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Drysuit Do's and Don'ts


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126 replies to this topic

#121 Guest_TexasStarfish_*

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Posted 06 September 2007 - 11:31 AM

This is a great thread! Considering I haven't used my dry suit in two years, I've been doing a lot of warm water diving. Just one more tip, that if you are rusty in your dry suit skills, use it in the pool first. I need to set up some time for that as I'll be diving year round this year as I resume teaching this weekend.

:birthday:

#122 georoc01

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Posted 16 September 2007 - 07:09 PM

Some thoughts..

1) Dry Suit didn't seem to be totally dry. between perspiration, and the slightest issue with any seal, and some type of pin hole in the boots of my rental boots assured this. Wearing socks really didn't seem to be wise given that my feet were fairly wet after every dive.

2) Suit squeeze is a unique experience. From the first time you step in the water, even in the shallow end of the pool, you feel it. It also pushes your bouyancy to another level in that you now have this air pocket to balance within your suit. My instructor wanted us to handle our bouyancy 100% with the suit, no adding air to your bcd. And with the dump valve on your left shoulder, you have to make sure this isn't your highest point when trying to add air. I should add that she had us diving with the valve wide open. But I had one dive where I was adding air and couldn't figure out why I was still decending.

3) Even with the squeeze, I can see why people prefer it over the thicker wetsuit combos. I was suprised how much your undergarments made a difference in your bouyancy and the amount of lead I needed. I had to add 10lbs going from the pool to the open water, due to the undergarments.

It was a fun weekend learning about this type of diving, and will probably end up getting one if I continue to dive in the cold waters around here.

#123 PerroneFord

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Posted 16 September 2007 - 08:56 PM

Addressing your concerns.

1. Proper undergaments can leave you very dry. I tend to wear a wicking layer under everything. Usually underarmour for warmth which doesn't wick all that well, but the Nike ShpereDry is incredible. Then an undergarment that moves water away from the body. When using this kind of combination, I finish my dives very dry. I use a drysuit sock and an overboot. I didn't want pinholes in my boots to cause me to have wet feet.

2. Gotta love squeeze! :thankyou: I disagree with using the suit for buoyancy for a lot of reasons. I leave my suit squeezed as much as possible when I dive. The BCD makes a much better buoyancy device than the suit.

3. With the thick wetsuit, you are consticted AND wet. And often cold. With the drysuit, you are warm, and dry, and not so constricted if you put some air in the suit. It's worth every dime it cost me.

I'll use my suit in cold as well as warm water. The backup buoyancy is welcome, and I MUCH prefer being dry when I get out of the water.

#124 ScubaDadMiami

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Posted 16 September 2007 - 10:12 PM

I agree with everything Perrone said. I use Polarmax silk weight long underwear under everything. This absorbs moisture (and odor). Then, I wear my Thinsulate underwear over that. Works very well.

I thought I had permanent welts and wrinkles after my 3:15 cave dive. So, I must have had the squeeze on just about right. :flower:
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#125 pir8

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Posted 17 September 2007 - 07:22 AM

Almost time to go Dry again. Probably next month.
Never say Never! Its almost as long a time as always!

#126 shadragon

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Posted 17 September 2007 - 07:47 AM

Almost time to go Dry again. Probably next month.

Hmmm, and here I am with every summer dive in a dry suit... ~sigh~ I suppose on the up side my gear is all ready for the winter dive season. hahaha
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#127 pir8

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Posted 17 September 2007 - 09:13 AM

Almost time to go Dry again. Probably next month.

Hmmm, and here I am with every summer dive in a dry suit... ~sigh~ I suppose on the up side my gear is all ready for the winter dive season. hahaha

First time I dove the St Lawrence I figured Canada must be cold H2O. Of course it was July and I sweated my _____ off cause I brought my dry suit. I like to be wet, just not cold.
Never say Never! Its almost as long a time as always!




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