Started my drysuit class today

[fnfalman]

I went to the local Boise LDS and got started on my drysuit cert and did the pool portion today while using the Whites Fusion suit. It doesn't seem too bad, knock on wood. I didn't have any problem with getting the weight dialed in (for fresh water), establish neutral buoyancy, dealing with bubbles in the feet, run away inflation, etc. Next week I'll do the cert dives at Blue Lake in Nevada. Week after that, I'm renting the suit to do some Casino Point diving when I pay another visit to SoCal.

I'm not convinced that a drysuit is a necessity for me and my kind of diving which is primarily SoCal, but I'll give it a whirl. If I like it, the LDS will deduct the class's cost from the suit's purchase price. One thing for sure, if I were to want to do some ice diving in Idaho lakes through this winter, then I'll need the drysuit for sure be it rental or purchase.

 

[mselenaous]

Another Fusion Power Ranger! HT, you'll hate drysuit for the first 20-25 dives and then a light will click like magic. I didn't believe anyone who told me this and then one day, click, voila'...I saw the light - I was diving the Yukon that day. And yes you'll feel like a noob allover again with your bouyancy, be patient. Have fun! Post some reports about diving in your local area. Give the Casino Pt gang a hug for me.

 

[Scott L]

Drysuit, eh? What next? Neck bungeed Octo?

 

[Scott]

Next week I'll do the cert dives at Blue Lake in Nevada.

:shocked2:

 

[Bogie]

For me, a drysuit is a necessity in 50 degree water. It takes a while to get used to a drysuit but it becomes second nature after numerous dives.

 

[TSandM]

You just wait until your SoCal dives. You're going to find out that your second and third dives are longer and far more comfortable!

 

[fnfalman]

Another Fusion Power Ranger! HT, you'll hate drysuit for the first 20-25 dives and then a light will click like magic. I didn't believe anyone who told me this and then one day, click, voila'...I saw the light - I was diving the Yukon that day. And yes you'll feel like a noob allover again with your bouyancy, be patient. Have fun! Post some reports about diving in your local area. Give the Casino Pt gang a hug for me.

I do notice that I need to kick harder or more to get the same propulsion. Good excuse for slowing down, eh? Buoyancy wasn't bad in still water, but I'm sure it'd be more challenging in the ocean. Otherwise, it wasn't bad at all. Currently I prefer to manually vent when I ascend than leave the valve on automatic.

Drysuit, eh? What next? Neck bungeed Octo?

It's a drysuit class and not a drysuit purchase (knock on wood). I've already done the neck octo. It ain't all that. I'd take my inline octo any day.

You just wait until your SoCal dives. You're going to find out that your second and third dives are longer and far more comfortable!

More comfortable, I'm sure but I doubt that it would be any longer. Unless there is something just utterly spectacular about a particular dive site, I usually get bored by the 50-minutes mark.

Definitely looking forward to doing the Blue Lake in Nevada. And looking forward to doing Casino Point/ocean in drysuit.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Currently I prefer to manually vent when I ascend than leave the valve on automatic.

Expect this to change.

More comfortable, I'm sure but I doubt that it would be any longer. Unless there is something just utterly spectacular about a particular dive site, I usually get bored by the 50-minutes mark.

If you're getting bored in that time frame, you must not be interested in the macro-life.
There's a lot of stuff to see that's camouflaged or very slow-moving. You have the opportunity to appreciate this when you can remain in one spot for 10 minutes or more. At least that's what my dive buddies and I do. I see wetsuit divers whizzing by us all the time. They complain that there's "nothing to see" where we dive.

Have fun out there...

 

[DwayneJ]

I do not like Aqualung but love my Fusion. I pretty much dive with it all year around. I will likely send it in this summer for preventative maintenance and the installation of replaceable seals. No real issues with bubble control as I only add enough air to minimize squeeze.

It fits like a second skin and most importantly, because that yellow/red wetsuit rocks, there is a choice of skin colors... You can go one step further and upgrade to a Starfleet approved skin...

http://www.roddenberry.com/roddenberry/dive-team/rdt-fusion-sport-drysuit-skin.html

 

[fnfalman]

If you're getting bored in that time frame, you must not be interested in the macro-life.
There's a lot of stuff to see that's camouflaged or very slow-moving. You have the opportunity to appreciate this when you can remain in one spot for 10 minutes or more. At least that's what my dive buddies and I do. I see wetsuit divers whizzing by us all the time. They complain that there's "nothing to see" where we dive.

Have fun out there...

With all due respect, you haven't dove with me. You have no idea how slow or fast I dive. Apropos of nothing, my photographer buddies never had to complain.

Besides, there is good chow waiting topside after every dive; and as lovely as the dives are, nothing beats fresh ocean breeze and island vistas.

Dwayne,

ASSUMING that I dig it enough to buy the Fusion, I'd see if I can get the Bullet skin in yellow...otherwise, I may have to play an Asian Captain Kirk.:shocked2: