Weight Question

[clay357]

I will be diving in the Caymans and Cozumel. I have done dives in a 7mil in fresh water and in a 3/2 in salt water. My question is what about diving in a dive skin? How do i figure the weight needed, or do I still need 10% of my body weight?

 

[BrianKon]

Just do a buoyancy check at the surface on your first dive.

It is the one thing you were taught in certification, whenever you change gear, exposure protection, carrying a camera, a light, etc any new situation requires a buoyancy check. after that your golden and wont need to do another one unless you change something.

yes start with 10% and adjust up or down.

good diving to you!

brian
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[Insta-Gator]

When I dive Cayman with only a skin, I used 6 pounds to account for BCD buoyancy and change in tank buoyancy. I'd start there for your buoyancy check. 10% with a skin (no buoyancy) would be too much.

 

[lavachickie]

Only way to know for sure is to do a checkout dive when you arrive. Seriously -- gear and people vary so much, and while everyone can give you estimates, it boils down to this: you'll have to try it and find out.

 

[Firefyter]

10% with a skin (no buoyancy) would be too much.

10% will be waaaayyy too much. I'd do a weight check first, but start with about half of what you used with the 3/2 setup in saltwater.

 

[herman]

You will have to do a buoyancy check but 10% is way too much, 2.5 to 3% is a lot closer. At 163 I use 4-5 lbs in salt water with a skin, no bouyancy in my BC and AL80 tanks, at 10% I would be diving 16-17 lbs.....and planted firmly on the bottom...

 

[Charlie99]

Your starting point should be your saltwater weighting with the 3/2.

The 3/2 has a few pounds of buoyancy. The skin has near zero. The difference is how much lead you can remove.

I'd simply start with 2 pounds down from your 3/2 saltwater weighting, and do a more precise weight check at the end of your dive. Or just drop a pound after each dive. It is much more of a problem to be underweighted than overweighted by a few pounds.

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My real suggestion, though, is to just go ahead and wear the 3/2. I've never heard of a diver complaining about being too warm at the end of a dive.

 

[lavachickie]

My real suggestion, though, is to just go ahead and wear the 3/2. I've never heard of a diver complaining about being too warm at the end of a dive.

Very good suggestion. Even in warm water, when doing multiple days of long multiple dives, you'll feel it.

 

[shmuggy]

I agree with the others that 10% is way too much in a skin- I did some calculations on what my buddy and I used and it came to 7%- but I would also add a little- 2 pounds- because you can always compensate for that on your first dive and then remove the excess for the next dive.

Also, if you are having problems descending- add some right away at the back of the boat. Divemasters are used to this sort of thing and it is not a problem for them.

 

[DivingWilly]

I wear 16lbs of weight in a 4/3, and then back it off to 12lbs if I'm wearing just board shorts or a spring suit.