Finding the Right Weight & Choosing Fins | Okinawa vs. Shakotan, Wet vs. Dry Suits Feel Completely Different
The first step to stable neutral buoyancy is finding the "right amount of weight" for you. But how much weight you need changes completely depending on where you dive and what suit you use, and I personally struggled to get a feel for it between a wetsuit in Okinawa and a drysuit in Shakotan. I'll also cover how choosing the right fins changed how easy it was to swim.
In short, the right amount of weight changes with suit type, thickness, and tank material, so you need to re-check it every time you change area or suit.
Why Do I Need Weight in the First Place?
Wetsuits and drysuits, by the nature of their material, are buoyant on their own. If you tried to dive without adding anything, your body would float, so weights made of lead go on your belt or BCD to create a state of "neutral buoyancy" — neither sinking nor floating underwater. Too light and you won't sink easily; too heavy and you'll need to add extra air to your BCD, which hurts both your posture and the efficiency of your fin kicks.
Why Did It Feel So Different Between Okinawa and Shakotan?
I dive in a wetsuit in Okinawa's Kerama Islands and a drysuit in Hokkaido's Shakotan, and even with the same body, the amount of weight I needed was completely different. A few factors stack up here.
- Buoyancy differences by suit type: a drysuit has more buoyancy than a wetsuit, and it also varies with how thick the inner layer underneath is
- Differences from suit thickness: a thin wetsuit for warm water and a thicker suit for cold water have different buoyancy
- Differences from tank material: aluminum and steel tanks have different buoyancy characteristics of their own
Because these factors stack together, "the weight that was just right last area" won't necessarily carry over to the next one as-is. It threw me off every time at first, but adjusting little by little on each dive gradually let me develop my own feel for it.
Does Fin Choice Also Change How It Feels?
The material of your fins also makes a big difference to how easy it is to swim. When I was using stiff, plastic-type fins, I found it hard work swimming on the surface with air in my BCD. The balance against the fins' own buoyancy was off, and I couldn't generate the propulsion I wanted. Adding ankle weights (weights worn at the ankle) largely resolved this difficulty.
Later, I also switched my fins themselves to Bio Fins Pro, and that was extremely comfortable too, improving ease of swimming both on the surface and underwater. Even under the same heading of "weight," I've come to feel that adjusting the balance to include your fins as well, not just the weight on your belt, makes a big difference to how comfortable diving is overall.
Summary
The right amount of weight is determined not just by your build but by the area you dive, your suit type, and even your compatibility with your fins. Feeling thrown off each time you change area or suit is completely natural, so don't rush — check it every time and find the balance that works for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I check whether I have the right amount of weight?
A. A common method is checking whether you can hover still at eye level on the surface, with the air out of your BCD, near the end of a dive when your tank pressure is low.
Q. Do I need to change my weight when I change diving area?
A. Yes. Buoyancy changes based on suit type, thickness, and tank material, so it's a good idea to re-check on your first dive whenever you change area or suit.
Q. Does a drysuit need more weight than a wetsuit?
A. A drysuit generally has more buoyancy than a wetsuit, and it also varies with how thick the inner layer you wear underneath is, so it usually needs somewhat more weight.
Q. What problems can stiff fins cause?
A. Stiff, plastic-type fins can make it hard to keep your balance and generate propulsion when swimming on the surface with air in your BCD. Adding ankle weights can sometimes fix this.
Q. Who are ankle weights recommended for?
A. They're recommended for anyone who finds surface swimming hard with lightweight fins, or whose legs tend to float up, making their posture unstable.