Weight used with single AL80 and 3mm wetsuit

JohnCollins · Aug 10, 2003

How much weight do you use (in saltwater) with a 3mm full wetsuit and a single AL80? In your post, put your height and weight, and amount weight used if you're not shy about that.

Folks have always thought I use a lot of weight and I'm wondering if it's my body density or what. I'm 6'0" tall and 205 pounds (male) and use 18 lbs. with my new wetsuit, although I need another dive to fine tune this.

JPC

Lonely Boy · Aug 10, 2003

I am 192lb and 5'9" tall. I am using 12lb weight.

jbd · Aug 10, 2003

I wore 16 lbs in the gear you specified. I felt a little bit heavy. Next trip I'll try 14 lbs. I'm 6'0" and my weight ranges between 260 and 265.

devilfish · Aug 10, 2003

With an AL80 and 3mm suit in warm water I use "zero" weight.

crispos · Aug 10, 2003

Your new suit (steamer?) has more buoyancy than an older one which has been compressed alot. Also BCD size, fins, etc will impact buoyancy.

I needed 16 lbs with my Zeagle which has 65 lbs lift (I call it my floating sofa). That is with a shortie 3mm. I am 6 feet and was 240 lbs that trip.

I think you use whatever weight keeps you properly weighted on your buoyancy check and don't get worried about what other people think.

JohnCollins · Aug 10, 2003

It's just that so many folks get wide eyes :wacko: when I mention my weight. But I dove a lot years ago with a 2mm suit and I was a little slimmer then and I used 13 lbs then. A brand new, thicker (and larger) suit and a little bit of middle-aged spread could easily account for the extra lbs needed. And years ago, we didn't do safety stops on non-deco dives, so this neutral check at 20 ft. with 500 lbs wasn't being widely taught.

I guess I'm OK and, like most things in life this poll is probably going to trace a bell curve when it's done. So I'm in the right tail of the distribution. No worries.

sharpenu · Aug 10, 2003

I am neutral in freshwater and weigh 220 lbs

An AL80 is about +4 lbs when empty
A 3mm full is about +4 lbs
Saltwater adds 2 1/2% of body weight (or about 5 lbs)

That means I dive with about 13 lbs, in those conditions

However, I now dive with steel 120's, which are -1 lb when empty, which gives me 8 lbs with a 3mm in saltwater.

WaterDawg · Aug 10, 2003

Im 5'8" 215lbs wear a 3 mil and an AL80 and I wear 12lbs, in a BP/Harness, w/ my old Zeage I wouold wear 16lbs.

unless you have a lot of fat on your body you really shouldnt need that much weight IMO.

Have you tried doing a weight ck at the end of your dive???

Im sure you've heard of it before: 500psi in tank, no air in BC, try to hover at 15ft. If you find that you have to put a good amount of air to hover then you are more than likely carrying too much lead.

Good luck.

divemed06 · Aug 10, 2003

I'm 6'11 and 380lbs. I use 8lbs with a 3mm in freshwater.

cyklon_300 · Aug 10, 2003

Single Al 80 (fresh) - 0 lbs

Single Al 80 (salt) - 6 lbs

Double Al 80s (fresh) - 0 lbs

I'm 6', 170 lbs.

Weight used with single AL80 and 3mm wetsuit

How much weight do you usew/AL80 and 3mm wetsuit?

1-3 lbs.

4-6 lbs.

7-9 lbs.

10-12 lbs.

13-15 lbs.

16-18 lbs

19-21 lbs.

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