Aqua Lung SolAfx 8/7mm wet suit question

[tbeck3579]

You CAN even do your OW course to be combined with a drysuit course, so you don't ever have to dive cold and wet, even on your OW checkout dives. I think a lot of OW courses in the UK are actually taught that way by default (OW and Drysuit combined into one course).

Thank you; I did not know that! I like that idea. I assumed, incorrectly, I would need to do the OW as a prerequisite to any other course; a weird college mindset that I didn't even think to question. I expected the water in CA to be warmer; and it is warmer "in season". When I looked at the current temps I got a bit of a chill running up my spine I have to admit the aqualung 7mm looks quite comfy and is supposed to be quite good -- I was impressed when I compared 7mm suits to 7mm suits. Outofofficebrb is a CA diver in S.F. and it is much colder there. From her profile pic she looks petite (and quite pretty); she is diving in colder water and doesn't have as much "natural" insulation as I hehehe. Yeesh, tough decision. While looking I was thinking I would still need a thinner suit because I want to dive where it is warmer too. I also have had my eye on dry suits, so that would make 3 suits and they aren't cheap. I'm wondering now if I should narrow it down to 2 and take the dry suit course with my OW -- so many choices

 

[Marie13]

@tbeck3579 I did my drysuit specialty at the same time as OW. Just required one extra dive for drysuit, rather than two.

I've actually never dove wet yet! Although I did recently buy a 3mm for the summer when it's warm here and I didn't want to sweat to death trying to get into my drysuit at the quarry.

 

[tbeck3579]

Thank you! If I had thought about you folks around the great lakes, and the various locations of people on this board, I would have realized the OW had to be done in a dry suit. I didn't really give it much thought until you, and stuartv mentioned it. I'm kicking myself for not doing this when I lived where it was cold; I would be a seasoned diver by now, but I associated diving with warm water. Odd how we make associations and then form beliefs that couldn't be further from the truth.

 

[tbeck3579]

@Marie13 I saw the "P-valve" for ladies in a drysuit, and immediately thought, rut ro, sounds like a challenge. I can't imagine using a catheter and I also can't imagine doing that another way. I really need to research that. Okay, sigh, went to she-p.com (I could have lived my entire life without seeing that). That looks more than a little uncomfortable. Have you used one? I'm thinking 2 side mount huge tanks would be easier to get used, hehehehe

 

[tbeck3579]

Okay, no fluids before diving... got it, hehehe

 

[Marie13]

@tbeck3579 I'm writing up a PM to you.

 

[tbeck3579]

@tbeck3579 I'm writing up a PM to you.

Thank you Marie. I'm sitting here thinking about that hurdle -- adult diapers. I wouldn't have to "glue" them -- my goodness, a catheter would be less painful, hehehe.

 

[stuartv]

Having a P valve is purely optional when you are only doing recreational dives. Dives limited by NDL and/or a single tank are generally short enough that a little forethought will save most people from really having to "go" during a dive.

It is when you start diving doubles and doing decompression that a P valve can become more of a necessity.

 

[tbeck3579]

I really don't want to start out with doubles. It's not about the weight or physical exertion, it's about being comfortable in the beginning so I can not only learn, but enjoy.

 

[stuartv]

I really don't want to start out with doubles. It's not about the weight or physical exertion, it's about being comfortable in the beginning so I can not only learn, but enjoy.

Right. You'll start out with a single tank, doing no-deco dives. So, they won't be long enough that you would be likely to NEED a P valve. Go before you suit up and you can hold it until you finish the dive and get out. Unless you have really tiny "tanks". ;-)