Dry Suit Class

[Atlaua]

Well, I finally signed up for my dry suit class today! Now maybe I'll get to dive in between October and March, or do Bonne Terre without freezing to death...

James

[DeepDiverBob]

you big baby...I dove Bonne Terre wet, and I didnt get cold. I'm sure it has nothing to do with all the extra, natural insulation I have that you dont.

[Atlaua]

you big baby...I dove Bonne Terre wet, and I didnt get cold. I'm sure it has nothing to do with all the extra, natural insulation I have that you dont.

7 mill & a hooded vest and I was shivering by the end of every dive, but then again I'm not even entertaining the idea of diving Mermet right now...

James

[Atlaua]

Did my drysuit poolwork tonight. A few observations:

1. It definatly changes things with bouyancy, but not near as much as a rebreather does.
2. Rental drysuit's suck.
3. It's not near as bad as the instructor made it out to be.

On number two, the shop, for obvious resasons size, drysuits for maximum coverage of body types. That means that my XL drysuit was about a foot too long and had 4xl boots.

One of the reasons I've always wanted to take DIR-F is the focus they put on trim. I've always been heavier in the lower half, probably because of my former life as a marathon runner. No matter how I play with weights I always go feet down at rest. This is made worse by the fact that I now dive the heaviest fins available. Well in a dry suit with shoes that are way too big, I had feet lighter than Fred Astair. I'm sure this would be much different in a properly sized suit. I never had any problems with going feet first and no problems with recovery from a feet first position, but still my feet were uncomforatably light the entire time.

On number 3. My instructor dives dry only as a last resort. He prefers wet and gave many cautions about being heavy and uncomfortable. I dive about 10lbs heavy when I am DM'ing, most DM's do because they have to be able to stop runaway students. This extra 10lbs was all I needed over a shorty. I was real happy about that, I didn't want to have to throw on 30lbs for a dry suit.

Over all I'd say that other than getting used to the ever changing air pocket and it's effect on bouyancy, I like it.

There have been many debates on wether to control boyancy with the suit or the BC. From what I have read the BC makes the most sense. My instructor agrees, but stresses that while you are learning you should use the suit. The reason is you need to learn to control with the suit and once you have you can switch back to the BC.

It's an excellent point and I will improve my DS bouyancy for a bit before I switch to the other method.

James

[DeepDiverBob]

As I read more into my tech books, if you go that route, you will need to be able to control yourself with both BC and DS.

I dont know if I have ever seen that many DMs at the pool before. That was funny.

[Atlaua]

I dont know if I have ever seen that many DMs at the pool before. That was funny.

Laugh it up :D. There were 3 in the class or 4? Not sure if Gordon's wife is a DM or not. I love a challange, and also think it's funny that I can demonstrate a good hover for students but have trouble doing it at all in a new environment :).

Air bubbles just don't shift that much in a BC...

Anyway if you wanted a good laugh you should have seen my rebreather class, you think re-learning bouyancy in a drysuit is funny, try watching it when the lungs are totally removed from the picture...

How did the doubles work out?

James

[DeepDiverBob]

I dont want to hijack this thread. Check the tech for my doubles up date.

[Atlaua]

On a side note I have a question for TheSkull, or anyone else who can answer.

I found with the drysuit that venting the suit was more dificult than I imagined. PADI recomends vertical ascents, and I found that even vertical, lifting the left forearm was not enough to vent, I had to do a chicken wing sort of thing to get the air in the right place to vent.

You've indicated at least some knowledge of GUE practices. They like the horizontal ascent. I played around a bit and could not figure out how I would get my arm in the right position to vent during a horizontal ascent.

Any thougths?

[MgicTwnger]

On a side note I have a question for TheSkull, or anyone else who can answer.

I found with the drysuit that venting the suit was more dificult than I imagined. PADI recomends vertical ascents, and I found that even vertical, lifting the left forearm was not enough to vent, I had to do a chicken wing sort of thing to get the air in the right place to vent.

You've indicated at least some knowledge of GUE practices. They like the horizontal ascent. I played around a bit and could not figure out how I would get my arm in the right position to vent during a horizontal ascent.

Any thougths?
A drysuit will never vent as quickly as a BC. Just one more thing to factor into the equation. I'm starting to get into the habit of leaving the valve open all the way, all the time. It only vents when I lift my arm into position, and I don't have to mess with the valve at all.

[Atlaua]

Well what a difference a few feet of water makes. Did the OW dives today and it felt like I had been diving it for years, though my air usage was a little higher than normal.

40 deg water and I felt much more comfortable than a 7mm w/hooded vest in 58 deg water. Beautiful stuff..

[steve2281]

On a side note I have a question for TheSkull, or anyone else who can answer.

I found with the drysuit that venting the suit was more dificult than I imagined. PADI recomends vertical ascents, and I found that even vertical, lifting the left forearm was not enough to vent, I had to do a chicken wing sort of thing to get the air in the right place to vent.

You've indicated at least some knowledge of GUE practices. They like the horizontal ascent. I played around a bit and could not figure out how I would get my arm in the right position to vent during a horizontal ascent.

Any thougths?

I can stay horizontal and vent my suit, however, it took some practice. I have found that in addition to raising my left arm, I have to roll slightly to the right. Valve placement also plays a part. I wish that my exhaust valve was a bit farther toward the outside part of the arm.

Hope this rolling doesn't give me problems if I ever get doubles.

[Atlaua]

I wish that my exhaust valve was a bit farther toward the outside part of the arm.

Yep, that's what I've been thinking, it's too far down on the inside of the arm, needs to be more outside.

James