Captain Swoop
Contributor
Wind Chill from a breeze can make it feel much colder when you get out compared to when you go in. Make sure you have a wind proof jacket or coat.
First cold water dives
- Thread starter Marie13
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Mid 40s is not super cold so you should have a good time! I always have a dry toque ready for the end of the dive because once I take off my hood, I get chilled with soaking wet hair even in my dry suit. Also before you go under, stick your face in the water without your mask and breathe with your reg, or at the very least just stick your face in the water. If I don't do this and I need to remove my mask or it floods, it literally takes my breath away and I find it difficult to start breathing again, my body just won't let me. It was scary the first time it happened! I see tbone already mentioned this though!
Try to actively get warm over the surface interval. I did two colder water dives in San Diego this summer. I was fine on the first dive and fine on the surface interval and cold towards the end of the second dive. My dive buddy, who has a lot of experience diving in SD, said trying to get warm (as opposed to just maintaining temp, which is what I did) over the surface interval would have helped.
One thing I forgot to mention is wrapping up between dives - take a big jacket and chuck it on between dives.
@tbone1004 I know what you mean about the "cold water treatment" - first time I did a mask removal in OW I had cold shock so struggled to breathe which made the whole process a lot harder. Second and subsequent times I was expecting it so no issues.
@tbone1004 I know what you mean about the "cold water treatment" - first time I did a mask removal in OW I had cold shock so struggled to breathe which made the whole process a lot harder. Second and subsequent times I was expecting it so no issues.
OP
I think you've covered the points with the dive kit. Similarly the suggestion here have been sensible.
Eat something before you leave like porridge, that has a slow release of energy, that will help to keep you warm during the dive.
Use the toilet facilities before kitting up!
Use a windproof to keep the wind off before the dive, and after. Even though you are in a drysuit, the action of evaporation of water off the drysuit surface will cool you. If you are shore diving, you have the opportunity to remove the suit between dives, which is a sensible option - and gives you the opportunity of another toilet break before kitting up for dive two.
Warm drink post dive and fast energy food is a good idea too.
If you are getting cold get out before you get really cold. If you get really cold it can take a long time to warm up. If you do get really cold, think seriously about skipping the second dive.
If your hands are cold get out before you lose dexterity - and get thicker gloves, mitts or dry gloves.
On the subject of gloves and hood. If you are using thicker gloves and hood, you will lose dexterity. This makes all the skills you can normally do a little bit harder. Lifting a mask to clear it, feeling for loose hair, repositioning a mask, etc. A lot of cold water divers have the hood fitting close to or over the mask skirt. Again, until you are used to it, it makes mask clearing harder. Mitts make life more interesting, as do dry gloves.
My normal recommendation is to practice in the pool with the hood and gloves until your are comfortable and confident - rather than suffer in the cold water.
Students often cut the hood back to avoid the mask, making mask clearing easier, which is OK, but you are removing protection from your face.
Someone commented about the water on your face. If you have the opportunity before you submerge, rinse your face in the water. (Even if its only breaking the mask seal and filling the mask up). As previously stated, if the waters near freezing its like a sucker punch if you aren't used to it
. If you are doing mask clearing exercises, do a partial flood to let your face acclimatise. Don't be surprised if your reaction is a sharp intake of breath, that you are reluctant to release - remember to 'try' to breath normally. Once you are used to it its no real problem.
Don't over purge regulators if the water is really cold (SMB's). Filling SMB's with savage purging is a good way to start a freeflow.
On the subject - if you start getting air dribbling out of your regulator or your AAS (assuming your AAS is on the same first stage) - its a potential warning that you may be icing up - as is ice hitting the back of your throat. Get close to your buddy get ready to use his AAS, (or your pony), and consider surfacing.
If you do have a pony cylinder - get used to using it. i.e. its physical position and the weight shift. It can effect trim. Some people put weight on the opposite side to compensate for the effect on trim. i.e move the weight around.
Probably not on this trip, unless you are really comfortable. But get used to doing regulator switches to the pony cylinder. So it is a familiar, easy and comfortable skill. You don't want to do this the first time in anger!
Pony cylinders should be ON. And FULL. And not used to extend dive time. They are not decompression gas cylinders, and not part of the air calculation for the dive. They are there for backup in case of a failure of the primary.
For reference - do some air calculations for how long it will last at different depths. Do the calculations with double or triple your normal breathing rate. If you have to bailout to the pony your breathing rate will be elevate, at least until you reach a personal perceived point of safety. (When they forced failures on Navy divers, for most, their breathing rate was triple or higher than their normal breathing rate until they reached the first decompression stop - which was their perceived point of safety and control.)
Above all enjoy the experience.
