Bonaire Trip report 7/19-26th

[jepuskar]

Did 20 dives
Drank too much on Tuesday, puked on Larry's boat on Wednesday.
Saw a juvenile Queen Angel.
Dove solo the whole trip.
Got tired of people asking me about my drysuit in a condescending way.
Had a private video taken.
Stayed at Buddy Dive, the preferred choice.
Took the person who fertilized my mother's egg, I finally found him after all these years.
Had a low pressure hose for my backup reg burst underwater...made a sound I will never forget.
Had my high pressure seat replaced in my first stage by Bruce Bowker.
Made a complete ass of myself in front of the editor of Scuba Diving Magazine...related to Tuesday's drinking.

Some land pics...

 

[jepuskar]

 

[diverrick]

OK I have to ask.... Why the dry suit? I am sure that's why everyone was asking while you were there.

 

[jepuskar]

Why do I want a drysuit for warm water scuba diving?

 

[DiverVince]

Nice pics, but...a drysuit not only on Bonaire but in July?? I'll bet you got a lot of comments (& I also suspect stares). As they say; To each his own.

 

[ClayJar]

I take it that was a DUI 30/30, but might I inquire as to what you layered under it? I've been in 84°F water in my drysuit, but I haven't really figured the layers to use for that range. (Most of the time, I switch the digits on that temperature. )

(My flight's scheduled to depart for Bonaire in 11 days, 12 hours, and 35 minutes... )

 

[Mossman]

Why do I want a drysuit for warm water scuba diving?

Great, a load of marketing BS from DUI that basically restates the same reasons why one would want to wear a wetsuit for warm water scuba diving, but completely negates the harmful effects of overheating (in a wetsuit, it's easy to cool off) and of underhydrating (in a wetsuit, it's easy to drink loads of water, then pee it out during the dive). Personal preference, maybe, but it sure looks uncomfortable to me.

 

[rjchandler]

I remember on long trip to Bonaire where I wished I had a drysuit. I was getting very cold by the end from all the diving.

How did the boots handle the ironshore/coral on the shore dives?

Did you bring the pony with you?

Guess you don't have to take a drysuit off to puke.

 

[jepuskar]

Great, a load of marketing BS from DUI that basically restates the same reasons why one would want to wear a wetsuit for warm water scuba diving, but completely negates the harmful effects of overheating (in a wetsuit, it's easy to cool off) and of underhydrating (in a wetsuit, it's easy to drink loads of water, then pee it out during the dive). Personal preference, maybe, but it sure looks uncomfortable to me.

I'll respond, even though I think I'm wasting a few minutes with you, hopefully someone else will learn something.

Overheating is not an issue with this particular drysuit as it is made for warm climates, it is breathable. I have 100+ dives in Bonaire in a 3mm full wetsuit, and have 100+ dives in Bonaire in this drysuit. I actually think this drysuit is more comfortable than a 3mm wetsuit on the surface...that is debatable, but I have no doubt I can stay in this suit on the land surface as long as someone in a full 3mm and not come close to overheating.

Sure you can piss yourself in a wetsuit, actually makes you colder though. With a drysuit you can have a pee-valve installed if you are a male, which negates that problem. Or you can do what I do and pee right before the dive..unless you have a bladder/prostate problem...I can go 90 minutes without peeing...so no problem there.

As far as marketing BS goes, your body is 98.6 and the water temp is 82 or 84..whatever. That is not marketing BS, that is fact. How it effects individuals varies, but I do 4-5 dives a day over a week, sometimes two when I'm lucky. The difference in how I feel wetsuit vs drysuit over that timeframe is night and day.

The #1 symptom missing when I'm diving a drysuit on vacation is fatigue. I heard someone complaining about how they need to get on Nitrox because how tired they are after diving...it has nothing to do with what your are breathing, it has to do with mild hypothermia, extremely mild albeit.

Here is a review I wrote over 2 years ago as I was skeptical, includes tryout dives, as well as my first Bonaire drysuit vacation follow-up. Posts 1 and 9.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/exposure-suits/157821-dui-30-30-review.html


I see people diving in shorts, skins, shorties, full on wetsuits..I dont really concern myself with their comfort or question their choice of thermal protection. I understand..if I was not educated in the above I just may be curious as well.

My goal in responding to this was to educate someone with an open mind....hopefully I have done so.

 

[jepuskar]

I remember on long trip to Bonaire where I wished I had a drysuit. I was getting very cold by the end from all the diving.

How did the boots handle the ironshore/coral on the shore dives?

Did you bring the pony with you?

Guess you don't have to take a drysuit off to puke.

Hi Rich,

The boots are just normal wetsuit booties, high ankle though which actually goes over the ankle seals...works out nice...two layers of protection for those seals.

No I rented the pony bottle through Walt at RekTek, brought my own reg, staging stuff though.

No..lol, the drysuit was on to puke. I'm just glad only one other person saw me hurl my guts into the sea.