right amount of weights?

Outlaw · 24th September 2006, 19:08

hello guys,

i have been diving for a long time now, and since i was on open circuit, i used to need more kg as weight, than the rest of the divers i used to dive with. people used to say, its my structure, others used to say, its a matter of lung volume, fat, etc....

i was under the thought that once diving with a ccr, then the weights would decrease drastically.... but it does not. i still need a lot of weights in order to go down.

i am 92kg, 189cm tall, and fit. i am giving these info out for someone to make the correct assumptions. dont get me wrong people, i am saying this because its a big problem, and it has become a big issue in my mind.

i take 10kg, and still when i empty my dry suit, wing, and lungs of my ccr, and still not going down, utill i push hard. as a result, i am having a hard time in ascending. if i am in depth, things are better, but i was wondering.

did anyone else have the same problems/symptoms?

please let me know what do you think, and why does this occur?

Thanks,

Spyros

Sutty · 24th September 2006, 19:18

I don't think 10Kg is too excessive for drysuit diving. I didn't find my weighting changed very much after going CCR.
You say you are having trouble ascending - I presume you mean you are underweight on ascent, if overweight you must have gas trapped somewhere before descent.

Neil

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 24th September 2006, 19:55

In the end, you need what you need. So long as it works but is not excessive, that's what you need. Everyone is different.

aki · 24th September 2006, 20:08

I've dropped quite a lot of weight since I started few months ago. At course I had 2,5 kg SS BP, 2,7kg D-weight, 6 kg weight belt and 2 kg on top of the unit. I now have 5 kg BP and 2 kg on top of the unit. I have trilaminate DS and Weelzle Extreme+ undies.

--
Aki

onetime · 24th September 2006, 20:14

You may have some especially buoyant undergarments that you could try to swap out but, in the end, you need what you need to safely and comfortably complete your dive.

Every person is different. General guidelines of body weight to amount of lead needed work generally, not specifically. My wife is <120lbs and needs at least 12 lbs when diving in just a lycra skin when we're on vacation. When her BC is completely empty and carrying 12lbs she can descend properly, anything less and she's got to go head first and kick like mad. Then as her tank pressure decreases during the dive she's got to worry about the increased buoyancy of the aluminum 80's we're typically forced to dive.

You wouldn't believe the hassles that it causes with divemasters as I explain to them that she needs 12 lbs. Often they argue and tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. On one occassion a divemaster refused to give her 12 and would only go as high as 10. I was ready to demand a refund and/or toss him off the side of the boat but my wife agreed to take the 10 and give it a try. So, for the rest of the dive I basically felt like a boy with a balloon as I had to grab one of her d-rings to keep her from slowly drifting up.

FWIW, I'm using about the same weight from OC to CCR maybe two pounds less.

Skipbreather · 24th September 2006, 22:50

Another thought to keep in mind: Buoyancy will vary significantly w/ a change in cylinders used. I’ve seen as much as a 4 kg difference. Example: Although I like the Worthingtons a LOT, they are SERIOUSLY heavy- easily 2 to 3 kg off the belt.

Ken

Outlaw · 25th September 2006, 10:06

Quote: (Originally Posted by onetime)

You may have some especially buoyant undergarments that you could try to swap out but, in the end, you need what you need to safely and comfortably complete your dive.

Every person is different. General guidelines of body weight to amount of lead needed work generally, not specifically. My wife is <120lbs and needs at least 12 lbs when diving in just a lycra skin when we're on vacation. When her BC is completely empty and carrying 12lbs she can descend properly, anything less and she's got to go head first and kick like mad. Then as her tank pressure decreases during the dive she's got to worry about the increased buoyancy of the aluminum 80's we're typically forced to dive.

You wouldn't believe the hassles that it causes with divemasters as I explain to them that she needs 12 lbs. Often they argue and tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. On one occassion a divemaster refused to give her 12 and would only go as high as 10. I was ready to demand a refund and/or toss him off the side of the boat but my wife agreed to take the 10 and give it a try. So, for the rest of the dive I basically felt like a boy with a balloon as I had to grab one of her d-rings to keep her from slowly drifting up.

FWIW, I'm using about the same weight from OC to CCR maybe two pounds less.

i must say thank you to all the guys, but i am returning this note to you mate, just to tell you that you've made me feel a lot better. i dont know why, but i just need weights. this is unbelievable. your story with your wife, was something.

the reason i was giving this thread out to people, is that because my buddy, which we started ccr diving together, has gone from 14kg, to 4kg only!!!

we use the same undersuit, and dry suit. and the same rebreather, same stuff etc. this is what drives me mad.

the question is, is there a change in CCR from OC as far as weights, and why is that?

Thanks.

