Diving Dry

Dsix36

I know that I am opening myself up to get a real flaming from some of you divers. I have decided that I don't care and am still going to post this question:

How do you dive with a drysuit?

Go ahead, let me have it. I am not taking a class. I am going to my neighbors pool tomorrow and next weekend off the boat I go.

I have talked to several people who dive dry and gotten a wealth of info, plus all of the online research that I can find. The drysuit even had instructions with it.

I realize that I know most of the initial info needed, but want to make sure that I am not missing any vital info.

I understand purging before diving, venting for ascent, how to deal with ankles full of air, and added bouyancy issues.

My first dive will be next to a shot line that I can grab if my ascent gets out of control.

OK, go ahead and give me hell. I will still appreciate any and all pertinant drysuit diving information.

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quickean

Get Steve Barsky's book if you don't already have it.

Amazon.com: Dry Suit Diving, Third Edition: Books: Steven M. Barsky,Dick Long,Bob Stinton

Sutty

One important think (IMHO) is to practise (in fairly harmless depths) correcting a buoyant ascent if inverted, ie getting the right way up FAST (preferably BEFORE your boots/fins pop off your feet) and dumping drysuit gas to halt your ascent. Being aware of gas migration within the suit is needed to avoid problems, especially if your suit is not a good fit and/or you are overweighted. One possibility is to use your wing rather than suit for buoyancy control, and just enough gas in the suit to avoid squeeze, then have your shoulder dump fully open once you start your ascent. Other people just use the suit for buoyancy control and have the wing empty until arriving on the surface. Both systems have their pros, cons, and advocates!

Neil

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hoppyinca

no class for me either... just careful practice in a pool with friends, only one of whom had previously dived dry (albeit in england... bbrrrrrr!).
IMHO feet up acsent is the thing to be most aware of, as you mentioned.

be prepared to play with undergarments and weighting.

I only use enough fill gas to keep the pinch off, wing still used for bouyancy control. once you go dry there is no going back. people still laugh at me in Hawaii when I put my dry suit on, but after 2.5 hours in the water, they're cold, I'm contemplating flooding my suit to cool down (not quite that extreme on the warm, but you get the idea)!

be safe, practice practice practice!

hoppy

diverreb

Not a big deal..... Just takes a little getting used to & best to use it a few times in a controlled environment. Make sure the seals aren't too tight, especially around the neck. If your veins are popping out and your face is red... They are way too tight. Try the inversion techniques a few times to see what it takes to right yourself.

Some divers use gators or other restriction type devices to help keep air out of the foot area. Just be vigilant in the beginning about how much air is in the suit and what position you are diving in. After a bit it just become second nature.

Most importantly.... No Peeing in a drysuit!!!

Richie

Hk101gr

I don't think a course is needed. I wouldn't take one either...
Just listen to the advice you were given and practice with your suit until you get the hang of it.

dlh

Where are you diving? Not Florida I hope!

My suggestions:
* Figure out your proper weighting in the pool wearing all of the layers of underclothes you'll use in open water!!!!
* Plan to adjust your weights again in open water
* Go slow
* Keep the dump valve fully open all of the time
* Have a buddy who know how to dive dry stick close and have them carry a couple of extra ankle weights they can clip on if you need it.
* On ascent take your time, and focus on dumping all the air you need to

* Finally - Stick to 30-40 fsw on your first dive or two.

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Mark Chase

Its a bit like ice skating. You feel all over the place at first but once you gain the confidence you fly around feeling great and suddenly find your self on your arse.

I don't honestly think professional training helps, its just and experience thing. Do loads of practice ascents and throw in somersaults and full inverts to allow you to understand the mechanics of dealing with it when it accidentally happens.

Tot tip, Neoprene suits are easier to dive than membrane. They are tighter fitting and take less air to keep you warm so the gas bubble is easier to control.

ATB

Mark

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nigelh

The only non-obvious drill is the old drysuit somersault. Tuck and fin to get dump valve back on top if your feet start to run away with you. There again you have to put way too much gas in the suit for that to happen.

I don't normally use the suit as my sole buoyancy device but I do practise it as a 'get out of jail free' card for those times when the wing inflate source fails or is just running low. That said if your weighting is right taking the squeeze off the suit leaves you pretty much back to neutral. That's the advantage of not having to allow for using up several kilos of gas every dive. Also make sure you can snap off the inflater if it starts to self inflate. It's never happened to me but I've seen it twice. Both times on people who had seperate suit bottles but no OPV.

I just put enough gas in it to stay comfortable and leave the auto dump wide open so it dumps on the way up. Do your buoyancy check dumping the suit in the water so it is based on what comes out not what you can force out. When you hit the surface apres dive wind the dump up tight and gas the suit a bit as you might be last in line for a pick up and the waves will 'massage' the gas out.

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nigelh

chunter

I always wear a diaper. It is not only stylish to prance around the boat on, it reduces squeze in important areas and is there if you need it. Whether I use it Depends on how well hydrated I am, and how long the dive is.

I never took a drysuit class either (until I became a drysuit instructor). I'm an advocate of being certain that you are properly weighted and only having enough gas in the suit to make it comfortable. A little extra weight makes a big difference to buoyancy control with a drysuit. Start with what you think you need, and remove weight until you are borderline positive.

Aloha,
Charlie

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