Thought i had a handle on this, until....

[traveler218]

I know I am probably opening myself up for a lot of criticism, but I am hoping some of it will be constructive.

My last four dives have been drift dives in Jupiter and West Palm Beach. On all four of them I really thought I had my buoyancy dialed in. I was able to execute an controlled descent, maintain neutral buoyancy and control my depth through my breathing. I maintained this through my ascent and safety stop. It was a real boost to my overall confidence as a diver.

But then...
I had an experience this weekend that really makes me stop and think. I attended a DUI dry-suit demo event in Pelham, Al this weekend. As is usually the case I showed up not knowing anyone at the event. From the beginning I made it clear that I was not very experienced and had absolutely no familiarity with a drysuit. I was assured I would be put with an instructor who would make sure I understood the operation of the suit and ensure that I was properly weighted.

I went through the fitting, suited up and went down to the water. When I reached the dock, I was told to go ahead and enter the water and wait on the dive platform. At this point I was told to make sure I had sufficient weight in my BC. I did some quick calculations based on what I had heard and decided I needed about 16 lbs.

When I was finally paired with an "instructor" the only instruction I got was "meet me on the lower platform". As I started my descent I quickly realized I did not have enough weight to overcome my buoyancy, so I returned to the upper platform and asked for more weight. The only size weights they had remaining were 3lb'ers. So in order to remain balanced they placed two in the rear tank pockets. I was then able to defend to the lower platform and demonstrate neutral buoyancy. We started out from the platform as a group, but I just could not seem to control my trim. Every time I would turn to look around me the I would role onto my back and have to fight to right myself. Then through the compression one fin became loose and came off. While retrieving my fin, I lost buoyancy control and ended up on the bottom (40 ft). By this time the instructor was panicked and took me back to the dock.

All in all I felt like that newbie diver that didn't learn a thing from his OW course. A thoroughly unpleasant dive experience.

I guess the big question is how to avoided this sort of incident in the future (short of Not diving anymore)?

 

[00wabbit]

I wouldn't be so worried. You are new and trying new things. Drysuits are weird and take a lot longer to get used to. It could be you were in a suit a little too big so the air was moving around on you too much.

The instructor should have been more attentive because they want you to buy a suit.

When you do decide to go dry make sure to take the drysuit class. It will help you lean how to handle the suit.

Ive only got about 20 drysuit dives and still feel a long way from comfortable with my bouyancy but I get better each time and its nice being warm. The good thing is when you switch back to a wetsuit after a drysuit your bouyancy is so much more improved.

 

[fisheater]

It's simply that learning to dive a drysuit is just like learning to dive all over again.

Fear not. You did well.

 

[pocky21]

I remember my first drysuit dive. I must have looked like the world's fattest see-saw, bobbing head to toe...occasionally corking and fighting to right myself. Had we not been in 15-25' of water, my instructor probably would have freaked.

That was right around 35 dives for me, and I considered myself confident in my skills at the time. That giant plastic bag called a drysuit changes things quite a bit - so don't worry - I assure you that you weren't anywhere near as bad as my classmate, who scared the instructor so badly she wouldn't let her finish the class without a significant pool investment.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

A very good lesson... diving is easy when everything works and you know your gear. Change something, make a mistake and problems can escalate quickly. Remember this lesson when you contemplate changing gear... Don't make changes in more than one thing at a time, if you can possibly do so.

Doesn't sound like a big deal to me... so you scared the instructor...Better than rocketing to the surface....

 

[TSandM]

I've heard a lot of people say that it took 20 dives in their dry suit before they felt they were back at the level of competence they were before. And a demo event where people are being marched through, and the instructors are completely uncompensated, is not the best venue for getting careful attention and assistance.

I wouldn't feel bad at all. You added a significant layer of complexity to your equipment with essentially no advice or assistance, and you didn't hurt yourself. Altogether not a disaster at all.

 

[clownfishsydney]

Same as the above, it takes time for most people to get used to a drysuit. Make sure that you do easy dives once you get one till you are experienced. By the way, I have dived Pelham Blue Hole, reasonably interesting dive site for a quarry.

 

[traveler218]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. It makes me feel that I did completely lose it. I actually changed several peices of gear that day. Not only was I in an unfamiliar drysuit, it was the first time I had used my new Zeagle Stiletto BC and my new fins. Too much change all at the same time.

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[Jim Lapenta]

This is one of the complaints I have with demo days and newer divers or divers with no experience in using the gear. The fun is taken right out of it for a number of people because the instructors are often there to sell gear. Not give instruction. Or to keep people from killing themselves. And that hasn't always worked either. Demo days need to be separated into two different sections. One day or time period for experienced divers and maybe just those experienced with the gear being demo'd, and one day for those who have never tried it at all. On that day instructors should actually use the time to teach, even if it's just the bare basics, and actually show people what to do. And no instructor should have more than one buddy team at a time. They should be treated just as if they were doing a discover for the first time. Just because of what happens or may happen.

You did seriously overload yourself. Who told you about this event or encouraged you to try it? If it was a shop or instructor they did you a disservice. If it was your own idea I'd advise you to go back to your manuals or your instructor and ask them about too many changes too soon.

What happened to you is unfortunately not unexpected given your level of training and experience. I'd have been surprised if it didn't given the circumstances. If you were my student I'd have advised you against doing it unless I was there with you. And if I was running the event and could not personally accompany you or make sure another instructor could, I'd have told you sorry. You need to get more experience as a diver in general or bring your instructor with you. I would not have let you do the demo cold like that.
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[dumpsterDiver]

I remember when I got my first one. I read the few pages of a manual, heard a few horror stories about flipping upside down and then I strapped on 40 plus pounds of lead and then got my dad to drive me to the local quarry to try it out (solo). There were no courses and no lessons. I think I was 15 yrs old. It was at a time before BC inflators were commonly used, so having a power inflating suit and ditching the BC vest was pretty nice actually..