Dive Weight Calculator — How Much Lead to Wear
Estimate your starting weight for scuba diving: body weight, wetsuit thickness, tank type, salt vs fresh water. Includes buoyancy-check procedure.
Use as starting point. Perform a buoyancy check at the surface: empty BCD, full normal breath, you should float at eye level. Sink slowly on exhale. Adjust ±0.5 kg until you achieve that. New gear, different exposure suit, or fresh-from-rest conditions affect it.
Disclaimer: This tool is an educational aid. It is not a substitute for a personal dive computer, proper certification, or current medical advice. Plan dives conservatively and consult a dive professional when in doubt. Emergency: DAN Asia-Pacific +61-8-8212-9242.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't this account for my tank changing buoyancy through the dive?
A full AL80 starts ~1.4 kg negative and ends ~1.4 kg positive (it 'loses' lead-equivalent as gas leaves). The buoyancy check should be done at the START of the dive when the tank is full — by end-of-dive, you'll be 1.4 kg lighter, which is the buoyancy you need at safety stop with a half-empty BCD. This is the standard approach.
I'm a freediver — does this apply?
No — freediving weight is dramatically less (often 1-2 kg total, sometimes neutral or negative depending on suit and target depth). Freedivers want neutral at 10m so they can sink without effort below that and float back up effortlessly. This calculator is for scuba.
How much weight do I add for a thick neoprene hood?
A 5mm hood adds 0.5-1 kg buoyancy. We've factored this into the '5mm full + hood' option. A separate 5mm hood (over 3mm full suit) adds 0.5 kg over the 3mm suit figure.
Does diving in altitude change weight needs?
Marginally. Fresh-water lakes at altitude need approximately the fresh-water adjustment (-2.5 kg). Salinity dominates over altitude for weight calculations.