Need help with cold water BC decision.

[Jasper]

I need help to decide on a cold water BC.

I am 6’2 195 lbs.
7mm John and Jacket.
80 Aluminum single tank.
Cold fresh water.
Very cold, Canadian cold. Arctic Watershed cold.

The wife and I are in the middle of our open water course. I am a sinker, and she is not. If I exhale, I can sit on the bottom of the pool with no BC, tanks, or belt on.
The course requires us to have a belt with about 7 lbs of lead. With that on, the BC that has been provided to me does not seem to have enough lift. The older TUSA Liberator cannot get my chin out of the water when fully inflated.
The new Liberator Sigma is listed at 34 lbs of lift in size medium, I do not know what the actual lift of the older one is, but it is also a medium size, a little bit too small in my opinion.

In these pool sessions I only wear my fins, boots and swim trunks, as well as the BC, but no wetsuit.
I realize the wetsuit will add buoyancy, the more buoyancy, the more lead required. The more lead required, the more lift needed from the BC. From reading the forums I am starting to get the idea that cold-water divers in fresh water will need more lift than salt-water divers in a warmer climate.

My question is, does something like the Zeagle Brigade with the 35 lb bladder have enough lift for cold water diving?

I do not know how much lead I will need for an actual dive.
Renting and trying on BCs up here is out of the question. Dive shops are small and scarce.

[mitchy]

Originally Posted by Jasper

The wife and I are in the middle of our open water course. I am a sinker, and she is not. If I exhale, I can sit on the bottom of the pool with no BC, tanks, or belt on.

Geez, a sinker. Even more important for you to remember the golden rule of diving... keep breathing.

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by Jasper

I need help to decide on a cold water BC.

I am 6’2 195 lbs.
7mm John and Jacket.
80 Aluminum single tank.
Cold fresh water.
Very cold, Canadian cold. Arctic Watershed cold.

The wife and I are in the middle of our open water course. I am a sinker, and she is not. If I exhale, I can sit on the bottom of the pool with no BC, tanks, or belt on.
The course requires us to have a belt with about 7 lbs of lead. With that on, the BC that has been provided to me does not seem to have enough lift. The older TUSA Liberator cannot get my chin out of the water when fully inflated.
The new Liberator Sigma is listed at 34 lbs of lift in size medium, I do not know what the actual lift of the older one is, but it is also a medium size, a little bit too small in my opinion.

In these pool sessions I only wear my fins, boots and swim trunks, as well as the BC, but no wetsuit.
I realize the wetsuit will add buoyancy, the more buoyancy, the more lead required. The more lead required, the more lift needed from the BC. From reading the forums I am starting to get the idea that cold-water divers in fresh water will need more lift than salt-water divers in a warmer climate.

My question is, does something like the Zeagle Brigade with the 35 lb bladder have enough lift for cold water diving?

I do not know how much lead I will need for an actual dive.
Renting and trying on BCs up here is out of the question. Dive shops are small and scarce.

35# should be enough, I dove for a little bit (~25 dives) on an Oceanic Probe Lx, which run HUGE, worked well with drysuit and heavy undergarments, but way too big with 3mm, which had 40#. The 7mm wetsuit will require a decent amount of lead to sink it, the 7lbs may be offset and you may have to add some weight to make up for it.

As for freshwater vs salt, it's about 7-8 lbs different, with freshwater requiring less than salt.

[RoyN]

The Zeagle BC is just perfect for recreational diving! There is also the knighthawk, the excursion, the black diamond and many more! Also don't wanna make this a scubaboard type answer, but maybe a harness, bladder, and weight pouch could work too.

[Clanggedin]

How much air did you have in your tank when you had your chin barely out of the water in the Tusa BC? If it was a full tank then you might be OK with whatever the amount of lift that BC contains. Since you will be more positive at the end of the dive.

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by Clanggedin

How much air did you have in your tank when you had your chin barely out of the water in the Tusa BC? If it was a full tank then you might be OK with whatever the amount of lift that BC contains. Since you will be more positive at the end of the dive.

It's only a 5-6 lb swing, Probably wouldn't make a huge difference if it could barely get the OP out of the water before.

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by Jasper

The wife and I are in the middle of our open water course. I am a sinker, and she is not. If I exhale, I can sit on the bottom of the pool with no BC, tanks, or belt on.....

Your problem is having to much weight on your belt

Didn't they teach you how to figure out how much weight to use? You should be weighted such that you are neutral bouyent with 500 PSI in the tank and no air in the BC. You need enough lift to lift yur head up when resting at the surface with a full tank. 30 pounds should be enough. If you need more lift then yu are seriously over weighted

Many instructors like to over-weight their students. It makes their job easier if students are firmly mashed to the bottom and "stay put".

Are you really planning on diving wet in "arctic cold". I'd be looking for a dry suit. I know some people can tolerate diving down to 50F wet but there is always the danger of hypothermia if you are stuck in the water longer than expected and when you say "artic" I think "low 40s" or even less under ice.

[mark44883]

over weighted
bc will be fine

[jtkkym]

You can always call Larry and Joe.

[Scoobidoo]

I'm not sure why the course "requires" everyone to have a 7lbs weight belt!? To me, I think you only take what you need. If 7lbs lead overweights you from start to finish, there's no logic behind carrying more than what you needed.

As for cold water dives, most people get enough lift from <30lbs, so I'd say 35lbs is more than enough for most cold water conditions on a single tank. People use 40lbs wings for doubles, you see.

I agree with the Zeagle systems, they're modular, meaning you can change over the back inflated wing in different conditions - cold water and tropical. Another option is BP/W which has a backplate to take some weights off your waist.