How Much Weight?

[mpd525]

i just bought a used Bare Supra 7mm neo drysuit. So i'm curious to know about how much weight i will have to use with it. I talked to a guy that said i would probably have to use about 30lbs.

I wear 6 with a 3mm, and if i remember correctly i wore 15 with a Trilam drysuit, and underarmor cold gear as my undergarment, and i was a little under weighted.

So do you experts have a idea where i should start.

[Theepdinker]

What's your height and weight?
What type and size tank do you dive with?

Keep in mind you will get a range of answers based of other peoples requirements.
The only way to know for sure is to do a weight check
with the gear you will use.

Theep

[Gombessa]

Yep. It'll vary greatly depending on your body type, gear (BC or BP/W?), fresh v. salt water, undies, etc.

30lb total isn't uncommon in cold water environments, but there's not nearly enough information to even say if it's ballpark.

[snagel]

Just to give you an idea:

I'm 5' 11" 220 pounds. With a 7mm wetsuit I use 20-22 pounds. With a hooded vest, added I use 24 pounds. I just purchased a crushed neoprene drysuit and wearing about 26-28 pounds. I'm hoping to shed some of the weight as I get a little more comfortable with the suit.

BC, AL80 Tank, Fresh Water

S. Nagel

[WaScubaDude]

Originally Posted by mpd525

i just bought a used Bare Supra 7mm neo drysuit. So i'm curious to know about how much weight i will have to use with it. I talked to a guy that said i would probably have to use about 30lbs.

I wear 6 with a 3mm, and if i remember correctly i wore 15 with a Trilam drysuit, and underarmor cold gear as my undergarment, and i was a little under weighted.

So do you experts have a idea where i should start.

If its not crushed neoprenen, start with 36lbs, 6 of it in 1 lb sizes. Squeeze all the air out of the suit, Gear up, In about 10 feet of water, Do a bouyancy check, With a full tank you should sink slowly, with about 1/2 your lungs full.
If you sink like a rock, just take 1 lb off and try again, repeat as needed. When you are sure you will not sink like a rock, go have a fun dive. After the fun is over with a near empty tank and empty suit in 10 ft of water with DB near, repeat Bouancy check, take off weight till you have it dialed in.

Note: if you are new to drysuit diving, it could take several dives to really get the weight down to perfect.

[mpd525]

well, i'm 5'8", and about 165lbs, i dive in lakes here in good ol' oklahoma. It's not a crushed neo, and i think i'll try your idea scubadude, but i think i'll do it in a local pool. And as soon as i get the weight right, i'll go hit the lake.

Thanks guys.

[coldincanada]

i am 5'8 210
in a full two pc 7 mm bare suit i am talking 20-24

in salt water 5 lbs difference

[WaScubaDude]

Originally Posted by mpd525

well, i'm 5'8", and about 165lbs, i dive in lakes here in good ol' oklahoma. It's not a crushed neo, and i think i'll try your idea scubadude, but i think i'll do it in a local pool. And as soon as i get the weight right, i'll go hit the lake.

Thanks guys.

My Bad, If you are 5'8 165 and in fresh water, start with no more then 30 lb with 6 1lb ers.

Spend a little time at depth in the pool to get the air bubbles off the suit before you do the bouyancy test.

[SkuaSeptember]

I'd be inclined to go go to the lake and mess around in the shallows. Diving in 86 deg. water in full thermals, hood and gloves is pure misery.

[cummings66]

That's an understatement. I got so hot I felt sick when I did a pool dive to check things out. That goes into my permanent memory, it sucked!

You know the thing about drysuits and how much lead you need really depends on how shrink wrapped you like to be at the end of the dive at your safety stop.

I think if you hold a full breath on the surface and weight that way (use same as wetsuit procedures) that you'll be just heavy enough to use some air in the drysuit at the SS and you'll stay warmer. There's no need to get a rocket scientist involved for it, it is better to be heavy for a new drysuit diver than light.