Dry Suit Demo

[M&P+4]

I had my first opportunity to try out a dry suit this weekend at Wazee. I wish I had more time to try it out.

I had a few observations...

the first is that diving with a bubble floating around in your suit would take a little bit to get used to.
What surprised me the most was how cold my wrists got. It was suggested to not mess with the dry gloves at first just to make things less complicated.
I was over weighted also. I normally dive wet with 32 lbs and it seems to be just about right...just heavy enough to hang out at the safety stop with 500 psi left. I sunk like a rock with the dry suit and needed to put some air in my BC after I realized that the air I was putting in my suit was just being vented off. I did make an adjustment to the vent on the return trip, but I think I would prefer to use my BC for bouyancy and only put enough air in the suit to compensate for squeeze. I realize that this is a big debate, but that would be my initial preference.
Looking back I should have planned to be there earlier and stay longer. I also would have liked to drop a little deeper to get into the coldest temps to see how it performed. Overall it was a good experience and I would love to do it again.

Also ran into Matt...hope you can go in the lake next year Matt.

[Finally Swimming]

[QUOTE=M&P+4]I had my first opportunity to try out a dry suit this weekend at Wazee. I wish I had more time to try it out.


He can't blaim me, I wasn't there...this time. That's what he gets for taking a friend and not his 'buddy'

[theskull]

M&P+4,

There is no bubble floating around in your suit when it fits and is dived correctly. As you stated, you were overweighted and trying to use the suit for buoyancy control--2 big mistakes, both of which are very common in those new to drysuits.

Proper weighting for a DS takes a fair amount of trial and error, and error. Also, it will change depending on how much insulation you wear under the DS.

You should indeed be able to use the DS for buoyancy control, to pass the certification class and to be prepared to use it as a backup should your BC inflator fail or freeze. But you are right that the best way to dive it is to only use as much air in the DS as you need to remove squeeze. Buoyancy controlled by the BC as usual.

Hope your next attempt is more enjoyable. It really does take a couple dozen dives in a DS to really get comfortable with it, so don't be impatient. And a little too much weight is better than a little bit not enough.

Happy and safe diving,
theskull

[M&P+4]

The weighting part was what threw me off. I had heard that a ds required more weight....not less. Maybe the more weight was referring to a neoprene ds instead of just a shell.

I did have a great time though...learned a lot and have a lot more to look forward to.

[M&P+4]

...trying to use the suit for buoyancy control--2 big mistakes, both of which are very common in those new to drysuits.

theskull

The DUI instructor said to use the ds for bouyancy...it doesn't sound like there is a concensus among agencies. I guess there are pro's and con's to either.

[theskull]

The DUI instructor said to use the ds for bouyancy...it doesn't sound like there is a concensus among agencies. I guess there are pro's and con's to either.

All agencies teach this method first. That way you only have one source of buoyancy to inflate and deflate and have less task loading.

Once you pass the class, most instructors will then show you how to really dive the suit--just enough air added as you descend to remove squeeze, vent left wide open so it will vent as you ascend as long as you are in the right position. You must also allow for the fact that not all DS instructors are proficient in diving a DS!!!! Some only dive the suit when they are being paid to teach the course (sad).

The majority of divers use approximately the same amount of weight with a DS as they do when they dive a 7mm wetsuit. This assumes the suit fits properly, will not be overinflated, and is not made of neoprene (crushed neoprene is OK).

theskull