Global Diving Weight Calculator
Accurately calculate the weight needed for your dives anywhere in the world. Our advanced calculator accounts for all critical factors and provides visual breakdowns of your weighting requirements.
Diver Information
Recommended Diving Weight
Enter your details and click calculate to see your recommended diving weight.
Weight Breakdown
Weight Distribution Visualization
Factors Affecting Diving Weight Requirements
1. Body Weight and Composition
Your body weight and composition significantly impact buoyancy. Muscle is denser than fat, so muscular divers may require less weight than those with higher body fat percentages. As a starting point:
- Saltwater: 7-10% of body weight
- Freshwater: 2-5% of body weight
These percentages vary based on individual physiology and should be adjusted through buoyancy checks.
2. Exposure Suit Type and Thickness
Wetsuits and drysuits add significant buoyancy that must be counteracted with weight. Thicker suits require more weight:
- 1mm wetsuit: +0.5-1 kg
- 3mm wetsuit: +1.5-3 kg
- 5mm wetsuit: +3-5 kg
- 7mm wetsuit: +5-7 kg
- Drysuit: +6-10 kg (varies with undergarments)
New suits are more buoyant than older, compressed suits. Material (neoprene vs. crushed neoprene) also affects buoyancy.
3. Tank Material and Size
Tank buoyancy changes throughout the dive and varies by material:
- Aluminum tanks: Become positively buoyant when empty (+1 to +3 kg)
- Steel tanks: Remain negatively buoyant when empty (-1 to -5 kg)
Technical divers using multiple tanks may need less weight than recreational divers using aluminum tanks.
4. Water Type
Saltwater is denser than freshwater, providing more buoyancy:
- Saltwater requires 3-5 kg more weight than freshwater
- Seawater salinity varies by location (Mediterranean vs. Red Sea)
- Freshwater diving (lakes, quarries) requires less weight
5. Additional Equipment
Extra gear affects your buoyancy profile:
- Camera systems: +0.5-3 kg
- Dive lights: +0.3-0.8 kg each
- SMBs and reels: +0.2-0.5 kg
- Technical diving equipment: Varies significantly
Remember to account for all equipment when calculating weight needs.
Global Considerations for Diving Weight
Weight requirements vary around the world due to equipment preferences, water conditions, and training standards:
Australia & Pacific
Typically use 3-5mm wetsuits. Aluminum tanks standard. Saltwater diving requires 7-10% body weight plus suit compensation.
Southeast Asia
Warm waters mean thinner suits (1-3mm). Often use aluminum tanks. Weight requirements lower than colder regions.
Mediterranean
Moderate temperatures (5-7mm suits). Saltwater density varies from west to east. Steel tanks more common in technical diving.
Caribbean
Warm saltwater with 3mm suits common. Aluminum tanks standard. Average weight requirements: 5-8% of body weight plus suit weight.
North America
Varies by region - cold water diving on coasts (7mm/drysuits), freshwater in lakes. Tank preferences vary regionally.
Europe (North)
Colder waters require drysuits. Steel tanks standard. Higher weight requirements (8-12kg average).
Regardless of location, always perform a buoyancy check at the beginning of your dive trip and when changing equipment configurations. Water salinity, suit compression, and personal factors can alter your weighting needs.