Wetsuit - weighting advice, please???

[hogen-deifar]

Help!!

Don't need an exact figure, just a "guide", please?

In a week or so, I'm off to the pool to re-establish my passion with diving. The first few pool dives are going to be just sitting at the bottom of the deep end and breathing underwater, with the odd little bimble and look around at the "learners".

I've only ever dived in a dry suit. Never a wet suit. Because all I'm doing is sitting on the bottom, I want to do this "wet". Also, I have a diving holiday planned in September that will be wet suit diving, so would like to have some experience of wet suit diving!

When doing fresh water diving, fairly shallow (max 15m), in my dry suit and Weezle, I tend to have about 10kg of weight.

What will I need for a 7mm long wet suit in a 2 metre pool? (I know I'll need to do a proper weight check, but just wanted a figure to start off with).

Any advice would be appreciated.

Signed

A Fickie Suvverner!

P.S. I've just eaten my first Creme Egg of the season!

[SilvaFish]

Are you diving with the same setup?

7mm? At least you'll be warm!

Am thinking 3 k's for a start and winding up taking some off!

If it's any help, I go from 9.5k's to 1 k from drysuit to 3mm shortie and sink like a stone...

[Daz217]

6Kg should be about right possibly less but i'd start with 6Kg and go from there. I use 8Kg in fresh water in 10MM semi dry (Oceanic 5 +5) and that is spot on for me. I add 2Kg for the sea again spot on. I am a fairly big guy though so you might even get away with less than 6Kg in the pool/fresh water but it's a good a place to start as any. Have fun

[hogen-deifar]

Originally Posted by SilvaFish

Are you diving with the same setup?

7mm? At least you'll be warm!

Am thinking 3 k's for a start and winding up taking some off!

If it's any help, I go from 9.5k's to 1 k from drysuit to 3mm shortie and sink like a stone...

I won't be as warm as I would be if I were wearing my drysuit and Weezle in the pool! I may just get a 5mm shortie from the school. It is purely for the benefit of breathing underwater again and getting comfortable doing that, before I crack on with the whole skills practicing.

Originally Posted by Daz217

6Kg should be about right possibly less but i'd start with 6Kg and go from there. I use 8Kg in fresh water in 10MM semi dry (Oceanic 5 +5) and that is spot on for me. I add 2Kg for the sea again spot on. I am a fairly big guy though so you might even get away with less than 6Kg in the pool/fresh water but it's a good a place to start as any. Have fun

I'll pick a figure somewhere between yours and Lou's and take it from there!

Thanks!

[Scubee]

Depending on how warm the pool is, you may not need anything except a t-shirt.

That is what most of our students wear. For a one hour evening pool session, none of them get cold (or at least, they don't complain!).

[hogen-deifar]

Originally Posted by Scubee

Depending on how warm the pool is, you may not need anything except a t-shirt.

That is what most of our students wear. For a one hour evening pool session, none of them get cold (or at least, they don't complain!).

That didn't occur to me. Though I feel me in just a T-shirt could cause most to bring up their dinner, so I'll wear a swimsuit under the T-shirt.

What weight would I need for that, please?

[Scubee]

Originally Posted by hogen-deifar

That didn't occur to me. Though I feel me in just a T-shirt could cause most to bring up their dinner, so I'll wear a swimsuit under the T-shirt.

What weight would I need for that, please?

Either nothing or 2kg. I have very rarely had to put anything more than that on a student wearing just a swimsuit & t shirt.

[Mal Bridgeman]

The biggest influence is likely to be the cylinder you are using .... if a steel 12l then hardly any weight in a T shirt .... but if you are using aluminium then a little more....then it's down to whether the cylinder is full or not.

I would advise popping in a couple of 1kgs .... especially initially if you think you might be feeling a little apprehensive. When you have chilled out and relaxed then do a proper weight check and take it from there.

Remember to breathe out

Hope it goes well.

Mal

[hogen-deifar]

Originally Posted by Scubee

Either nothing or 2kg. I have very rarely had to put anything more than that on a student wearing just a swimsuit & t shirt.

I'll make sure I've a few Kgs in my bag! Ta!

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

The biggest influence is likely to be the cylinder you are using .... if a steel 12l then hardly any weight in a T shirt .... but if you are using aluminium then a little more....then it's down to whether the cylinder is full or not.

I would advise popping in a couple of 1kgs .... especially initially if you think you might be feeling a little apprehensive. When you have chilled out and relaxed then do a proper weight check and take it from there.

Remember to breathe out

Hope it goes well.

Mal

Calling ShinyD!!! What type of cylinder do I own????? Cos that's dependent on the answer! Mal says so!

Thanks Mal. I was trying to avoid having to wear a weight belt. The whole point is to just get back under the water in a safe environment and have no pressures. To pootle about and feel no constrictions, something a weight belt can do. Then I remembered my lovely new divaLX has weight pockets on the straps that hold the cylinder so it'd be easy to pop a kilo or two into there, save me having to muck about with a belt!

I'll do my best to remember to breath out! What about breathing in though? Is that allowed????

I'm actually very excited about getting in the water again, and then building up the dives so that by Easter I'm ready for Chesil and Swanage! I don't want to be shore support this year. I want to be there with them all! And now I've got ALL new kit, including regs (thanks Dave!!!) I want to dive. But am starting slow. I just need to get rid of this bronchitis. 6 weeks now, two lots of antibiotics and an inhaler, and it's still lingering!!!! Grrrr!

[Scubee]

Originally Posted by hogen-deifar

Calling ShinyD!!! What type of cylinder do I own????? Cos that's dependent on the answer! Mal says so!

Julie - does it have a boot on it? If so, it is probably steel.
If not, if it has a flat bottom, it is probably aluminium, and if it has a curved bottom, it is probably steel.

Alternatively, get a magnet. If it sticks, you have a steel one