While you are in Coz, experiment with the weights in your Nighthawk. As I am sure you know, you have trim pockets by your shoulders. When I use mine, I find I am happiest with about as much weight in the shoulder pockets as in the regular weight pockets. You will find that the amount of weight you will use will be a compromise between the correct amount of weight you need (as determined by a weight check), the choices of weights in the boat, and your ability to distribute them.
For example, you should generally aim for the least weight you need to be able to hold your safety stop. If I am diving an aluminum 80 tank with a 3 mm wet suit, I like to have about 8 pounds total. If the boat has 2 pound weights available to me, I will put one in each of the four pockets.
What if the boat only has 3-pound weights and 4-pound weights on board? I could put 4-pound weights in each of the lower pockets, which is how most people dive. I have found, however, that I am much happier in that situation with 3-pound weights in all 4 pockets instead, for a total of 12 pounds. In fact, I was recently in a situation in which I had no choice but to use 2 5-pound weights in the lower pockets. It felt pretty good because it was close to my ideal weight, but when I dived with 4 3-pound weights the next day, I liked it even better.
Pay attention to your weighting as you dive and experiment with it from dive to dive. You and I are not the same person, and what works best for you may or may not be the same as what works for me. By the end of the week you should find that you are liking your Nighthawk more and more.
