Mermet DOG Days Oct 6-7 2007

[do it easy]

I'm thinking about heading down for this event and was wondering if anyone else was planning on going.

I'm in the market for a new suit, so I thought I would try a few different models, get measured, get some BBQ, do a few dives, lather, rinse, repeat.

Tickets are $8 in advance, $13 at the door. Glen has a reduced entry fee of $15 for test divers. Did I mention that you get a free hat?

The event is 9am-5pm Saturday and 9am-4pm Sunday. Lunch is 11am-2pm. There is a Saturday evening dinner, although I'm not sure if there is a separate fee for it.

Things to Bring
Basic scuba equipment including mask, snorkel, open heel fins, regulator with octopus and gauges, tank, weights, BCD, and hood. We will have over 100 drysuits available so we should have plenty for all. We will have larger fins available in case your fins do not fit the drysuit boots. We also have DUI hoods, BCS systems and Weight & Trim systems available for demo.
While you are welcome to bring undergarments of your own, we will have Polartec®, Thinsulate® and polar fleece garments to demo as well as booties to wear on your feet inside the drysuit.
Diver certification card and credit card for deposit
Wear clothing appropriate for the weather and bring your own favorite snacks, drinks, etc.
Cameras are a great idea. We will be happy to take pictures of you and your friends.

More info from the DUI website (http://www.dui-online.com/2007_rally_detail.asp?ID=3)

[DeepDiverBob]

I will most likely be there, since my new shop actually supports events like this. Hope to see you down there.

[Quarrior]

I will most likely be there, since my new shop actually supports events like this. Hope to see you down there.I heard you moved shops. Congrats.

[theskull]

I love the DOG Days event, but have already booked a houseboat trip on Table Rock Lake for that weekend.

theskull

[nauifins73]

I love the DOG Days event, but have already booked a houseboat trip on Table Rock Lake for that weekend.

theskull

Which houseboat company do you use? My shop goes down each month April thru Oct. They use Tri-Lakes out of Kimberling City.

[theskull]

Which houseboat company do you use? My shop goes down each month April thru Oct. They use Tri-Lakes out of Kimberling City.

That's the one!

theskull

[do it easy]

Anyone else planning on going?

I'm planning on being there Saturday and Sunday. I would like to go back to that BBQ Buggy chuckwagon restaraunt- the ribs alone should get people crawling out from under the rocks. :D

[MgicTwnger]

Anyone else planning on going?

I'm planning on being there Saturday and Sunday. I would like to go back to that BBQ Buggy chuckwagon restaraunt- the ribs alone should get people crawling out from under the rocks. :D
I doubt that I can make it,Tony. See you the week after on the Enterprise.

[reefraff]

I'll be there all weekend, diving on the 727 and searching for the power source for those @#$% underwater speakers. :D In addition to the DUI demo, the little hamlet of Metropolis is hosting a barbeque and blues music festival - they roll up the sidewalks pretty early Saturday night but Friday evening is a blast.

If I don't see you on the street, stop by the Scuba Emporium bench at the quarry and say "howdy."

[do it easy]

OK, that's it! I'm not organizing any more events like this since everyone bailed on me ;)

The DOG days was a blast! Kudos to Mermet, DUI, and DAN for hosting such a great time- I tried several suits with various undergarments. I got to test dive every combination I could think of. I was like a kid in a toy shop- a drysuit toyshop! The event went pretty smoothly from check-in to actually getting in the water- they had guides to lead people around who weren't drysuit certified. I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about buying a drysuit since you can compare various options and find the combinations that work for you.

I also met Eric from Y-kiki, who filled in for Bob, and I did a dive with Kevin from Scuba Emporium, who filled in for Steven. :D

[steve2281]

So Tony, did you decide on a new suit??

Actually, I'm in the market for a new suit myself, but I had to work all week-end. I haven't been to a DUI Day in a few years, but they were always lots of fun.

[do it easy]

Yup, I think I'll go with a CLX450. It's not as limber as the TLS350, but it's not restrictive and I think it will wear better over time.

I tried both the TLS and CLX suits, both with my undergarments and also with the 400G thinsulate ones. I did one dive with wrist seals, but after that, I used the Zipgloves- I can't think of any good reason why my hands should be wet when I dive. :D

[reefraff]

Yup, I think I'll go with a CLX450. It's not as limber as the TLS350, but it's not restrictive and I think it will wear better over time.

I tried both the TLS and CLX suits, both with my undergarments and also with the 400G thinsulate ones. I did one dive with wrist seals, but after that, I used the Zipgloves- I can't think of any good reason why my hands should be wet when I dive. :DI hear it was a good time, sorry that I couldn't make it. Re: wrist seals, just remember that it's not uncommon to tear a hole in a glove, without the wrist seals as a back-up to the gloves it is hard to avoid becoming very wet.

[scububa]

Yup, I think I'll go with a CLX450. It's not as limber as the TLS350, but it's not restrictive and I think it will wear better over time.

I tried both the TLS and CLX suits, both with my undergarments and also with the 400G thinsulate ones. I did one dive with wrist seals, but after that, I used the Zipgloves- I can't think of any good reason why my hands should be wet when I dive. :D

It is hard to imagine you won't be happy with a 450. I like mine. And, I bet theskull, DDB, and SLIM will agree. They all have 450s. DDB and I think theskull have the gloves. Not sure if SLIM has them, but have never seen him use them. Seems one of the neat things agbout zips is you can easily change at a later time.

[laurie12r]

Glen has a reduced entry fee of $15 for test divers.

Excuse my ignorance, but what are "test divers"? :confused:

[do it easy]

Test divers are the lucky fools who go on to try on DUI drysuits. Everyone who tries on a drysuit is a test diver- it's a try-it-before-you-buy-it kind of deal. They roll out 150 drysuits in various sizes and let people try different styles and options so they can see what they like, what they dislike, turn ons, turn offs, etc.

[laurie12r]

Interesting. I seem to always be cold, even in the 7m wetsuits we wore. Maybe I need to be one of those 'lucky fool' test divers! ;)

[theskull]

Interesting. I seem to always be cold, even in the 7m wetsuits we wore. Maybe I need to be one of those 'lucky fool' test divers! ;)

You're new at this, so don't be in a rush to spend lots of money until you're really hooked . . .

. . . but if you're going to be a midwest diver, not just someone in the midwest who is certified to dive, a drysuit is the answer. We dive 12 months a year, always in comfort. Wetsuit divers have about a 6 month season--if they don't mind getting cold after they get out of the water--a 4 month season for most.

But you are talking between $1,000 and $2500 for each of you for the suits, and you are likely to need new fins as well - and a hood if the one you own is a hooded vest or has a tuck-in flap.

So glad to have another enthusiastic diver (2) around.

theskull

[DeepDiverBob]

It is hard to imagine you won't be happy with a 450. I like mine. And, I bet theskull, DDB, and SLIM will agree. They all have 450s. DDB and I think theskull have the gloves. Not sure if SLIM has them, but have never seen him use them. Seems one of the neat things agbout zips is you can easily change at a later time.

I do indeed love my CLX450, but its rare that I need it from April to October. I do enjoy my dry gloves, too. But as suggested, I keep a spare set of seals with me, and neoprene gloves, just in case.