say goodbye to extra weight and hello to longer, easier dives

"It's always better to be too heavy than too light in scuba diving," or so I used to think. Early in my dive career, I would add a couple of extra pounds "just to be safe." I didn’t realize that this approach was not only doing me a disservice but could also be potentially dangerous.

Carrying too much weight caused me to burn through my air supply faster than I should have. Why? Because I was constantly inflating and deflating my BCD, trying to control my buoyancy. I’d descend too quickly, which put me at risk of injuring my eardrums by not equalizing properly. On top of that, swimming with extra weight made me work harder, leaving me more out of breath, which again meant consuming more air.

I also didn't realize that being overweighted could be dangerous in an emergency. If you need to drop your weights to ascend quickly, too much weight could cause you to shoot to the surface too fast, increasing the risk of decompression sickness.

Then, one day, a guide took the time to properly weight our group before the dive began. The difference was incredible. I suddenly found myself using less air, my dives lasted longer, and swimming was far easier. I wasn’t fiddling with my buoyancy as much, and for the first time, I felt that "zen" state underwater. I could take in the sights, marvel at the wildlife, and just enjoy the experience.

zenfinder - the weight estimator in SCUBAzen

That transformative experience is exactly why I created zenfinder, the weight & wetsuit estimator in SCUBAzen. There are so many factors that affect buoyancy—different types and conditions of wetsuits, equipment, and dive environments—that getting your weight right can feel like guesswork before you even get in the water.

Taking the time to calibrate your weight on the surface is important but can also cost you valuable dive time and air. The weight estimator in SCUBAzen is designed to get you within 2 pounds (1 kg) of your ideal weight. This way, you can make small adjustments if needed at the surface and start your dive with confidence.

With the right weighting, you'll find that zen state from the very beginning of your dive—effortless buoyancy, reduced air consumption, and the freedom to truly enjoy the underwater world without unnecessary worry.