Going dry for the first time

[Diesel_Diver]

Just purchased my first dry suit , 4 mm compressed neoprene. I am fairly buoyant, I currently dive with roughly 48 lbs with an AL80 and a two piece 7mm farmer John (50f water) . Any ideas how much lead to add to start out with? Thinking 4-6 lbs does that sound about right?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

48# is a lot of lead to carry. When I switched from a two piece wetsuit with a hooded vest I used less weight with the drysuit.

 

[decompression]

Ill side on the “yep, 48 pounds” is a lot of weight but I use 40 quite often (I’m 6’3” and 280 lbs).

I would do a bouyancy check with 48#s........and see. Ensure that it’s a proper weight check, no finning, big exhale/deflate. Ensure all the air is out of the suit. I’m hopping you can drop some weight. I’ve dove the bay of fundy and it’s cold so I understand.

 

[Outbound]

Wow, my back and knees are aching just thinking about adding even more weight to 48 lbs of lead you already carry!

Every person is different based on their muscle mass, bone density, gear, type of water they dive, etc., but for what it's worth I am 5'10" and weigh 160 lbs. and use 16 lbs. of lead with a 4mm compressed neoprene drysuit in 50 degree F fresh water with an AL80. I can probably whittle that down to 14 lbs. since I sink a little on the safety stop if I don't keep a bit of air in my suit or if I exhale too deeply (past a normal exhalation, that is).

 

[broncobowsher]

4mm is thinner then 7-14mm, but you now have an air space. I would start with the original weighting, 48 Lbs. Just changing undergarments can make for 15LB change with my drysuit.

 

[KevinNM]

Could be more, could be less. Undergarments change it. Pretty much gonna have to get in the water and see.

Are you using a weight harness with that much? If not you might want to think about one. I've also heard of (but never seen) extra thick backplates for divers who need a lot of weight.

 

[pconsidine]

that is why I hate 2 piece farmer John suits-if it is 7 mm suit is actually 14 mm so that is why if toy switch to a one piece 7 mm you would drop at least 15 lbs. of lead. Don't ask people how much lead - do a weight check at surface as per your Open Water training- hold breathe while letting air out of bcd-should float below eye level, then you are perfectly weighted , you should do this anytime you switch gear.

 

[Diesel_Diver]

Could be more, could be less. Undergarments change it. Pretty much gonna have to get in the water and see.

Are you using a weight harness with that much? If not you might want to think about one. I've also heard of (but never seen) extra thick backplates for divers who need a lot of weight.

Use to use a harness with a rental bcd, I have mine set up so I can get it all in my bcd now with the addition of two trim pockets on the tank band.

 

[Diesel_Diver]

Ok maybe I should have worded it differently. Yes I know there are no simple answers in scuba (lol) . Yes I will need to do a weight check. But I figured since my lead is dialed in pretty good , and it’s an hour and a half drive to the beach, an idea of how much extra lead to bring with me. Hate to get there and not have enough .

 

[decompression]

Really shouldn’t need too much, I really, really, really hope you can drop some as opposed to adding. So, bring 10 lbs in 2lb blocks, if you need 58 lbs of lead I will fly out there and do everything I can to get you down to 30-35.......

Most of my students drop about 10-12 lbs after doing a course with me.