Ultima Dry Glove System question

[Deep South Divers]

I've done the Fundies course twice - and while I didn't do it in drygloves, I see no reason to choose latex gloves over the 720s.

The biggest issue with gloves and Fundies is clipping and unclipping bolt snaps during drills and while working with a spool. I clip and unclip bolt snaps dozens of times a day, every day at work - and find that it's much easier to do in a 720 than it is with a latex glove and underglove under it... Which you'll need for warmth if the water's cool enough to warrant a drysuit.

If you're diving a latex glove without an underglove, either your hands will be cold and limiting dexterity that way - or the water's warm enough to dive wet in the first place.

Bottom line? Do Fundies in a set of 720s without an underglove unless the water temp is below 50 or so. If it is, get a thin underglove to go with the 720.

 

[taimen]

Anyone got tips on some really really thin gloves that will work with the Ultima rings?

Ansell G17K
Tegera 168 (most probably available in your local hardware store)
You will need a way to equalize drygloves later. Donning undersuit/undeglove under your (cut back) wrist seal is the way to go.

 

[Deep South Divers]

Ansell G17K
Tegera 168 (most probably available in your local hardware store)
You will need a way to equalize drygloves later. Donning undersuit/undeglove under your (cut back) wrist seal is the way to go.

I have a set of G17ks in the shop... I'll check on Monday, but if memory serves, they're actually thicker than the 720. They'll also be less puncture resistant and less warm because they're latex.

 

[Hickdive]

I normally just leave my undersuit thumb loops over my thumbs for equalisation. However, if you're stuck then a zip tie slid under your cuff seal will create a sufficient channel without being noticeable or uncomfortable.

 

[Degenerate]

Get some cheap thin latex dish washing gloves from your super market. They will attach easily and quickly....they are not durable but if you are careful about what you touch should last at least a day or two.

Regarding the squeeze.....I find no difference in the squeeze at either 10meters or 40meters. I also don't find the squeeze to be uncomfortable or significantly limits my dexterity. The only issue I have is in really cold water, my hands start feeling cold sooner.

The Ultima ring system and the si-tech glove systems come with silicone tubing to pass under the wrist seal. I purchased a bunch of 2mm (OD) x1mm (ID) silicone tubing from Amazon....a note though, the tubing does not totally prevent the squeeze...if your hands hang below your body the gloves will squeeze around your hand a bit until you rais your hands level with your shoulders/or situate them so they are the high point of your body in the water.

-Z

I had thought about dish washing gloves as they are suuuper thin, just gotta find a pair in the right color and try them out!
I did get the small silicone tubing with my rings, not sure where I've put them though...
The problem I'm trying to prevent is IF (and that's a sort of big if) I manage to have air travel from my suit into my gloves at depth and then start ascending, that air would start to expand inside the glove with nowhere to go.
Thin tubing or thumb loop will prevent that and my undergarments don't have any loops, so tubing it'll be.

I've done the Fundies course twice - and while I didn't do it in drygloves, I see no reason to choose latex gloves over the 720s.

The biggest issue with gloves and Fundies is clipping and unclipping bolt snaps during drills and while working with a spool. I clip and unclip bolt snaps dozens of times a day, every day at work - and find that it's much easier to do in a 720 than it is with a latex glove and underglove under it... Which you'll need for warmth if the water's cool enough to warrant a drysuit.

If you're diving a latex glove without an underglove, either your hands will be cold and limiting dexterity that way - or the water's warm enough to dive wet in the first place.

Bottom line? Do Fundies in a set of 720s without an underglove unless the water temp is below 50 or so. If it is, get a thin underglove to go with the 720.

I have had zero issues clipping bolt snaps with my 720s so far, not even the small 76mm snap I use on my longhose.
The only thing that worries me is shooting the smb, the line on the reel is very small compared to a boltsnap and requires a little bit more dexterity I guess.
Then again I only got my smb & reel a few days ago and have not had a chance to try it out yet, maybe I should
Never used an underglove so far even in water down to 8ish degrees, although I would have liked one for that dive if it were to go on a bit longer.

Thanks for all the replies, love this thread and the people in it

 

[Deep South Divers]

Yeah - I doubt that you'll have any problems with the line. You don't really handle it directly except to stow it, and its sensation even inside the gloves is pretty obvious.

The hardest part of Fundies with regard to tactile function is feeling the little clip on the boltsnap and opening and closing it. If you're already comfortable with that, then I don't think you'll have a glove/dexterity issue.

...Fundies, on the other hand... Let's just say that they'll raise the bar as necessary to get you learning new skills. It's the most valuable course I've ever taken, by far. Don't be ashamed if you have to repeat the course... Everyine I know who has passed had to take it more than once.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I wear the 720s with undergloves every dive. I don't move around much during a dive, so I ten to get pretty cold. Even with undergloves, I am able to clip and unclip the bolt snap on my camera lanyard as well as push all the tiny buttons on my housing. There are really no dexterity issues with the 720s.

I'd rather wear them during a Fundies class than worry about cutting a thin glove during valve drills.

 

[laikabear]

I have had zero issues clipping bolt snaps with my 720s so far, not even the small 76mm snap I use on my longhose.
The only thing that worries me is shooting the smb, the line on the reel is very small compared to a boltsnap and requires a little bit more dexterity I guess.
Then again I only got my smb & reel a few days ago and have not had a chance to try it out yet, maybe I should
Never used an underglove so far even in water down to 8ish degrees, although I would have liked one for that dive if it were to go on a bit longer.

Thanks for all the replies, love this thread and the people in it

Hey @Degenerate,

The DSMB and spool will be covered in class on land first. You actually wind it up using the bolt snap as a winder, so you don't need to do much handling of the line while you are ascending. On the surface, winding the thing back up and stowing it is what I find most fiddly, but luckily your teammate can help, and there's no time pressure on that. One trick I learned is to use the bolt snap to grab the bungee that holds the DSMB wrapped up, and use the bolt snap to get the bungee off before you park the bolt snap on your D ring. It is helpful with cold hands or thick gloves.

I wear the G17s (which are like black dishwashing gloves) with wool undergloves, but I also wear the 720s with the same undergloves. I find my hands are warmer with the 720s, obviously. Both of those are pretty dextrous I think, no worse than a 5mm wet glove.

And even if your undersuit doesn't have thumb loops, you can just pull a bit of the cuff outside your wrist seal. That's what I do. I tried some stiffer tubing and found it uncomfortable. Honestly though at Fundies depths you probably won't have significant squeeze. Most of the class is in the 40 feet and shallower range since you aren't allowed to do skills deeper than 30 feet. I don't really want for equalization until I get below 60 feet. Now that I have the soft tubing that came with the Ultimas I'll try that.

Good luck with Fundies! You will learn so much!

Where are you located?

 

[taimen]

There is nothing in fundies you can't do with 720s, Santi latex gloves or any other glove whatsoever. Have fun. I would stick to your 720s if you have them already.

 

[Marie13]

OK, so what’s the trick to getting the Ultima gloves to lock on by yourself? I’ve done myself at home a few times, but when I’m on the boat or at the quarry with dive buddies waiting, plus I’m broiling in my suit, it’s easier for everyone if I ask for help. And saves everyone’s ears from me cursing a blue streak out of frustration

I’d much rather do it myself.

To get them off, I just keep the red tool in my mask box.