Struggling with weighting issue

[brocnizer]

So next week I will be buying all my my dive equipment (below) and to round off the package I need some weights.

Now, when I was diving at the resorts, I was using 8-10 pounds in warm Caribbean water and that's really the only water I will be diving in.

So, knowing that the rental equipment is different, should I still assume to some degree that I will roughly need the same weight to purchase? I'm doing a 2 week dive trip late august in the keys and need my own weights since I will not be on a resort and even using my own boat. Being in NJ, it will be hard to "test" neutral buoyancy in tropical waters.

Here is the run down of the people:

Male: 5'10'' 158 pounds
Female: 5'5'' 138 pounds (man is she going to kill me if she sees this on here)

Equipment the same for both:
Zeagle Scout BCD
Oceanic Alpha 8 CDX5 regulator
Oceanic Alpha 8 Octo
Oceanic Veo 100 dive computer console

 

[whoji]

It will also depend upon your exposure suit and what size cylinder you are using.

 

[brocnizer]

We never wear suits as the water is always 78+. All I wear is board shorts ;-)

The tanks are going to probably be Aluminum 80 as usual

 

[herman]

First off, if your diving with any dive op in the keys they will supply weights and even if they don't you can rent them. I am about your size and dive a Scout. I dive no weights in fresh water and 4 to 6 in salt- no wetsuit and AL-80s. 8 to10 lbs with a 5mm wetsuit in saltwater. The Scout has little inherent bouyancy. If I had to guess your weight should be in the 4 to 8 lb and the lady slightly more, they float better than we do.

 

[spectrum]

If you need to pinpoint all of this in advance then get the gear and sort it out in a comfortable pond or pool.

To translate to salt water add a pound for every 40 pounds of dry diver weight (diver and ALL gear while dry) Probably 6 pounds for you and 5 for her.

Be sure to have some small weights in the mix. As you each get attuned with the new gear and dive frequently you will probably have the opportunity shed some in small increments.

Pete

 

[brocnizer]

It will also depend upon your exposure suit and what size cylinder you are using.

If the water is 78+ I just wear board shorts and can dive comfortable for 45 min. Anything beyond that is pushing it.

 

[brocnizer]

If you need to pinpoint all of this in advance then get the gear and sort it out in a comfortable pond or pool.

To translate to salt water add a pound for every 40 pounds of dry diver weight (diver and ALL gear while dry) Probably 6 pounds for you and 5 for her.

Be sure to have some small weights in the mix. As you each get attuned with the new gear and dive frequently you will probably have the opportunity shed some in small increments.

Pete

Thanks

I think I will buy 20 pounds total for the both of us then.

Maybe (4) four pounds and (4) one pound

 

[brocnizer]

I am about your size and dive a Scout.

Since you dive a Scout, would you recommend putting the weights in the BC or getting a weight belt?

 

[spectrum]

Anything that approaches "pushing it" is a bad deal. It will go downhill in a repetitive situation. I'd consider some sort of neoprene wetsuit. Besides who wants to end dives after :45?

 

[diver 85]

So next week I will be buying all my my dive equipment (below) and to round off the package I need some weights.

Now, when I was diving at the resorts, I was using 8-10 pounds in warm Caribbean water and that's really the only water I will be diving in.

So, knowing that the rental equipment is different, should I still assume to some degree that I will roughly need the same weight to purchase? I'm doing a 2 week dive trip late august in the keys and need my own weights since I will not be on a resort and even using my own boat. Being in NJ, it will be hard to "test" neutral buoyancy in tropical waters.

Here is the run down of the people:

Male: 5'10'' 158 pounds
Female: 5'5'' 138 pounds (man is she going to kill me if she sees this on here)

Equipment the same for both:
Zeagle Scout BCD
Oceanic Alpha 8 CDX5 regulator
Oceanic Alpha 8 Octo
Oceanic Veo 100 dive computer console

I use 9 #s in freshwater with an 80 Al tank on a Scout BC, 5 mm tall booties, 3 mm full Evo wetsuit, skins, a 2mm hooded vest(also 1 mm gloves)......My vitals are male, 5'10", 200 lbs(and old......lol)......