how much weight do i need

[8shot]

can anyne advise me on how much lead im going to need to get down .
ive done a bit of reading online . but im still not sure

if it helps im using a 5mm wetsuit

many thanks

 

[Broseidon]

You'll need at least 8kg - I use 9kg.

I would strongly recommend using a weight-vest in combination with a RUBBER belt.

Weight Vest:

Mares Weights Backpack - Weightbelts from Diving Direct UK

Belt:

Mares Elastic Belt - Weightbelts from Diving Direct UK


Do NOT use a cheap, non-stretch nylon belt, it will be very uncomfortable!

 

[8shot]

many thanks for the reply. but can i ask why use the weight vest
maybe a dumb question but i really dont no

ive got the rubber belt
and have just got a belt full of weights second hand

cheers

 

[foxfish]

You are asking a very broad question as there are so many variables but Broses answer is a good place to start.
It really does depend on how deep you intend to dive, how much you weigh & how much body fat you carry.
A weight vest is good for sperfishermen in particular as the vest distributes the weight making the few hours in the water more comfortable & making your body more balanced for hunting.

 

[8shot]

You are asking a very broad question as there are so many variables but Broses answer is a good place to start.
It really does depend on how deep you intend to dive, how much you weigh & how much body fat you carry.
A weight vest is good for sperfishermen in particular as the vest distributes the weight making the few hours in the water more comfortable & making your body more balanced for hunting.

. .


thanks guys really helpful

best regards

 

[scallywag]

Its all down to personal preferance. I use a nylon belt with pockets for lead. very easy to fine tune your weight and I find it very comfy. Can't say I've tried the vests, are they quick release? Important consideration if you get into difficulties.

 

[island_sands]

i might be poohed-poohed at here, but ideally you would want to weight yourself so you float up from about 10 metres...

 

[Broseidon]

i might be poohed-poohed at here, but ideally you would want to weight yourself so you float up from about 10 metres...

The general spearfishing depth in the UK is between 3 and 10 meters... you need to be weighted heavy!

 

[grantl]

Can't say I've tried the vests, are they quick release? Important consideration if you get into difficulties.

I started using a vest last year, an Omer I think. It has 3 fastening buckles so no it's not really quick release but I only have 3 kg of lead in it and generally have 6 kg on my belt.

I did lots of experimenting and if I release my belt I still easily have enough buoyancy even with 3 ks in the vest.

The vest massively increased my comfort in the water and I no longer have back problems after diving. I also find I am far better balanced on the surface and when diving.
At the time when I bought it I thought it was ridiculously priced but it's a great bit of kit that has certainly proven to be a good buy.

 

[island_sands]

The general spearfishing depth in the UK is between 3 and 10 meters... you need to be weighted heavy!

ah.

watching and learning ...

 

[Jonny250]

ok, just to add to the confusion; dont forget that you can also use ankle weights to help spread the weight around. I find them particularly helpful in very shallow water and when there's lots of swell.

 

[Chris_C_NZ]

I thought the rule of thumb was about 10% of your body weight in kg's?

 

[azapa]

Always be a bit too floaty. If you are hunting on a 12m bottom, you should just start to fall about 8m.

Your suit will compress over time too, a new suit needs up to 20% more lead. Try to remove a little during the season as your style improves and your suit compresses.

Your overall fitness, body fat etc will also make you sink easier.

Despite a few years at this sport now, I still find weighting a challenge. I recommend trying a freedivers neckweigt of about 2Kg rather that a similar backpack, its more streamlines (and those dumb backpacks are often made of floaty neoprene!!)

Good luck

 

[denian]

they are very thin and flexible and the weight massively out weighs the bouyancey for hunting yes a great bit of kit much more balanced in the water.v expensive i would make one if you have the skills

 

[kaimoana]

the best advice would be to do n apnea course; where you will be weighted correctly. you dont want too much. when floating when you breathe in you should be floating from neck high. when you breathe out you should be up to your eyes. Re: vest personal prefs( but safety hard to release if you need to drop weights) rubber belt awesome ... good luck

 

[kaimoana]

many thanks for the reply. but can i ask why use the weight vest
maybe a dumb question but i really dont no

ive got the rubber belt
and have just got a belt full of weights second hand

cheers

im a 100kgs with 3.5mm suit, i use 3x 3lbs (i.e.9lb) weights i get to 22m..after 8m you just free fall. not too heavy

 

[Mr. X]

I thought the rule of thumb was about 10% of your body weight in kg's?

Hadn't thought of it that way before. For spearing with a 5mm spearo wetsuit at the modest depths I dive (max ~12/15m but usually less, which necessitates carrying more lead), 9% seems spot on for me. I lost some weight recently and am planning to take 2lb off my belt as it has been bit too heavy this season. My belt weighs 9% of my original weight & with 2lb off , that will again be 9% of my current body weight. Thanks Chris, that seem like a good rule of thumb, for me at least - and has reassured me that I should indeed remove some weight.

 

[mariusshobo]

I've got a 3,5 mil wetsuit and carring 4 kg of lead. I'm neutral at about 8-10 m.
If fishing above 10m I add a kilo, if going deeper than 12m, I take off on kilo (note that I like to be neutral at the dept where I intend to fish and I hate the feeling when going down like a rock).
I lost a few hours just testing differend weights at different depts and found the right ballance for me. Good luck to you!

 

[Andrew the fish]

Ok here come tips from the noob. Strangely nobody mentioned that you want to be heavier if you are fishing shallow, and lighter for deeper fishing. Exact amount of weights of course determined by your body composition and thickness of your suit. But then, you can always compensate with the amount of air you take with you from the surface. I do that if I see fish at very shallow depths, sometimes even going FRC to drop down if visibility allows me to see the fish from surface. Somebody mentioned "blow and go" on these boards a while ago, well I do that sometimes. I find that finning spooks the fish, but if I drop down motionlessly I will be encircled by schools of fish almost instantly. And yet another big point with weights (I found that hard way) is that being lighter allows better rest on the surface, and also makes it easier to deal with the catch and loading your gun.

 

[Mr. X]

The general spearfishing depth in the UK is between 3 and 10 meters... you need to be weighted heavy!

Yup - although I would say between 1 and 10m! (Not kidding, have caught some good fish in very shallow water.)