Newbie Weight Question

[Booyakasha]

In a pool I recently dove with a friend who is an instructor to check out a new back inflate BC. We spent a lot of time trying to get my weight down perfectly. I am 5'8" 190 33 in waist. standard steel tank, 3mm shortie. After many tries I felt most comfortable with 4lbs of lead. I could hover for as long as I needed in any postion that I wanted, fin pivot easily. I almost felt like I could use even less weight because at the beginning of the dive I went with no lead and was still very comfortable but as the dive progressed I felt better with 4lbs when the tank got under 1000. My questions is does this seem right? It seems light to what other people around my size use.

B.

 

[muddiver]

In fresh water with a steel cylinder and that little exposure protection, 4 to 6 lbs is about right.

Be aware that when you go to the open ocean and you add more neoprene by wearing a full suit, you will ned more weight to compansate for the added buoyancy of the suit and the salt water.

 

[Teller]

I would agree with muddiver. I can dive in a shorty with an AL80 and only use a few pounds so with a steel tank I would say you dont need too much wieght.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

you will need about 4 lbs more in saltwater

 

[The Kraken]

Never compare what you need as weight when diving to others. You are only unto yourself.

Properly weighted, you should be just very slightly negatively buoyant at 15' with a tank that still has approximately 500 psi of gas remaining.

the K