im_a_piranha
Registered
Hi Everyone I am new to this sport (just got OW certified) and I already love it, even if my buoyancy sucks...but I'll keep practicing for sure..I love these forums, they are so very helpful and I know I can get some pretty good advice here :blinking:
So here goes my question. I'm a girl, 5'4", 122lbs. I would say that I'm faily athletic but of course still has a normal girl's physique (chest, hips...whatever you call them). Anyway, I've done 5 dives so far and I know I've been overweighted in every single one of them and when I cut down on the weight, I cannot sink! Here's the details, maybe you can help me. Oh, and before I forget, I dove in Catalina California (Cold!).
Dive 1 & 2: I had 26 lbs. I was soooo tired and it seemed like I had to fully inflate my bc for me to be able to start swimming. So heavy I wore a 7mm full suit with a 5mm vest and hood and booties. I had a steel tank.
For the following dives, I had an aluminum tank.
Dive 3: I tried going with 20lbs at first but I couldn't sink. Was wearing the same 7mm full suit with 5mm vest and my booties. I was also wearing ankle weights because I had trouble with my fins floating up on my previous dives. I couldn't sink at all with the 20lbs in my quick release so the instructor had to give me 5lbs more. I was able to go down, but I know I was too heavy again because I feel like I drag myself when I start swimming.
Dive 4: Same as above, but with 24lbs instead.
Dive 5: I was really tired of all the weight! My instructor told me to try and go with 20lbs. This time I didn't wear my vest and hood (so I should be less buoyant, right?) but still had my ankle weights (about 2-4 lbs each) and was able to descend with no problem. I was so happy that my swimming was better because of the lesser weight I wore. My problem now is that I didn't wear my vest and hood so I got a little cold.
Can you guys please give me some advice on this dilemma? It's really hard for me to sink and to carry 20+lbs with my 122lb frame. I'd like to keep wearing my 7mm fullsuit and my vest and hood as well as I don't want to be cold. Please help me get properly weighted Advise please!
Thank you
So here goes my question. I'm a girl, 5'4", 122lbs. I would say that I'm faily athletic but of course still has a normal girl's physique (chest, hips...whatever you call them). Anyway, I've done 5 dives so far and I know I've been overweighted in every single one of them and when I cut down on the weight, I cannot sink! Here's the details, maybe you can help me. Oh, and before I forget, I dove in Catalina California (Cold!).
Dive 1 & 2: I had 26 lbs. I was soooo tired and it seemed like I had to fully inflate my bc for me to be able to start swimming. So heavy I wore a 7mm full suit with a 5mm vest and hood and booties. I had a steel tank.
For the following dives, I had an aluminum tank.
Dive 3: I tried going with 20lbs at first but I couldn't sink. Was wearing the same 7mm full suit with 5mm vest and my booties. I was also wearing ankle weights because I had trouble with my fins floating up on my previous dives. I couldn't sink at all with the 20lbs in my quick release so the instructor had to give me 5lbs more. I was able to go down, but I know I was too heavy again because I feel like I drag myself when I start swimming.
Dive 4: Same as above, but with 24lbs instead.
Dive 5: I was really tired of all the weight! My instructor told me to try and go with 20lbs. This time I didn't wear my vest and hood (so I should be less buoyant, right?) but still had my ankle weights (about 2-4 lbs each) and was able to descend with no problem. I was so happy that my swimming was better because of the lesser weight I wore. My problem now is that I didn't wear my vest and hood so I got a little cold.
Can you guys please give me some advice on this dilemma? It's really hard for me to sink and to carry 20+lbs with my 122lb frame. I'd like to keep wearing my 7mm fullsuit and my vest and hood as well as I don't want to be cold. Please help me get properly weighted Advise please!
Thank you