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Weightbelt Help

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.

jaymz

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2012
256
39
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Im forever posting 'help' threads so let me just apologise first...(there...thats it ;) )

Ok, first of all ill give you some stats about me,

6ft, 14 stone, I wear a 7mm wetsuit (when it comes)

Can someone break down in lehmans terms in KG, how much weight I need to add to a belt. I have no clue how it works, I just know in SCUBA that I need to be bouyant so I just adjust the air in the BCD to accomodate the weight on the belt.

But I have no clue with freediving.

Sorry if this has been posted before, im sure it has somewhere down the lines.
 
It all depends on the diving you do. If shallow (up to 8m) and through string weed/kelp then you may want more weight on the belt so then you can wait on the bottom easy. If deeper diving then you need less weight as the wetsuit compresses as you go down....... Remember you want to be buoyant on the surface (if your diving deep you want to be NEUTRALLY buoyant around 8m) to give you the best chance in the worst case situation.

I started by putting my suit on the water, then place lead on top until it sinks, then remove a weight so the suit floats. Most people use 8-10kg as a starting figure.

Hope this helps
 
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Yea they are, but it's one of those things that once you bought fingers crossed, you don't have to replace for a long time
 
You might want to revise weight vest & weight belts plus ankle weights too !!
 
It all depends on the diving you do. If shallow (up to 8m) and through string weed/kelp then you may want more weight on the belt so then you can wait on the bottom easy. If deeper diving then you need less weight as the wetsuit compresses as you go down....... Remember you want to be buoyant on the surface (if your diving deep you want to be NEUTRALLY buoyant around 8m) to give you the best chance in the worst case situation.

I started by putting my suit on the water, then place lead on top until it sinks, then remove a weight so the suit floats. Most people use 8-10kg as a starting figure.

Hope this helps

I use a 5mm elios suit (freediving, not spearing) and I think i'd drown if I used 8-10kg :) I don't even use half that.... (but my body is not buoyant at all) Does 7mm make such a massive difference? (I usually aim to be neutral around 10m)

Oh and get a rubber belt (quick release) - scuba ones won't do
 
I'm naturally very buoyant and my suit is newish. I use a 5mm Omer suit but do a lot of spearfishing in shallow water (sub 10m) so I am over weighted to ensure I sit on the bottom. I think I've got about 11kg split between a vest and a belt. Soon I plan on diving deeper (15-17m) so will probs drop down to about 6kg for that.

Agreed on the recommendation for a rubber weight belt. Probably the best investment I made and a good quick release buckle is a must
 
Hunting in shallow water, when actual diving is not required but, a body angle 'down' & legs sunk attitude is required to assist a comfortable head & eye hunting level - will need substantial weight in the right places!!
However for open water diving a different approach & attitude is needed - so for different circumstances, different weighting is necessary.
Don't worry to much about the finner points just yet though, as a basic guide scoobaru post will get you stated but, ask Simos for when you get serious about going a bit deeper. :)
 
^^^^ seconded. You will find that after a while when you become more experienced and your technique improves (duck dives etc) then you will require less weight as you become more relaxed.

Good luck and safe diving
 
Thanks for the help guys, appreciated.

Secondly, whats the diving like in Jersey/Gurnsey. My mother lives there and im there about 4 times a year.
 
what are the chances of that...Im there that weekend !!!! (Jersey) I could get the boat over for the day or something. What are the rules on taking a speargun on a plane?
 
Thanks for the help guys, appreciated.

Secondly, whats the diving like in Jersey/Gurnsey. My mother lives there and im there about 4 times a year.

Hi, I dive mainly Jersey (live there) but will be returning to Guernsey again this year for the meet.

Guernsey seems to fish better and has clearer water most of the time. Jersey has two clubs Club Apnea and Jersey Spearfishing Club, both now have facebook and web pages.

If u want more info on Jsy dive sites PM me when u nxt come to Jsy
 
what are the chances of that...Im there that weekend !!!! (Jersey) I could get the boat over for the day or something. What are the rules on taking a speargun on a plane?

Cheaper & easier on the boat!
You would be welcome for a day trip anyway.
 
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