Gareth
Eat something before you leave like porridge, that has a slow release of energy, that will help to keep you warm during the dive.
Use the toilet facilities before kitting up!
Use a windproof to keep the wind off before the dive, and after. Even though you are in a drysuit, the action of evaporation of water off the drysuit surface will cool you. If you are shore diving, you have the opportunity to remove the suit between dives, which is a sensible option - and gives you the opportunity of another toilet break before kitting up for dive two.
Warm drink post dive and fast energy food is a good idea too.
If you are getting cold get out before you get really cold. If you get really cold it can take a long time to warm up. If you do get really cold, think seriously about skipping the second dive.
If your hands are cold get out before you lose dexterity - and get thicker gloves, mitts or dry gloves.
On the subject of gloves and hood. If you are using thicker gloves and hood, you will lose dexterity. This makes all the skills you can normally do a little bit harder. Lifting a mask to clear it, feeling for loose hair, repositioning a mask, etc. A lot of cold water divers have the hood fitting close to or over the mask skirt. Again, until you are used to it, it makes mask clearing harder. Mitts make life more interesting, as do dry gloves.
My normal recommendation is to practice in the pool with the hood and gloves until your are comfortable and confident - rather than suffer in the cold water.
Students often cut the hood back to avoid the mask, making mask clearing easier, which is OK, but you are removing protection from your face.
Someone commented about the water on your face. If you have the opportunity before you submerge, rinse your face in the water. (Even if its only breaking the mask seal and filling the mask up). As previously stated, if the waters near freezing its like a sucker punch if you aren't used to it
. If you are doing mask clearing exercises, do a partial flood to let your face acclimatise. Don't be surprised if your reaction is a sharp intake of breath, that you are reluctant to release - remember to 'try' to breath normally. Once you are used to it its no real problem.Don't over purge regulators if the water is really cold (SMB's). Filling SMB's with savage purging is a good way to start a freeflow.
On the subject - if you start getting air dribbling out of your regulator or your AAS (assuming your AAS is on the same first stage) - its a potential warning that you may be icing up - as is ice hitting the back of your throat
. Get close to your buddy get ready to use his AAS, (or your pony), and consider surfacing.If you do have a pony cylinder - get used to using it. i.e. its physical position and the weight shift. It can effect trim. Some people put weight on the opposite side to compensate for the effect on trim. i.e move the weight around.
Probably not on this trip, unless you are really comfortable. But get used to doing regulator switches to the pony cylinder. So it is a familiar, easy and comfortable skill. You don't want to do this the first time in anger!
Pony cylinders should be ON. And FULL. And not used to extend dive time. They are not decompression gas cylinders, and not part of the air calculation for the dive. They are there for backup in case of a failure of the primary.
For reference - do some air calculations for how long it will last at different depths. Do the calculations with double or triple your normal breathing rate. If you have to bailout to the pony your breathing rate will be elevate, at least until you reach a personal perceived point of safety. (When they forced failures on Navy divers, for most, their breathing rate was triple or higher than their normal breathing rate until they reached the first decompression stop - which was their perceived point of safety and control.)
Above all enjoy the experience.
Gareth
archer1960
Contributor
Yup, that's something my instructor emphasized when he gave my "intro to New England diving" a couple of years ago. Getting your mask off and your face in the water is important at the start. I have found that even when diving wet, dry gloves help a LOT. I got a pair of those insulated rubber-coated work gloves from the hardware store, and my LDS put dry suit wrist seals on them, so my hands stay warm and dry even when I'm in a wet suit. I'm good for 30 - 40 min in low-40s water, in my 7mm, hood, booties and dry gloves. In 50+, I'm generally comfortable for as long as my air holds out.
OP
I've dove in both hood and dry gloves several times before. I have the dry gloves where you put them on AFTER you're geared up, not before. The only difference is I'll be using thicker liners this time. The gloves really do compress with depth, even 20-30ft and that adds to dexterity.
Both my dive buddies for the weekend have apparently poofed on me due to work obligations, but I'm still diving this weekend. I scheduled to dive and I'm going to do it. I'll just be diving with Mermet's DM both days (1 dive on Friday, 2 Saturday).
Both my dive buddies for the weekend have apparently poofed on me due to work obligations, but I'm still diving this weekend. I scheduled to dive and I'm going to do it. I'll just be diving with Mermet's DM both days (1 dive on Friday, 2 Saturday).
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One of the rare happy occasions where I agree with tbone!!
It will feel like needles stuck in your face when you first put your face in cold water. I had to deal with this first time I dove in cold water at Back Beach in Rockport, Cape Ann north of Boston in 1984. It was only three years after I arrived in the US from ever sunny and warm Libya
What a shock that was but I persevered. If I can do it, you certainly can Similar threads
