Basic Weighting Guidelines
(Pre-Buoyancy Check)
Use these charts only as estimates. Weighting all
depends on your body type, muscle/fat ratio, amount of food or liquids
in your system, equipment you are wearing for this particular dive. You
will notice that you need more or less air in your BCD on each dive.
Exposure Suit Type Weight
1. Swimsuit or dive skin 1 to 4 Lbs.
2. Thin (1/16" or 5 mm) One-Piece
5% of Body Weight
Wet suit - Shorties or Jump Suit
3. Medium - THickness (3/16" or 5 mm)
10% of Body Weight
Two - Piece Wet Suit
4. Cold Water (1/4" or 7mm) Two-Piece
10% of Body Weight
Wet Suit with Hood &
boots
Plus 3 to 5 Lbs.
5. Neoprene Dry Suit
10% of Body Weight
Plus 7 to 10 Lbs.
6. Shell-style Dry Suits*
10% of Body Weight
using Light Weight
Plus 3 to 5 Lbs.
Non - Foam Underware
7. Shell- Style Dry Suits *
10% of Body Weight
using Heavy Weight
Plus 7 to 14 Lbs.
or Foam Underwear
* Weight needed beyond 10% body weight is due to Buoyancy of underwater.
8. Conversion Estimates:
From Salt Walter
From Fresh Water
Body Weight
to Fresh Water
to Salt Walter
Subtract
Add
100 to 125 Lbs.
4 Lbs.
4 Lbs.
126 to 155 Lbs.
5 Lbs.
5 Lbs.
156 to 186 Lbs.
6 Lbs.
6 Lbs.
187 to 217 Lbs.
7 Lbs.
7 Lbs.
9. Other Conversions:
80 Cubic Foot Tank Air Consumption
Add 5 Lbs.
100 Cubic Foot Rank AIr Consumption
Add 8 Lbs.
Inlet Correction for Current
Add 4 Lbs.