1st DS Pool Dive lot less weight?

[wfmiller]

I was taking a DS class and was told that I should start with about 4lbs extra then what I normally use. Well I wound up taking off those 4 and 4 more lbs and still was way overweighted. The suit is a DUI RS1050 Vulcanized rubber drysuit shell and boots. For Undergarments I just used heavy socks, sweat pants and Tshirt.

I feel that I probably could have taken off another 4 lbs easily in this setup. Does this sound right or am I missing something? I ordered a set of 300 weight softwear by Janice
and am wondering what that will do with the weighting factor.

BTW it was just awesome diving dry..........................

 

[simbrooks]

Were you wearing a two piece 7mm before? Has anything else changed? You might not be "filling out" the suit with those simple UG's, the decent fleece undies from Janice might take up a little more room - BTW, they are good undies!

I know the feeling of that first dry dive, it was quite recent for me, but something i want to keep on doing! I have yet to take mine out with a single tank, so cant comment on what i use, but my prior wetsuits were all one piece 1, 3 and 5mm suits, so my weighting should increase for a single AL80.

 

[JeffG]

I was taking a DS class and was told that I should start with about 4lbs extra then what I normally use. Well I wound up taking off those 4 and 4 more lbs and still was way overweighted. The suit is a DUI RS1050 Vulcanized rubber drysuit shell and boots. For Undergarments I just used heavy socks, sweat pants and Tshirt.

I feel that I probably could have taken off another 4 lbs easily in this setup. Does this sound right or am I missing something? I ordered a set of 300 weight softwear by Janice
and am wondering what that will do with the weighting factor.

BTW it was just awesome diving dry..........................

Maybe in your DS class they should of told you that your undergarments will dictate your weight requirements (excl Neoprene DS)...You should ask for your money back

 

[radinator]

I had a similar surprise with my first pool DS dive. I normally dive wet with standard SoCal 6.5 mil suit and 6.5mil vest. When going dry for the class, with full ocean insulation (even though it was a pool) I ended up going from 22 pounds to 14.

Wearing the drysuit for the ocean dives of the class, I was at exactly my wetsuit weight and had enough insulation and air in the suit to be comfortable. My instructor said he'd never seen that before.

 

[SubMariner]

I was taking a DS class and was told that I should start with about 4lbs extra then what I normally use. Well I wound up taking off those 4 and 4 more lbs and still was way overweighted. The suit is a DUI RS1050 Vulcanized rubber drysuit shell and boots. For Undergarments I just used heavy socks, sweat pants and Tshirt.

I feel that I probably could have taken off another 4 lbs easily in this setup. Does this sound right or am I missing something? I ordered a set of 300 weight softwear by Janice
and am wondering what that will do with the weighting factor.

BTW it was just awesome diving dry..........................

Welcome to the Dry Side, young Skywalker! :anakinpod

While confined water dives in a drysuit is a great starting place, typically open water requires more insulation than what you had in the pool. Of course more undies = more buoyancy = more weight. Also, you'll require more weight in salt vs fresh water.

Then of course there is the AL vs steel tank issue for weighting...

Nevertheless, be prepared for a brave new learning curve.

Enjoy,

 

[mempilot]

I know you were just doing the pool dive, but beware wearing cotton ug's. They will soak up the perspiration and keep it next to your skin. You will feel colder. Try wearing Nike DryFit, UnderArmour, or DuoFold as a first thin moisture wicking layer. Then top it with the appropriate loft fleece or thinsulate depending on your dive temp and duration.

As for the weight, I wouldn't gauge it from what you use to use at all. There are too many variables like undergarmets and material composition. A trilam, neoprene, and rubber drysuit are all going to be different, so using a standard number to start with doesn't really fit the project.

 

[wfmiller]

yes I was wearing a wet 7mm with a 7mm core warmer for the quarry in the 50's. I know my weighting with all my different wetsuits 7mm, 3 ful, 3 shorty in both salt and fresh. Just bought a drysuit and bang here i go again, hahahahhaaha.

I am awaiting my UG from Janice and also have a set of polartec whiich I just purchased. The wicking proiperties are very good with them.

 

[mempilot]

I am awaiting my UG from Janice and also have a set of polartec whiich I just purchased. The wicking proiperties are very good with them.

If the Polartec irritates your skin, try the UnderArmor underneath it. It doesn't really do anything to the overall loft or bouyancy, but it makes a great skin barrier.

 

[SubMariner]

I know you were just doing the pool dive, but beware wearing cotton ug's. They will soak up the perspiration and keep it next to your skin. You will feel colder. Try wearing Nike DryFit, UnderArmour, or DuoFold as a first thin moisture wicking layer. Then top it with the appropriate loft fleece or thinsulate depending on your dive temp and duration.

Excellent point! Some of the less expensive versions of these can be found in places that sell hiking gear, regular sporting goods, etc.

 

[aquaoren]

After getting it recommended to me, I can only recommend it to anyone in a dry suit as well:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_...75&PRODUCT<>prd_id=479911&bmUID=1106762696499

Thin, warm and stretchy-->brillant product