and I was wondering if anyone else has been using these. Because I'm a girl (at least I think that's the reason), my legs tend to float and I end up diving head down. My Zena BC is integrated and all my weight is distributed equally in my BC. Neutral bouyancy is not a problem if I don't mind being a bit inverted. With my leg weights, I'm level and have to carry less weight in my BC. And . . . if I dive in less than 35 feet of water, I need more weight. Does anybody else have this problem? Or is this just because I'm a girl? :-D

El Orans · May 25, 2009

A ScubaBoard Staff Message...
Moved to Basic Scuba Discussions.

DougieIL · May 25, 2009

My girlfriend (also a girl) uses leg (ankle actually) weights. Same issues you describe. She says if she doesn't use them she would be upside down the whole dive. I noticed on our recent trip that a couple of other women used ankle weights as well. For reference she is 5'7 about 125 pounds and uses 1.5 on each ankle. No BCD weight and 6 pounds on her belt.

Garrobo · May 25, 2009

That's strange. I'm just the opposite. As I remain stationery in the water my legs rotate downward. I suppose it's because the majority of my body fat is above my beltline. I've tried redistributing my weights but it has no effect.

ivobj · May 25, 2009

Are you diving Steel or AL tanks? If you use Steel tanks moving the tank down on the BC should correct or at least help a lot.

If your weight is distributed equaly on the BC, can't you do it unequaly? I mean, reduce the weight in the shoulders area and increase in the waist area?

elan · May 25, 2009

I used them but then I was advised by one of the SBoarders that it's the problem of a trim. I worked on my trim and now I dive in dry suit with HP100 steel tank moved up so I can reach valves w/o ankle weights and with all extra weight on my waist. I'm 6' so HP100 is located pretty high.
As a side effect of getting rid of the weights my legs are less tired now and I found maneuring in the water easier.

Try to move all your weight to the waist area on the belt or into the pockets.

This is what I used as an education video while working on the trim. I took my ankle weights of and no longer need them.

YouTube - Gaining Horizontal Trim

RJP · May 25, 2009

ivobj:
Are you diving Steel or AL tanks? If you use Steel tanks moving the tank down on the BC should correct or at least help a lot.

This advice is not limited to steel tanks only - will help even if diving AL tanks, as the net result is moving some of your weight closer to your midpoint.

dkktsunami · May 25, 2009

I would try heavier fins (Jets, Slipstreams, etc) before I added weights.

sglake · May 25, 2009

Well I'm a guy and a very good floater, but I use ankle weights in the colder months when I wear a 7mm suit because my legs also float! I have good trim and good buoyancy control....

Sas · May 25, 2009

Some of the things that can be used to combat floaty feet are:

-move weight to a welt belt from trim pockets
-move tank lower
-use heavier fins like jet fins
-do a weight test to make sure you are not overweighted

Failing that use ankle weights. I have tried all of the above (I have my tank low, I wear a weight belt, not overweighted, tank as low as possible and I have Jet Fins) and when I am doing a shallow dive (<20ft) I still need to use 500g on each ankle with my 7mm wetsuit. I don't have any floaty feet issues deeper than that so I don't wear them then.

In my drysuit I wear 1kg on each ankle on shallow dives and 500g on deeper dives. I have been told gaiters can help with floaty feet so I might try those and see if that helps.

Some people seem to think ankle weights are silly but I don't agree - if you need them, you need them.

Leg weights

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