Buoyancy Help

I ab dive with a 7mm farmer john and wear 30 lbs of weight.
When I fish I wear a 3mm kayaking wetsuit top; similar to a farmer john.
If I were to use the 3mm bottoms and the 7mm top, any guesses how much weight would I need on my belt?
I am 5'11'' and 195 lbs.

I would try 26 lbs. 30lbs of weight is a lot, you are really bouyant.
I only wear 18 lbs of weight with my 2-piece 7mm scuba suit while free diving. When I use my 1-piece 7mm suit, I wear 16 lbs of weight.

I would try 26 lbs. 30lbs of weight is a lot, you are really bouyant.
I only wear 18 lbs of weight with my 2-piece 7mm scuba suit while free diving. When I use my 1-piece 7mm suit, I wear 16 lbs of weight.

How much do you weigh?

With my 5 mil full suit and 5 mil hooded vest I wear 25lbs. 5'11" and 200lbs.

-Brian G

Now I'm really glad I wear my 5/4mm hotline surfsuit for ab diving. I've never been cold and only need about 10 lbs of weight.

A 7mm suit with 30lbs of weight sounds painful.

Brian

I'm 5'7", 160lbs. 30lbs of weight sounds awefully heavy. I get tired just thinking of it. 

I'm 5'11" and 250lbs.....and feel fat 

I have a 7 mil and still have to get my weights.

I use about 27lb with my 7mm suit, however I use a pair of 1lb ankleweights (which help alot with 7mm suits) which gets some weight off the belt.  When I use the 7mm top with 5mm bottom, I can take off 1 5lb weight, and with the full 5mm suit I take off another 4lb.  My dad weighs something like 280 and he needs 43lb with his 7mm suit - so it could be worse.   

Just bring a bunch of weights and try them out at the beach or a calm spot before diving. 

Just to reiterate - ankle weights are the shiznit.     I lost one of mine and duct taped some 1/2" lead cable to the straps of my dive knife, so now I have a weight and a weight integrated knife.  High tech sounding ghetto gear.   

Now I'm really glad I wear my 5/4mm hotline surfsuit for ab diving. I've never been cold and only need about 10 lbs of weight.

A 7mm suit with 30lbs of weight sounds painful.

Brian

Well I guess if I had ZERO body fat I would be able to get away with less..
30lbs is a lot; and I am positively buoyant with that. Once my suit squeezes I gain depth like a mad man. Too bad I don't have the lungs to take full advantage of it.

Well I guess if I had ZERO body fat I would be able to get away with less..
30lbs is a lot; and I am positively buoyant with that. Once my suit squeezes I gain depth like a mad man. Too bad I don't have the lungs to take full advantage of it.

Tote, I'm by no means zero body fat.  In fact at 6 ft and 185 lbs, that puts my BMI at 25 which is just into the 'overweight' category.  I think it has more to do with the thickness of the suit and maybe Hotline surf suits have some sort of wacky neoprene.

for myself i go by the general rule of 10 % of my body weight + 3 to 4 lbs for freediving in a 2 pcs of 6.5mm suit.

for scuba in salt water i go 10 percent of my body weight + 10 - 12 lbs for aluminum tanks and for steel tanks i go 8-10 lbs

so far it seems to work ok.

i am 5'8 165 lbs married and GETTING BIGGER EVERY DAY!!!!

YAhoo!!!

Well I guess if I had ZERO body fat I would be able to get away with less..
30lbs is a lot; and I am positively buoyant with that. Once my suit squeezes I gain depth like a mad man. Too bad I don't have the lungs to take full advantage of it.

Tote, I'm by no means zero body fat.  In fact at 6 ft and 185 lbs, that puts my BMI at 25 which is just into the 'overweight' category.  I think it has more to do with the thickness of the suit and maybe Hotline surf suits have some sort of wacky neoprene.

Well that's just GREAT!!! never looked up MY BMI until now!! UGH!!!!