Weighting

[arca_tern]

Hey guys. My whole life I have loved being underwater and only realized it was a formally sanctioned sport last year. I am trying to get more and more into it, and summer in Canada is almost here, so I have bought some new gear and need help.

On the way (thanks to leisurepro) is a Cressi Minima mask, and a (steel buckle) weight belt.

I rarely SCUBA, and bought my first freediving fins and first wetsuit in the fall, so I've put maybe two dives on them.
I weigh roughly 195lbs(haven't checked in a while) stand at 6'0", have a 33" waist , and dive in a Mares Trilistic 5-4-3mm onepiece.
Any ideas where to start with weight? How much will this fluctuate with having a hood and gloves?
Thanks;
arca_tern

 

[Whopperhead]

well, it depends- are you doing line dives (deeper than 30 feet) if so- you'll only need about 8 or 10 lbs. if you are doing less than 30 feet- you'll want more just so you don't have to fight to go down. When I'm spearfishing in shallow water 15' or less i use 20# and that still keeps me positive. This is some info. I'm sure others will chime in.

When I do line dives I use 8lbs in fresh water and 10lbs in Salt. I'm 5'11" and 200lbs.

 

[Erik]

Hood and gloves will make no measurable difference. Whopperhead's on the money with the weights. It will take some experimenting to get it perfect.
Look into a proper freediving suit... our climate demands it, and you will be a much better freediver with one!
We have spearing/camping/freediving trip coming up in August on the Island if you're interested.

 

[arca_tern]

Awesome, thanks for the tips. I was thinking around 8-10 would be about right, I dive almost exclusively in fresh water, and usually less than 30 feet (because thats all the lifeguard was comfortable with). This season I have a buddy or two in town and will actually do some diving; deepest I've done (verifiable) is 45feet CNF, which was pretty average for me, with no special breathup or anything.
As far as the trip goes, it depends when in August. I am busy until about the 12th, and possibly have a trip to Cali from the 25-31st.
BTW, how should the weight be distributed? Say, 1x5lb on left and right side of hips, or a couple 2lbs, or a whole wack of 1lb weights all along the belt?
arca_tern

 

[Whopperhead]

you want your weights distributed evenly- with a mix of mostly 2# and a couple of 1# and maybe 2-3#- If your only diving under 30 feet- I would say go for maybe 12-14#.

 

[Erik]

Aug 9-17th is the trip. Here;s the thread I started last year: http://forums.deeperblue.net/canada/73725-bc-spearing-trip-round-3-2008-a.html

 

[TOOmas]

im 190lbs and will be diving with a full body 5mm suit in freshwater... most of the diving would be above 30ft. seems like 12lbs of weight would be a good start? then add or subtract to see what works? whopperhead, just wondering why you use more weight for shallower dives? im assuming its something like you can just sink w/out having to kick... lol, but really i have no idea ...

Thomas

 

[Whopperhead]

When I use 20# in about 15' of water- I don't have to fight as much to stay down- I like to Ambush the fish- Dive down into the weeds and crawl up to the fish. Even with 20# I'm still positive. When I do deeper line dives - I use 8#. I am also using a 5mm suit.

When I'm on the bottom- I don't want to constantly be kicking to stay down - not only is it scaring fish- but I'm also wasting O2.

 

[TOOmas]

wow i was not expecting that much weight , ill start around 12-15 and see where that takes me. thanks for the input

 

[Erik]

You can get some clip-on weights or even get some 1 or 2lb cannonballs from a fishing shop- hook little carabiners to them, stick them on the float and fine tune as needed by adding them to your belt or harness. I do this when I know I'll be hunting at radically different depths.

 

[arca_tern]

I have the gear now, is amazing, hope to dive on it tomorrow. Dumb(ish) question:
How do i thread the buckle? All the illustrations I have seen have three slots, whereas mine only has two. The only way I can think of to thread it is: (from left to right) down into slot, up through slot, across buckle and through the clamp. This makes it really hard to clamp when the other end of the belt goes through as it is doubly-thick...Help!

 

[Erik]

Hmmm... try threading it from under first, then out the bottom.

 

[arca_tern]

I have done that, but can forcibly pull it out....

 

[Erik]

If there are 3 slots, then there's a method to go through and back, doubling on itself. This doesn't work with all buckles though.