Guessing weights for warm water diving

[Biodiversity_guy]

My wife and I are new divers up here in the PNW. We dive with thick wetsuits or drysuits and carry a lot of weight as a result.

We are going to Bonaire for a couple of weeks of diving. We will be in 3/2mm wetsuits, diving AL 80 (Buddy Dive) tanks.

I know the best answer is to do a bouyancy test once we are there (and we will), but for educational, planning and discussion purposes:

About how much weight will an average sized male (5'7", 155) need for warm water diving in 3/2mm suit and AL 80 tanks? 5 lbs for the wetsuit and 5 for the AL tank at 500 psi? More?

Thanks in advance.

 

[friscuba]

My wife and I are new divers up here in the PNW. We dive with thick wetsuits or drysuits and carry a lot of weight as a result.

We are going to Bonaire for a couple of weeks of diving. We will be in 3/2mm wetsuits, diving AL 80 (Buddy Dive) tanks.

I know the best answer is to do a bouyancy test once we are there (and we will), but for educational, planning and discussion purposes:

About how much weight will an average sized male (5'7", 155) need for warm water diving in 3/2mm suit and AL 80 tanks? 5 lbs for the wetsuit and 5 for the AL tank at 500 psi? More?

Thanks in advance.

Seeing as you are a new diver, if you don't have time for a buoyancy test I'd start at 12 pounds and work down from there. 10 may be enough, but 2-3 pounds heavy beats the heck out of a half pound light.

At 155, once you become more experienced you probably will end up in the 7-10 pound range, but it may take some time.

 

[Charlie59]

Well, since you are going to Bonaire you will have to start your trip with a government required bouyancy check and dive. The 10 to 12 lb range sounds like a good start, but talk to the DM at the shop.

Have a good time.

 

[Lost_At_Sea]

I would also say 10-12lbs. and work down.

 

[dannobee]

Yeah, 10-12 lbs sounds about right.

The PADI AOW handbook suggests 5% of bodyweight for a 3mm suit for a person with average build in salt water. I'd add a couple of pounds to that just to be safe.

 

[Tollie]

If the dive trip is soon the water temperature will be in the mid 80's. For a guy of average build why dont you ditch the 3/2 and get a skin of a .5 mil and go with 8 lbs or 10 tops?

Sounds good huh.

 

[SparticleBrane]

What are "buddy dive" tanks?

Personally in a 3mm full wetsuit, Al80, and my bp/w setup I don't wear a weight belt. My backplate is just under 6 lbs of stainless steel though.
I'm 5'10 and 200lbs and have absolutely no problems dropping down.

 

[DeputyDan]

Buddy Dive is the name of a dive resort - not a type of tank.

I weigh 200 lbs - dive with a 3mm and use 12 lbs with an Al 80 tank. (in Bonaire)

At 155 lbs I agree with the above - start at ten pounds and work your way down.

 

[Scuba St3ve]

Im 5'5 145Lbs and I use 10 lbs, so id go with 11 or 12 if I was you.
or 5% of your body weight +2 LBS

 

[Biodiversity_guy]

thanks for the great discussion. I have a DSS bp/w. Just trying to figure how much might be needed on a weight belt, once the ss bp gets factored in (4.7-). Have an 8.1 set of bp weights, for a total of 12.8 lbs, if I wanted to lug them in the check-on luggage.

Seems like the best answer is to leave the extra bp weight at home and do a bouyancy test the first tank or 2, expecting to have 4-8 lbs on the weight belt.

Why 3/2? Hoping to do 3-5 dives/day for ~12 of 15 days <grins> in Bonaire. Just trying to keep the core temp up over time. Will bring along the drysuit hood, just in case.

Thanks again for the responses!