Hello and a question

[The Horn]

What are you trying to do Atti? Just put on a suit and splash about or are you going to swim down under water with a mask and snorkle and such?

How cold is the Indian ocean? How tollerant are you to cold? Here in the great white North of Canada I have been diving wet down to 37 degrees as well have alot of my buddies, we are a hardy lot. diving dry is much much better and i do that now all the time.

If your water temps are in the 50's and you are just snorkling you would be better off with a steamer type 7mm from Bare or scuba Pro. You would still need a hood if it is not part of the suit and perhaps a weight belt to get you neutral enough to dive down.

To just try and swim around and dive down in a dry suit would be a night mare. If you put on some weights you could dump the excess air in the suit but you may get some nasty squeeze depending how deep you go and there would be no way to add air.

If you are going to take a full scuba course and learn to dive do this first and perhaps request a dry suit to rent with your gear if you instructor will teach you and then practice practice practice.

I did not personally take the dry suit course but still kept the initial dives shallow and tried all the self rescue and emergency proceedures out before attempting deeper water.

Enjoy diving if you come on board but a dry suit is a big $$ commitment if you just plan on swimming about in the water. Look at some wetsuits

 

[Paco]

There are drysuits made for more water activities than just diving and they are considerably less expensive than dive drysuits.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

She is in Indiana down here in the colonies. Not India. There are dry suits that are not made for diving. Whitewater kayakers use them as well as some occupations where the user would be working around cold water and there is a risk of exposure to it. They can even be had in two piece (jacket and pants) versions. Not sure how this works but we have a couple who uses our shop that makes use of these types for winter canoeing and kayaking. Again they are still a bit bulky for swimming and playing around with a snorkel and the price is not that much less than an inexpensive drysuit. say in the 700-800 dollar range plus. Alot of money for just a suit to play in quarries without actually diving.

 

[Noviz]

A dry suit is to much work for just splashing around. Way too much. If you love to swim and twirl and play like a fish, get a one piece wet or semi-dry suit, booties, hood and gloves. You'll also need to add a weight belt, 'cause all this stuff is buoyant. Without weights you'll bob like a cork. (You may find this to be fun.) Then you'll discover that your balance will be completely changed, your center of gravity shifted, etc. You'll have to relearn your twirling skills, but it will certainly extend your play season! After a quarry dive, I'll take off most of my gear and float in just the wetsuit for a while. It's relaxing. (NOT a good idea in the ocean! )

 

[The Horn]

ha ha ha

See what happens when you read a thread, start the post and your attention is directed away. Sorry for the Indian ocean thing hahahaha

Anyway, yes there are dry suits that are not meant for diving, our rescue specialists wear them for activity around and in cold water, however, they are not designed to let you "swim and frolic and dive under" it would be like diving down in a life jacket except your legs would trap all the air and you would spend half the time getting straightened out.

still better to get a wetsuit IMO

 

[Atti]

I wanted to do what I could do in a pool, but I don't like being boxed in (not to mention getting funny looks for playing around). I also get cold easily and need to wear long shorts and long sleeve tops even in indoor pool.
But I've been giving this more thought after reading all your posts. What I love most is to be under water and explore and lay down and look at the sky when I'm tired.
We just moved from the Virginia mountains to this beautiful Lake Monroe and I'm REALLY wanting to get out there and have the whole freezing lake to myself. I don't want to be cold though.
So... I guess I'll need to get on over to the Scuba place in Bloomington. I guess I was wanting a quick solution so I could go jump in the lake!

 

[Gary D.]

Here is just one of many out there. http://www.oceanrodeo.com/surfing/drysuits.php

I think everyone is trying to compair a diving suit to dry suits designed for other water activities. They are totally different. Just do a web search and take your pick. It's more than just eliminating the two valves on the diving suits.

Gary D.

Here's another: http://www.hammond-drysuits.co.uk/infopage.asp?page=23&extra=1
And another popular brand: http://waterskiworld.com/wetsuits/BareDrySuits/baredrysuits.html

 

[sbrooks]

If yout want a quick solution to stay warm in the water, go to an outfitter's shop - one that sells kayaks etc.
Bare - who makes scuba exposure clothing (drysuits etc) - also make drysuits for kayaking and white water rafting. Granted, they don't have an inflate/exhaust valve... You wouldn't be able to use one for diving, but it might keep you warm on the surface.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

If you are not going to get certified in scuba then just join a place that has an indoor pool. The price of a drysuit will pay your winter dues for a long time.

If you want to join this little addiction we call scuba then let the journey begin!

 

[Gary D.]

Granted, they don't have an inflate/exhaust valve... You wouldn't be able to use one for diving, QUOTE]


You can use them for diving if you don't mind looking like a road map afterwards.

Gary D.