Free diving. How much weight?
Submitted by Fisher Kid on Wed, 2014-02-19 18:06
hi guys, im really starting to get into freediving and spearfishing, got everything exept gun, and weights. Ive got the belt, but I was just wondering how much weight I should be carrying. I wear a 2-3mm wetty, and I weigh around 85kg. ill be diving for crays and spearing in no more than 10-15m. Ive heard that for that kind of body weight id be looking at around 4kg. I can get 2 x 2kg weights for around $20. But is that enough?
Any advice greatly appreciated.
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Fishing and catching are two different things. But i want to learn how to catch.
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petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
yes
about right but get a 1 kg weight as well just in case although with a 2-3 wetty you should be ok with just 4kg
Fisher Kid
Posts: 358
Date Joined: 16/10/12
Thanks, petermac, glad I
Thanks, petermac, glad I could get some advice from people with some actual knowledge, not just trying to get me to buy more than I need. :)
Fishing and catching are two different things. But i want to learn how to catch.
sammy85
Posts: 831
Date Joined: 31/08/10
I weigh the same and use 3
I weigh the same and use 3 weights mate
Plumber and gas fitter- 0415489103
Narcosis
Posts: 7
Date Joined: 10/09/13
Different for individual
Each person will be different (dependant on body shape and wetsuite type), you will need to be positively bouyant at about 5mt if your diving those depths. Too many divers over weight themselves and struggle at the surface, or if they have a problem on ascent ie. blackout, will end up with the diver sinking,not automatically going to the surface.
Also make sure you are diving with a buddy!!
daze out
Posts: 75
Date Joined: 07/09/11
Narcosis is absolutely right
To gauge that you are positively buoyant on the surface-
Make sure you're dressed in all your dive gear, fully exhale in the water (floating upright). You should sink a little, generally you look to sink enough so that your mask is half in and half out of the water (eye level, and you're head isn't under). This will ensure that if you do have a shallow water blackout you will still 'float' to the surface, rather than sinking to the bottom, even if you're lungs are empty.
ALWAYS dive with a buddy, and make sure you are both familiar with what to do in case of a SWB.
Too many people die in our sport pushing thier limits and not following the basic rules of free diving.
Apnea Australia run courses that can teach you everything you need to know about dive safety if you're interested.
Toby Roe
Posts: 118
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Fisher Kid, 2kg weights are
Fisher Kid,
2kg weights are too heavy for freediving as it will put too much weight in the one spot on you belt which twists your back in the water. The most common weights I see people using are the 3lb (1.4kg). This is better as it will allow you to spread the weight more evenly around the belt making you sit nicely in the water. From what you described above (and assuming you are young so no beer gut?) I would say you would need 3x3lb weights but try two first and see how you go. I am also seeing more people moving to the 2lb (~1kg) weights. These are better again as the can be spread around the belt even more which further reduces heavy spots. Is your belt rubber? If not then you should think about putting a crotch strap on it to stop it coming up under you armpits on decent.
Finally, given that you don’t have a weight belt I am assuming you are pretty new to the sport (Sorry if wrong) and so you should not be diving that deep unless you are with an EXPERIENCED buddy. If not then you should start out in shallow water and build up your skills together. Plenty of fish, crays, crabs etc in shallow water so no need to push your limits as there are not many second chances in this sport.
Cheers
Toby
Fisher Kid
Posts: 358
Date Joined: 16/10/12
well to answer your
well to answer your questions, yess i am young, im teenager, and yes i have a weight belt, its not rubber, its some kind of woven plastic material stuff, its got a metal buckle, quick releasish, press th flap and its off, also when i say 10-15max, i really meant 10, and i ususally do all my crayfishing etc around my mate and his dad. his dad uses scuba while we freedive around. the deepest ive ver went down was 8m, i stayed on bottom for 30-40 seconds. i have been to 10m but i dont feel comfortable after 8m yet, as i only seriousley started december last year, i think ill gow with your advice and get more smaller weights over a couple larger ones.
Fishing and catching are two different things. But i want to learn how to catch.
Notorious
Posts: 914
Date Joined: 23/02/12
I'd urge you to join one of
I'd urge you to join one of the two freedive spearing clubs in perth, plenty of useful info.
a quick rule, 3mm wetsuit, approx 3kgs, 5mm wetsuit, 5kgs
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