The course was comprised of a pool session and dives. Dealing with buoyancy was the focus. When I trained, we were taught to use the dry suit for buoyancy control, which, IMHO is just plain silly.
Where the exhaust valve is dictates how you learn to vent...if it is on the shoulder, you learn to torque your body to put that point as the highest in the water when you need to vent air.
Dry suit inflator hose I route under my left arm across my chest to the valve.
Different divers use different kinds of undies-I use Andy's (UP-behave!!) You really need to use something other than street clothes, or you are prone to "suit hickeys", which are marks left by the suit as it contracts due to pressure.
I do NOT talc my seals-many people do. I just take my time putting the suit on. I find my Andy's is easier to don than either of my DUI's-latex seems to slide over my wrists and neck easier for some reason.
I did not use gators for a long time, now I have Halcyon gaiters-they help keep air out of your feet. That is the other trick taught in the course-how to tuck and roll yourself vertical again if you happen to get air in your feet which pulls you upside down.
I strongly suggest a pool practice session, and a dive with an experienced dry suit diver. It will make it less mysterious and more fun!
Ken
