It's been a while since I went diving and have gained some weight. Can someone tell me how much weight I should put on my weight belt to start with. I'm 250 pounds and very buoyant. How much weight should I initially put on my belt?

That depends upon a couple of factors. Where are you diving and what kind of exposure suit are you wearing?

You will be more buoyant in salt water than in fresh. Also, the thicker the suit you are wearing the more lead you'll need to get under.

In a 7mm wetsuit, in salt water, generally you are going to shoot for 10% of your body weight plus 4 pounds of lead. In a new suit you may need a few extra pounds until it's been compressed a few times.

In fresh water you'll shoot for more along the lines of 10% of your body weight.