AbyssalPlains
Contributor
This morning I followed Tobin's great advice to really get a handle on the buoyancy of my equipment and go from there to choose how much lift I need. I'm looking for a ss back plate for singles (probably a medium since I'm 5'8", 150 Lbs). Here is what I found out:
In cold water, I use either a full suit that is 14# positive or with an added hooded vest that is 9# positive (23# total). My booties and gloves are 2-3# positive. Accessories (cutting devices, lights etc.) add up to about 2# negative. My camera rig is close to 3# negative. My 19 cu ft pony bottle is 2# negative at 500psi, including the regulator. This list does not include my primary regulator, which is probably around 2# negative. Total: 17# positive.
In warm water, I use a 3mm full suit that is 4# positive and carry the same accessories, pony bottle and camera gear. Total: 5# negative.
Obviously, these numbers are all in freshwater.
Add to this 4 more pounds of lead to compensate for an Al 80 at 500psi, that would leave me with 21 pounds of lead in cold water, and 1 pound of lead in warm water. The former number is indeed what I dive in cold water, albeit in saltwater. Surprisingly, I should be close to neutral without any additional weight in my warm water setup, but I actually dove with 10 pounds and it seemed ok.
So, my guess is I would want a steel plate for cold water and a Kydex for warm water, right? Or, should I rather choose a Kydex with weight plates added in cold water?
My big question is this: Although the 26 Torus looks appealing to me, I wonder if the 30 LCD would be a better choice, given that I may go dry not too far in the future?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
In cold water, I use either a full suit that is 14# positive or with an added hooded vest that is 9# positive (23# total). My booties and gloves are 2-3# positive. Accessories (cutting devices, lights etc.) add up to about 2# negative. My camera rig is close to 3# negative. My 19 cu ft pony bottle is 2# negative at 500psi, including the regulator. This list does not include my primary regulator, which is probably around 2# negative. Total: 17# positive.
In warm water, I use a 3mm full suit that is 4# positive and carry the same accessories, pony bottle and camera gear. Total: 5# negative.
Obviously, these numbers are all in freshwater.
Add to this 4 more pounds of lead to compensate for an Al 80 at 500psi, that would leave me with 21 pounds of lead in cold water, and 1 pound of lead in warm water. The former number is indeed what I dive in cold water, albeit in saltwater. Surprisingly, I should be close to neutral without any additional weight in my warm water setup, but I actually dove with 10 pounds and it seemed ok.
So, my guess is I would want a steel plate for cold water and a Kydex for warm water, right? Or, should I rather choose a Kydex with weight plates added in cold water?
My big question is this: Although the 26 Torus looks appealing to me, I wonder if the 30 LCD would be a better choice, given that I may go dry not too far in the future?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.