7 mm weight

[phillip1]

I have a really dumb question. I have always dived here in a 5mm wetsuit, however I also keep getting cold on longer dives so I bought a 7mm. Now with the 5mm I had two 3lb chest weights and that was it with AL80's all was well.
With the 7mm I have to add 10lbs to be neutral with 70bars in AL 80's. Since the 7mm floats waaaay more in the legs now, I have two 2lbs chest weights, 2 3lbs on the waist belt and a 4 pounder on the butt strap just below the buttplate. It seems to work good but it also seems like there might be a better way for the additional weight.:arrowgreen
any suggestions?

Thanks

[Diverlee]

I use double ST LP 85's and need NO wt.
Maybe try wt on your tanks?
I am using the Nomad.
BUT this is with a dry suit. Tomorrow I am diving wet in a 7mm. Will let you know.....

[phillip1]

Unfortunately I can only get AL80's here. I also want to avoid weight on the tanks as we dive many caves were we have to carry tanks down dry caves for a while. I have never used a 7mm before and I am surprised at how much difference in buoyancy there is, but I will never be cold again!!

[FW]

I dive sumps in a 7mm wetsuit. I wear a varity of tanks, but I usually just wear a weightbelt. It is much easier to carry through the "dry" part of the cave.

[Brian Kakuk]

Looking at your avatar I am assuming you are side mounting, sump diving. I think you can get rid of the harness mounted weights all together. I use two, 3 lb. weights laced into the cam straps at the bottom of the cylinders for Alum. 80's. This changes the weight of the cylinder similar to that of a steel 85.

I use a 7mm suit with a 3mm hooded vest and that is all the weight I need with two alum. 80's in salt water so you should be fine in fresh. One thing I occasionally do for students is to place a set of ankle weights inside the bladder compartment right behind the neck. The ankle weights lay flat and you wont feel them behind your neck and they add weight forward which will help keep your feet up.

I do worry about the fastex clips on the ankle weights eventually wearing a hole in the bladder, so you may just want to get some tubeular webbing and fill them with the appropriate amount of lead shot, then sew the ends shut. You may need to sew in a velcro watch band inside the bladder compartment at the appropriate position to keep the weights from slipping down into one side or the other of the bladder compartment.

Let me know how this works out. You can also break the weight down by removing the tank bands and weights and carrying them separately while in the dry cave, making tank hauling a bit easier.

Hope this helps.

Brian Kakuk
Bahamas Underground
www.bahamasunderground.com
Bahamas Caves Research Foundation
www.bahamascaves.com
Phone: (242) 359-6128

[laphiloche]

It's for that i never use alu tanks for sump diving. I use only steel tank, and i do the ratio between capacity/weight(out of the water)

[Cindy]

With alum 80s I would use a five pound weight on each tank. I try to trim it toward the back of the tank so they don't lift as bad. A weight belt will work just as well in a cave and provides you the ability to remove a tank for a restriction without hitting the roof. You could split the weight on the tanks and then try a drop weight for practice and see how you trim out. You could always use a small weight on your back as part of your BC as I do and the rest on your tanks.

[phillip1]

cool, thanks for the much appreciated advice.
I was doing all the trim, weighting etc.. with AL80's that had 70bar in each.
I will go back in the pool and mess around till I get it right today.

[RN]

I think you can get rid of the harness mounted weights all together. I use two, 3 lb. weights laced into the cam straps at the bottom of the cylinders for Alum. 80's. This changes the weight of the cylinder similar to that of a steel 85.

I do the same. It would be easy enough to remove the cam straps and place them in a back pack/sack for the trip in. Then slide them onto the tanks right before the dive.

[Diverlee]

Looking at your avatar I am assuming you are side mounting, sump diving. I think you can get rid of the harness mounted weights all together. I use two, 3 lb. weights laced into the cam straps at the bottom of the cylinders for Alum. 80's. This changes the weight of the cylinder similar to that of a steel 85.

I use a 7mm suit with a 3mm hooded vest and that is all the weight I need with two alum. 80's in salt water so you should be fine in fresh. One thing I occasionally do for students is to place a set of ankle weights inside the bladder compartment right behind the neck. The ankle weights lay flat and you wont feel them behind your neck and they add weight forward which will help keep your feet up.

I do worry about the fastex clips on the ankle weights eventually wearing a hole in the bladder, so you may just want to get some tubeular webbing and fill them with the appropriate amount of lead shot, then sew the ends shut. You may need to sew in a velcro watch band inside the bladder compartment at the appropriate position to keep the weights from slipping down into one side or the other of the bladder compartment.

Let me know how this works out. You can also break the weight down by removing the tank bands and weights and carrying them separately while in the dry cave, making tank hauling a bit easier.

Hope this helps.

Brian Kakuk
Bahamas Underground
www.bahamasunderground.com
Bahamas Caves Research Foundation
www.bahamascaves.com
Phone: (242) 359-6128

When I used ankle weight in the bladder I wrapped the ends
with duct tape and this worked for several yrs. I don't need them now so removed them still intact with the tape.

[phillip1]

After trying every combination this is what works best. With AL80's.
3lbs chest weights, one 3lb weight on the buttplate and a 1lb weight on the tank bands. with any less weight and tanks at 80 bar I cannot maintain depth at all and just float up. I tried all different weigh setups and this one was the best, I did change the bugie attachement point to the D ring that holds the nomad shoulder straps as I find that it steramlines the tnaks along my body better that the shoulder D ring.
I did this with all my gear, lights reels etc..I use power fins as they are a bit heavier and for me I can trim perfect with the head down but not to much, but mainly cause they are the best fins to back up out of a tight spot with which happens a lot when exploring here.

Setup like this it work really good and I am off to try the new suit tomorrow, and for once I wont be cold.

Thanks to all for the much appreciated advice.

[phillip1]

After messing around for three dives, I got it just right, 3lb chest weights and 1lb tank weights. I was a bit heavy at first, but like this it works good, it's 2lb more than with my 5mil and I am not cold anymore even after 90 min dives! should of got a 7mil sooner.

[sskasser]

Congrats! There's definitely something to be said for being warm!