Drysuit certification really needed?

[BlueTrin]

How can you dive in drysuit conditions without gloves? I haven't done one single dive back home bare-handed and don't intend to do so ever.

I was too slow and the shop didn’t bring enough gloves ...

 

[60plus]

Not wanting to start a wet vs drysuit argument here so please please do not respond in that way. So far I have only dived in a wetsuit and am pretty comfortable in a 3/2 at only 14 degrees C. In May I was diving in a quarry and the upper water temp was about 14 but at 12 metres or so it dropped to 4 Deg C. I did not have a hood or gloves on and it was too cold to continue at 12 +m but I did a second shallow dive. This meant in total I did about 100 mins in 14 Deg C and less. It was just my hands and head that were cold, not my body in the 3/2 suit. In October I did a river dive in about 13 Deg C. All the others were in drysuits and they got out after 17 mins as it was cold. I could happily have done another 10 to 20 minutes.
A person I know well (who has dived a little but does not like it) was involved in air sea rescue for many years and not infrequently this involved fishing out dead divers. Shared with his colleagues there were concerns that better exposure suits, including diving drysuits were resulting in more incidents because the added protection of the suits was leading people to do things they would not do if they were more exposed to the elements. This months BSAC magazine identifies overtight drysuit neck seals as a probable cause of at least 2 deaths. A surprisingly large number of people find themselves wet after diving in a drysuit, it puts them off a second dive.Speaking to a drysuit / rebreather diver at my local club a few days ago and he had done a dive at the weekend but his hands got so numb he was unable to use them. Knowing my 3/2 is not suitable for cold water I bought a 7mm wetsuit. I have not used it yet, partly because I have been busy but also because when I did have time for a dive the surface / weather conditions were such that I would not have enjoyed a day at the water anyway. With hindsight I should probably have bought a 5mm semi dry. Used with dry gloves and a good hood this should enable me to dive pretty well when I want including some quite cold days. If my 7mm does not work out (a bit bulky and needs a lot of lead) I will probably try to hire a 5mm semi dry and see what that is like before considering a drysuit. As I say I am considering a drysuit possibly for next winter but I will want to make sure I want to dive in conditions that need anything more than a 5mm semi dry. I know of several people who bought (expensive) drysuits only to realise later that they only really enjoyed warm water diving.

 

[Fyffer]

Although a specific course isnt needed (and the prices ive seen quoted look like a total rip off) some instruction off either an instructor OR someone experienced in using a dry suit is needed. Going it alone in a pool is unlikely to cover all the things needed.
A drysuit really is only an hour or maybe 2 in the pool then some gentle shallow open water dives to get the hang on the thing.

So my view, certification needed, no. Instruction of some form required, yes.

I went to 75 feet for my drysuit coarse on the second dive.

 

[ChuckP]

That’s polar bear stuff right there. I wore a 3/2 in 27c water a few weeks ago, usually just a 1mil but I forgot my gloves lol

 

[Scuba Lawyer]

I personally prefer a wetsuit to a drysuit, the sole reason being comfort. While drysuits, to me anyway, are usually a PITA (more weight, air shifting, neck seal constriction, less ease of movement, more bulk to propel through the water, etc...) there are many times when I wouldn't dive any other way but dry (e.g. water below high 50's, cold surface wind chill, long exposures, etc...) Just depends on the task at hand. If you are doing mainly warm/temperate water diving the expense of a dry suit is tough to justify. If doing mainly cold water dives a dry suit is a wonderful thing. My 2psi. Mark

 

[ajduplessis]

No, I dont believe a drysuit cert is needed, however some divers will require guidance.

 

[Edward3c]

No, I dont believe a drysuit cert is needed, however some divers will require guidance.

Whilst I agree having a formal certification isn’t necessary. Here in the U.K. if you want to hire one, proof of certification is required.

I recently had to provide evidence for one of my club’s instructors that they were competent to use a drysuit for the 2 continents dive in Iceland. Even though he has taught the drysuit course many times, he didn’t hold a certificate himself.

 

[Storker]

I personally prefer a wetsuit to a drysuit, the sole reason being comfort.

I prefer a drysuit for the same reason. Particularly between dives. I know exactly one person who dives wet around here, and he's always struggling to stay reasonably warm after a dive while the rest of us are lounging in our undersuits. And my trilam is a lot easier to don and doff than any wetsuit I've rented on vacation.

Apropos that: Close call in the dressing room

 

[lowviz]

I have two drysuit certs. The first was a tag-a-long with the kid. Ho-Hum, how to get overheated in a pool...

The second was a required part of a sidemount class with Sorenson. OMG! Do WHAT??? Really, is that recovery possible?? (yeah, it is.)

Choose your instructor to fit your intended use. No, life isn't so magical that the guy in the shop down the street just happens to be the best on earth. YOU have to do your homework if you want something more than a plastic card.

 

[Brojas]

I took a mini vacation to the Florida springs last week where the water is 70-72f year round. Looking back, I really should have brought my DS with me. It’s the first time I’ve dove wet in a lil bit, and you really do notice how restrictive even 3 to 5 mil of neoprene can be. Plus putting on a somewhat damp wetsuit always feels a bit weird.

Recreational diving is supposed to be a fun based activity. Why not dive as comfortable as you can afford?