DIVE LIKE A PRO/ "Weigh"ting the situation!!
This one's for my diving brethern that are snowbirds!!
I covered this topic in an Open Water class 3 years ago when I was begged by 4 students who were heading to Mexico!!
LUCKY STIFFS!!!
There really is no quick and easy formula for converting how much weight you'll need when going from fresh water to salt water.
Or vice a versa as I learned!!
As you all probably know that in most cases you'll have to add weight when diving salt water. That's because of salt water's higher density.
STEPS TO HELP YOU OUT
CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT!!
When you go from one diving environment to another your equip. configuration changes with you.These changes affect your bouancy as much as the salinity of the water does. You may wear a 7mm farmer john up North but only need a lycra dive skin down South, and very much the opposite going North!!
You may use aluminum 80's at home but your dive destination and dive operator may have steel tank's.
You may use a tech BC at home for your condition's but only need a compact low lift travel BC for where you're going.(much like a sport's bra).
And everytime time that you change equipment your weight requirements change with it.
TALK TO THE CREW AND DIVEMASTERS
You'll get a good idea of your weight requirement's from the crew or dive shop where you're going. They know the dive environment,the day's ocean condition's,the kind of gear you'll be using, exposure suits you need, they can pretty much size you up and suggest the amount of lead you'll need.
CHECK IT OUT ON THE SURFACE
When you get to the dive spot have the DM suggest how much weight you'll need. That's what they're there for, I was one many moon's ago.Guess I still am when you think about it, still have the c card and certificate. My instructor one's get me further though. EXCEPT IN ENGLAND where I still had to make 2 supervised check out dives due to HSC regulations there!!
Get in the water to check out your bouancy.
Here's how:
When you're on the surface empty all the air from your BC, with no air in your BC and NO body movement, breathe in a relaxed way.You should slowly sink when you exhale, if you don't you need MORE weight.
If you drop like a stone, get rid of some weight, I use 2 lb weight packs so it's easier to adjust, plus my 4 5lb ones!!
Now you all know how much I weigh!!
CHECK IT OUT AT DEPTH
Once you reach a happy weight at the the surface you still have to do some fine tuning. But you'll have to wait until the end of your dive to do the REAL TEST to see if you're weighted right.
THE ULTIMATE BOUANCY TEST!!
To do this one breathe your tank down to 500 psi at THE END OF YOUR DIVE, level off at 15' and empty all your air from your BC.
YOU SHOULD BE NEUTRAL AT THIS POINT!
Rising slightly when you inhale and sinking slowly when you exhale. If you do this test and find that you are over weighted or under weighted add or subtract weight. At the end of your next dive try this again. Practice makes perfect!!
Tom
This one's for my diving brethern that are snowbirds!!
I covered this topic in an Open Water class 3 years ago when I was begged by 4 students who were heading to Mexico!!
LUCKY STIFFS!!!
There really is no quick and easy formula for converting how much weight you'll need when going from fresh water to salt water.
Or vice a versa as I learned!!
As you all probably know that in most cases you'll have to add weight when diving salt water. That's because of salt water's higher density.
STEPS TO HELP YOU OUT
CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT!!
When you go from one diving environment to another your equip. configuration changes with you.These changes affect your bouancy as much as the salinity of the water does. You may wear a 7mm farmer john up North but only need a lycra dive skin down South, and very much the opposite going North!!
You may use aluminum 80's at home but your dive destination and dive operator may have steel tank's.
You may use a tech BC at home for your condition's but only need a compact low lift travel BC for where you're going.(much like a sport's bra).
And everytime time that you change equipment your weight requirements change with it.
TALK TO THE CREW AND DIVEMASTERS
You'll get a good idea of your weight requirement's from the crew or dive shop where you're going. They know the dive environment,the day's ocean condition's,the kind of gear you'll be using, exposure suits you need, they can pretty much size you up and suggest the amount of lead you'll need.
CHECK IT OUT ON THE SURFACE
When you get to the dive spot have the DM suggest how much weight you'll need. That's what they're there for, I was one many moon's ago.Guess I still am when you think about it, still have the c card and certificate. My instructor one's get me further though. EXCEPT IN ENGLAND where I still had to make 2 supervised check out dives due to HSC regulations there!!
Get in the water to check out your bouancy.
Here's how:
When you're on the surface empty all the air from your BC, with no air in your BC and NO body movement, breathe in a relaxed way.You should slowly sink when you exhale, if you don't you need MORE weight.
If you drop like a stone, get rid of some weight, I use 2 lb weight packs so it's easier to adjust, plus my 4 5lb ones!!
Now you all know how much I weigh!!
CHECK IT OUT AT DEPTH
Once you reach a happy weight at the the surface you still have to do some fine tuning. But you'll have to wait until the end of your dive to do the REAL TEST to see if you're weighted right.
THE ULTIMATE BOUANCY TEST!!
To do this one breathe your tank down to 500 psi at THE END OF YOUR DIVE, level off at 15' and empty all your air from your BC.
YOU SHOULD BE NEUTRAL AT THIS POINT!
Rising slightly when you inhale and sinking slowly when you exhale. If you do this test and find that you are over weighted or under weighted add or subtract weight. At the end of your next dive try this again. Practice makes perfect!!
Tom