A few drysuit diving questions

[Bretagus]

So I finally took my new suit (Evo2) to the pond for my first dry dive... and I ran into a few problems.

First - venting technique. Any tips here? I found myself rolling too much when I'd lift my arm. I sense this is because I'm turning my head to make sure its venting (it vents slow enough that I can't immediately feel a light squeeze/change in bouyancy, so I don't yet trust myself).

Second - it felt like I was falling out of my fins. I presume this is because they're too large? OMS slipstream, XXL for a size 12 boot. I'll take 'em back to the shop for some XL's (I think they were out of XL at the time). Any other possibilities/experiences?

Lastly - there was some moisture on the inside of the suit/outside of the undergarment. No one area was more damp than another, so I'm pretty sure its condensation? Or could I have been over-venting (like venting a BC w/o air causes water to rush in the wing... does that happen with a dry suit?).

Otherwise it was a great first dive. It was strange feeling like I was a complete novice in the water! Bouyancy and trim suddenly required significantly more attention! Anyway, I need to go take my second dry dive... in the shower... (nope, not kidding)
-Brett

 

[wreckchick]

Probably the best thing you can do is go diving with someone who's been diving dry for a while or take the drysuit specialty. There really are a few tricks and techniques and emergency procedures you should practice with supervision before you go out on your own.

Rachel

 

[Pook-60]

Howdy

Uncle Pug's advice (below) works for me and got me past the the trim issues when I started diving dry. This approach assumes you're using your wing/BC as lift.

Completely agree with Rachel...diving with a drysuit veteran is money. Meet 'em at a pool, buy 'em lunch...now you've got a Dry Buddy!

Dane

20' is just a reference point... it depends on how much air you do or don't burp out of the suit at the surface.

Since I keep my exhaust valve wide open all the time the only extra air in my suit at the surface before descent is from the shoulders up... and that is important as it keeps my neoprene neck seal semi-dry. That amount of air seems to give me a snug suit at 20'.

I dive what feels comfortable to me. Since I like to assume different attitudes UW including head down or supine I don't like to have a bubble of gas rushing to and fro. A slightly snug suit feels right to me.

Additionally I like to extend my arms above my head and stretch from side to side a couple of times while descending to stretch any extra suit material from the waist up toward the chest.

If I wait until the suit gets snug it is too late to get the wrinkles out and gain flexibility.

 

[TennInstr]

Second - it felt like I was falling out of my fins. I presume this is because they're too large? OMS slipstream, XXL for a size 12 boot. I'll take 'em back to the shop for some XL's (I think they were out of XL at the time). Any other possibilities/experiences?

Try these for the loose feeling you get in your boots. Trident Fin Keepers/Grippers specs They will almost certainly help. Be safe and take it slow.

 

[dannobee]

So I finally took my new suit (Evo2) to the pond for my first dry dive... and I ran into a few problems.

First - venting technique. Any tips here? I found myself rolling too much when I'd lift my arm. I sense this is because I'm turning my head to make sure its venting (it vents slow enough that I can't immediately feel a light squeeze/change in bouyancy, so I don't yet trust myself).

Second - it felt like I was falling out of my fins. I presume this is because they're too large? OMS slipstream, XXL for a size 12 boot. I'll take 'em back to the shop for some XL's (I think they were out of XL at the time). Any other possibilities/experiences?

Lastly - there was some moisture on the inside of the suit/outside of the undergarment. No one area was more damp than another, so I'm pretty sure its condensation? Or could I have been over-venting (like venting a BC w/o air causes water to rush in the wing... does that happen with a dry suit?).

Otherwise it was a great first dive. It was strange feeling like I was a complete novice in the water! Bouyancy and trim suddenly required significantly more attention! Anyway, I need to go take my second dry dive... in the shower... (nope, not kidding)
-Brett

First: What kind of underwear are you using? Are there three hollow rivets underneath the dump valve area? Is there a very lightweight "covering" over your underwear? If the rivets are lacking, or the shell of your underwear is very light, that could be your dumping problem, as the lightweight fabric will bunch up under the dump valve. The rivets will help air escape through the valve. A patch of duct tape on your underwear near the valve will help the air escape.

