Weighting When Moving from AL80’s to LP85

[SavDiver]

That's entirely a matter of opinion. I routinely dive a Worthington LP108 with a wetsuit or just a skin and I LOVE it. In fact, my profile photo is me in a skin only with the lp108 (first Key Largo trip after I was certified).

Just make sure you have enough wing lift to handle the tank. I haven't looked up the characteristics of the smaller lp85 but I have to believe it's more buoyant than the 108.

This forum section is specifically for side mount diving. I own 2 hp100 and 2 lp85 that I dive with single tank backmount which is very rare. The reasoning why I said get a drysuit before diving steel is because, with a person of low body fat and diving with 2 steel tanks, it would severely overweight the diver to a very unsafe position. Sorry if that confused it, I was specifically talking about sidemount with steels.

 

[kelemvor]

This forum section is specifically for side mount diving. I own 2 hp100 and 2 lp85 that I dive with single tank backmount which is very rare. The reasoning why I said get a drysuit before diving steel is because, with a person of low body fat and diving with 2 steel tanks, it would severely overweight the diver to a very unsafe position. Sorry if that confused it, I was specifically talking about sidemount with steels.

Ah, I hadn't noticed. I also dive the steel 108's in sidemount, but I use a drysuit which gives me redundant lift in that configuration.

 

[SavDiver]

Ah, I hadn't noticed. I also dive the steel 108's in sidemount, but I use a drysuit which gives me redundant lift in that configuration.

All good mate, yeah the only way I can dive my steel 85 safely is via drysuit.

 

[jr511]

Drysuit training in April! Can’t wait. Thanks for the responses. Diving aluminum till I get my drysuit and the training for it!

 

[kelemvor]

Drysuit training in April! Can’t wait. Thanks for the responses. Diving aluminum till I get my drysuit and the training for it!

Welcome to year round diving!

 

[janbalster]

I have found that I can use no lead with 2 AL80s and a razor harness in fresh water, but that's with a 3 mil suit and a well-used 2 mil hooded vest. That's also with a sizable canister light, 3 back up lights, and the assorted crap that we bring with us. I just would think that a 7 mil suit would be much more buoyant. But, obviously you've tested it out and it works for you, so that's great. You will definitely be negative in steel tanks, there's nothing you can do other than wear more neoprene.

In Mexican caves we adjust weight for freshwater because by the time you hit the halocline, you're deep enough for some suit compression. Still, I tend to 'bounce' off the halocline in sidemount a bit if I'm not prepared. For some reason this is more noticeable in sidemount than backmount.

Haha, I’ve had the same experience of ‘bouncing’ off of my the halocline at The Pit in Tulum, MX. Pretty wild!

 

[DogDiver]

Live here in cave country. Been cave diving sidemount for 23 years. I have never had to use any kind of additional weight when diving wet or dry using steel 80’s, 85’s, 95’s, 104’s or 120’s. However when I used to dive wet, I used a dual bladder Nomad. And yes I have punctured an air cell once and had to use the redundant backup air cell to safely exit.