Weights: better one kg too much or one too little?

[chiara]

When I started diving in open water in April 2000 (151 dives ago) I used to go down with around 9 kgs (roughly 20 lbs if my very limited Imperial knowledge is correct) with a 7+7 mms wetsuit in freshwater.

Gradually I went down to around 6 in a wetsuit, 8 or 9 in a drysuit.

The instructor who taught me my DM course (I won't go over this again, not worth getting angry on a Saturday evening) always said "better one extra kg than one too little".

Today I went diving with two nice guys from the French FFESSM organization and they were basically telling me the opposite.

I tend to be on this second opinion's side and now I feel as though I could shed one kg extra (going down to 5 or even 4).

Any thoughts?

 

[exnewwavedivers]

If you could make a stop at 3-5 meters with a near empty tank and your BC bladder empty, then you have the right amount of work. Anything less is suicide.

 

[Nessie]

Hi,
I completely agree with newwavedivers.
But I have to admit when diving dry-suit I rather take a kilo more, so that I can inflate the dry-suit a bit more and stay warmer. (Hey, I´m a girl, I am allowed to be a whimp ;-))

 

[exnewwavedivers]

Girl and whimp... hehehe. Does that mean boys cannot afford to be whimps too???

 

[Bob3]

Seeing as how most folks are over weighted to begin with, I'd say go with a kilo less.
This is, of course, assuming you don't have your weight dialed in already.
:mean:

 

[kelpmermaid]

and I love that name, the more air you put into the drysuit, the more air you have to vent out on the ascent. That said, I think one reason divers may lean toward overweighting is not wanting to find out the hard way during ascent that they had too little.

 

[Nessie]

Hi,
@Kelpmermaid, yes, sure you have to vent out more air, but I am used to this and I am talking about a kilo more than neccessary.

@newwavediver, do you bother???ut: