Weighting

[davidclangley]

Hi There

Is there a rule of thumb that can determine how much weight a diver may need ?

[jiveturkey]

Yes but it doesn't work. Some people say 10% of your body weight but this is almost always wrong. It doesnt' factor in what size suit you're wearing either.

You've gotta get wet to know for sure. Do a search. You'll easily be able to find out how to do it.

[jiveturkey]

Try this one: Weighting

[Warren_L]

You can also use this as a rough guideline to get you started: Buoyancy Calculator

Of course, you will have to fine tune this.

[freedive]

Yeah, the 10% rule for me was way off. I'm 6'1" 225Lbs and 22 Lbs to get under would have sunk me like a rock. I'm currently using 10 Lbs with a 3mil shortie and AL80.
Hope this helps a bit but like jiveturkey said "you've gotta get wet to find out for sure"

[erubic]

There are so many factors to consider. me on the other had unlike freedive use 16lbs of weight and i weigh about 215. I am 5'10 use a 3mm suit, salt water, and al8o. my problem is that i am chubby. lol - more like fat. so you see that everyone is different and I by all means I have less experience than the rest of these guys. i just know what works good for me. I did the 15' with 500psi thing to get a good estimate. I may be a little heavy but i know that i am close enough for right now. This will be something that we both will master with time.

[Brian1968]

The 10% rule + + + rule doesn't work for me either. Though my weighting could probably use some fine tuning it still wouldn't come close.

Before getting back in to the water again after a hiatus I did a pool session and with my 1.5 mil full length suit, and an AL 80 and 12 lbs of lead I was too heavy. That for my 150 lbs. At 10 lbs of lead I was pretty good in the pool. Back in went the 2 lbs for the salt water and there I was even better weighted. So 12 lbs where the guidelines say I should be starting at about 15.

[donacheson]

Brian1968 once bubbled...
The 10% rule + + + rule doesn't work for me either. Though my weighting could probably use some fine tuning it still wouldn't come close.

Before getting back in to the water again after a hiatus I did a pool session and with my 1.5 mil full length suit, and an AL 80 and 12 lbs of lead I was too heavy. That for my 150 lbs. At 10 lbs of lead I was pretty good in the pool. Back in went the 2 lbs for the salt water and there I was even better weighted. So 12 lbs where the guidelines say I should be starting at about 15.

If you were adequately weighted in salt water with 12 pounds, I'll bet that you were overweighted in fresh water with 10 pounds.

If you weigh 150 pounds, adding an Al80, reg, fins, and 10 pounds of lead puts your total weight over 200. 2.5 to 3% of that is 5-6 pounds - what you should have added if you were minimally weighted in fresh water.

Minimal weight? Neutral just beneath the surface with an empty BC and less than 500 psi in your tank.

[divingvenice]

I am a new diver and tried the 10% rule and I found I was actually underweighted. I am 6'4", 240 lbs, wore a 3.5mm shorty on my last beach dive in salt water, had 20 lbs of weight and my parther had to clip an extra 3 lbs on my belt. I have read the posts and have noted that people around my same height and weight are using way less weight than I am, why is that. Oh an AL80 tank as well.

[falcos]

I've noticed that the more fat content you have, the more weight you'll need. Those with lean bodies w/solid muscle (that's important, the muscle mass) wind up using less weight.

This is just my opinion - can anyone attend to this? I'm curious now...