24th September 2006, 19:08	#1 (permalink)
Outlaw In search of Law breaking Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cyprus, Nicosia Posts: 627	right amount of weights? hello guys, i have been diving for a long time now, and since i was on open circuit, i used to need more kg as weight, than the rest of the divers i used to dive with. people used to say, its my structure, others used to say, its a matter of lung volume, fat, etc.... i was under the thought that once diving with a ccr, then the weights would decrease drastically.... but it does not. i still need a lot of weights in order to go down. i am 92kg, 189cm tall, and fit. i am giving these info out for someone to make the correct assumptions. dont get me wrong people, i am saying this because its a big problem, and it has become a big issue in my mind. i take 10kg, and still when i empty my dry suit, wing, and lungs of my ccr, and still not going down, utill i push hard. as a result, i am having a hard time in ascending. if i am in depth, things are better, but i was wondering. did anyone else have the same problems/symptoms? please let me know what do you think, and why does this occur? Thanks, Spyros __________________ CMAS - IANTD - TDI Kamikazi Instrustor Trainer DIRRebreather Team Member ---------------------------- "Once an Outlaw, always an Outlaw"
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24th September 2006, 19:18	#2 (permalink)
Sutty Classic Kiss diver Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Glossop, Derbyshire, UK Posts: 775	Re: right amount of weights? I don't think 10Kg is too excessive for drysuit diving. I didn't find my weighting changed very much after going CCR. You say you are having trouble ascending - I presume you mean you are underweight on ascent, if overweight you must have gas trapped somewhere before descent. Neil __________________ Never forget that life is a finite resource.
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24th September 2006, 19:55	#3 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 1,937	Re: right amount of weights? In the end, you need what you need. So long as it works but is not excessive, that's what you need. Everyone is different. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
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24th September 2006, 20:08	#4 (permalink)
aki Inspiration Vision Diver Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Stockholm. Sweden Posts: 117	Re: right amount of weights? I've dropped quite a lot of weight since I started few months ago. At course I had 2,5 kg SS BP, 2,7kg D-weight, 6 kg weight belt and 2 kg on top of the unit. I now have 5 kg BP and 2 kg on top of the unit. I have trilaminate DS and Weelzle Extreme+ undies. -- Aki
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24th September 2006, 20:14	#5 (permalink)
onetime Classic KISSer #138 Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: US, NJ Posts: 655	Re: right amount of weights? You may have some especially buoyant undergarments that you could try to swap out but, in the end, you need what you need to safely and comfortably complete your dive. Every person is different. General guidelines of body weight to amount of lead needed work generally, not specifically. My wife is <120lbs and needs at least 12 lbs when diving in just a lycra skin when we're on vacation. When her BC is completely empty and carrying 12lbs she can descend properly, anything less and she's got to go head first and kick like mad. Then as her tank pressure decreases during the dive she's got to worry about the increased buoyancy of the aluminum 80's we're typically forced to dive. You wouldn't believe the hassles that it causes with divemasters as I explain to them that she needs 12 lbs. Often they argue and tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. On one occassion a divemaster refused to give her 12 and would only go as high as 10. I was ready to demand a refund and/or toss him off the side of the boat but my wife agreed to take the 10 and give it a try. So, for the rest of the dive I basically felt like a boy with a balloon as I had to grab one of her d-rings to keep her from slowly drifting up. FWIW, I'm using about the same weight from OC to CCR maybe two pounds less.
(Offline)

24th September 2006, 22:50	#6 (permalink)
Skipbreather WAY past the barber pole Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet MK 15.X Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Posts: 528	Re: right amount of weights? Another thought to keep in mind: Buoyancy will vary significantly w/ a change in cylinders used. I’ve seen as much as a 4 kg difference. Example: Although I like the Worthingtons a LOT, they are SERIOUSLY heavy- easily 2 to 3 kg off the belt. Ken
(Offline)

25th September 2006, 10:06	#7 (permalink)
Outlaw In search of Law breaking Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cyprus, Nicosia Posts: 627	Re: right amount of weights? Quote: (Originally Posted by onetime) You may have some especially buoyant undergarments that you could try to swap out but, in the end, you need what you need to safely and comfortably complete your dive. Every person is different. General guidelines of body weight to amount of lead needed work generally, not specifically. My wife is <120lbs and needs at least 12 lbs when diving in just a lycra skin when we're on vacation. When her BC is completely empty and carrying 12lbs she can descend properly, anything less and she's got to go head first and kick like mad. Then as her tank pressure decreases during the dive she's got to worry about the increased buoyancy of the aluminum 80's we're typically forced to dive. You wouldn't believe the hassles that it causes with divemasters as I explain to them that she needs 12 lbs. Often they argue and tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. On one occassion a divemaster refused to give her 12 and would only go as high as 10. I was ready to demand a refund and/or toss him off the side of the boat but my wife agreed to take the 10 and give it a try. So, for the rest of the dive I basically felt like a boy with a balloon as I had to grab one of her d-rings to keep her from slowly drifting up. FWIW, I'm using about the same weight from OC to CCR maybe two pounds less. i must say thank you to all the guys, but i am returning this note to you mate, just to tell you that you've made me feel a lot better. i dont know why, but i just need weights. this is unbelievable. your story with your wife, was something. the reason i was giving this thread out to people, is that because my buddy, which we started ccr diving together, has gone from 14kg, to 4kg only!!! we use the same undersuit, and dry suit. and the same rebreather, same stuff etc. this is what drives me mad. the question is, is there a change in CCR from OC as far as weights, and why is that? Thanks. __________________ CMAS - IANTD - TDI Kamikazi Instrustor Trainer DIRRebreather Team Member ---------------------------- "Once an Outlaw, always an Outlaw"
(Offline)

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