Second: Fin Keepers will help, but what are you using for boots? Does the drysuit have socks or built-in boots? Is there a chance that you can borrow some fins of different sizes to see if they work better?

Lastly: Condensation will occur on the inside of the suit. After all, you're wearing a waterproof bag and there is no way for it to get out. If it's warm/sunny on the surface, there will be more perspiration/moisture inside the suit. Unzip and relax when on the surface.

Your buoyancy will improve as you dive the suit more. It'll probably take 10-20 dives before you're really comfortable again.

 

[ClayJar]

Lastly - there was some moisture on the inside of the suit/outside of the undergarment. No one area was more damp than another, so I'm pretty sure its condensation? Or could I have been over-venting (like venting a BC w/o air causes water to rush in the wing... does that happen with a dry suit?).

Yep, that's the tell-tale signature of condensation. As for allowing water in the exhaust valve, if your adjustable automatic exhaust valve is like mine, it can also be used as a "manual" exhaust -- you push it and air comes out. If you're *not* pushing on it, you shouldn't notice any water entry at all, as it'll only open to let out air. If you *are* pushing the exhaust valve to manually open it (Why?), you can certainly let water in, so just don't do that.

If you do get water in through the exhaust valve for whatever reason, your shoulder will be wet through-and-through, not just a bit damp on the outside. (Of course, if it's really bad, you could have considerably more water inside, but your shoulder gets soaked first.) If you're wondering whether you have a partial flood, you probably don't. They're usually extremely obvious and not likely to be the least bit ambiguous. :biggrin:

Otherwise it was a great first dive. It was strange feeling like I was a complete novice in the water! Bouyancy and trim suddenly required significantly more attention!

Just wait until you get zoned in. Buoyancy still takes more management, but not really more effort. Trim, on the other hand, is *so* much easier in a well-tuned drysuit that I'm almost sad when I'm in a wetsuit.

 

[TSandM]

Trim, on the other hand, is *so* much easier in a well-tuned drysuit that I'm almost sad when I'm in a wetsuit.

Interesting. I feel precisely the other way.

OP, I second the recommendation for finkeepers, if you have integrated boots. I've found it very easy to kick entirely OUT of my dry suit boots, if there's a little air in my feet, unless I have finkeepers (it is still possible to do with them, but harder). Unfortunately, the time you really want a good kick (which is if you are feet up and need to get them down to vent them) is when the boots tend to come off . . .

Diving with the minimum gas possible in the suit to be comfortable and allow adequate mobility is definitely the way to learn with a dry suit. Once you have facility with it, you can be a little more liberal. More gas makes you warmer, and the suit can be vented without tying up one of your hands in the process, so there are situations where running more air in the suit can be helpful.

As far as looking to see if you are venting, listen instead! You should be able to hear the bubbles coming out -- after all the dump valve is very close to your ear. And yes, that's true in thick hoods, too.

 

[ClayJar]

Trim, on the other hand, is *so* much easier in a well-tuned drysuit that I'm almost sad when I'm in a wetsuit.

Interesting. I feel precisely the other way.

Interesting, indeed. I wonder how much of the difference between us is due to gear configuration and how much is due to diver configuration (i.e. my 6'2" frame vs. your less than six feet). I can just about take a nap in my drysuit if I can only figure out a nice substitute for a pillow. :biggrin:

 

[scottm]

Second - it felt like I was falling out of my fins. I presume this is because they're too large? OMS slipstream, XXL for a size 12 boot. I'll take 'em back to the shop for some XL's (I think they were out of XL at the time). Any other possibilities/experiences?

Looks like you're getting better advice then I'm qualified to give on most of your points; I'm still getting used to my new drysuit as well (I did take a cert course last fall). As a point of reference for the boots, though, I have a Evo II without the attached boots, using a size 11 pinnacle boot. I have OMS Slipstream XL fins for them, and they're just the tiniest bit too thight with boots and thick socks on. The XXL were way too big (though not as bad as the XXL Jets, which were comical; the XL jets were too small).

-Scott

 

[Bretagus]

So, what I've learned...

1) Listen to, not look at, the venting (at least until its second nature)

2) Stretch out, arms forward on descent to mitigate binding/improve flexibility

3) A little condensation is normal

4) Talk to LDS about fin-keepers

Thanks!