Weight Issue

[CMOST]

I'm trying to see about how much weight I will need to dive. I really don't want to go out and over buy. I'm 225lbs and dive in salt water. Just trying to see what the norm is for someone my size.

[hooligan]

What kind of exposure protection are you wearing? Skin, 3mm, 5mm, 7mm, Dry, and what size? Do you dive with AL or Steel tanks? We will need a little more info before we can start making educated guesses.

[CMOST]

I dive in Florida salt water with just a swim suit at times or my shorty wet suit 2XL 3mm. I use an AL tank.

[SlvrDragon50]

I believe 3mm was 10% of weight.. but I don't know if thats for a full or shorty.

I'm guessing you are using a jacket or back inflated so 23+3 so 26 should be enough.

Wait for others to add their opinions though.

[csterling95]

18 lbs.

[BoomerNJ]

I dive a drysuit & last weekend it took me 26lbs to get down. I'm 250lbs & it was salt water (ocean). I had to use a AL100 (LDS was out of steels). Hope that helps...

[crgjpg]

I dont know you total situation. One thing that I took into consideration was that I have a back inflation and use weight in a trim pouches on the back. I bought soft weights in the smaller sizes 2, 3, and 4 pounds. This allows me to could make as many combinations of weight in my front pouches and my rear pouches depending on the use of my 2mm shorty, 3mm full suit and 7mm full suit.

[chinacat46]

It really depends on your body make up as well. Lean muscle is more negative then fat. So one person who weights 225lbs and has very little fat will use less weight then somebody who weights 225 lbs but is 45lbs overweight. You will need more in salt water then you would in fresh. Do you know how much you need in a pool? Also the more relaxed you are the easier it is to get down. New divers usually need more and can drop weight as they get more experience. I'd say start at 20 and do a buoyancy check. If you can float at eye level with no air in your BC while holding your breath you are probably about right.(no kicking!!)

[georoc01]

I'm with Chinacat. I'd start with 20 and see what I can do from there.

[sravin1]

155lb
3mm wetsuit
al 80
salt water
14 lbs of weight

this is my salt water weighting. hope this helps...