Delayed Drysuit Rinsing

[TheBullfrog]

Ok fellow drysuit divers. I've finally taken the plunge and mortgaged my house so I can have my own drysuit and not rent one every time.

But....unlike gear, which can be rinsed in a freshwater bucket on site if necessary, a drysuit cannot. So, my question to you all is, how long can a drysuit sit with drying salt water on it and not cause any issues? For instance you go out on a day dive, and then hang out all day to do a night dive later. We're talking hours of saltwater drying on the suit. Will this be an issue?

I'm sure this is a bit paranoid, but again, having spent the largest sum to date on a piece of gear, I want to make sure I take care of this suit as best as I can.

Thanks everyone!

 

[davehicks]

On a multi-day cold water dive trip (which I do all the time) it is pretty normal to go a full week without rinsing off your drysuit. Since you are diving multiple times a day it is never building up too much salt residue. This is no problem at all, certainly not within a single day.

However, if you have the opportunity, it is a good idea to hose it off or even just rinse the shoulder dump valve at the end of the day. If there is a hose available, rinse the suit while you are still wearing it. Give the dump valve and zipper some attention. If you don't have a hose, then even a bottle or cup of fresh water in the dump will help a bit.

At the end of the trip be sure to give the suit a complete rinse, including the inside and hang to dry under a fan for 24 hours at least.

 

[Badger7]

We're talking hours of saltwater drying on the suit. Will this be an issue?

No, thats just like grabbing a meal during a surface interval. It's designed to get wet, and you're not going to be able to do a perfect freshwater rinse after ever use. Its not ideal to let the salt crust up on it, but many times unavoidable just from the ride back to the marina. When saltwater evaporates, a little bit of what is left behind becomes water insoluble. Anything you can easily do to keep it wet or rinse off some of the saltwater with fresh is better than nothing. If you did get some calcium buildup on a heavier drysuit fabric, I bet getting sprayed down with some dilute vinegar would fix that too.

There's probably a hose next to that freshwater rinse bucket though. A quick run through the sprinker and then you don't even need to think twice about it day-to-day.

 

[paddydiver]

No problem in my experience. Look after the dump valve and especially the zip because thats going to give most problems and cost most to fix if you do abuse it. Even then, a quick rinse of both is ok if you are diving again soon. No harm in waxing the zip lightly before a dive and giving it some lube every now and then.

 

[grantmac]

I just dive it every few days and perhaps occasionally give it a hose down.
Watch out for how to lube a Tzip if that's what you've got, you don't just go throwing wax at it.

 

[ChrisMBC]

You actually can rinse a trilam drysuit in a 5 gallon bucket. I shore dive 2x per week on average, and I do almost all my gear rinsing on site with a bucket of fresh water that I bring from home.

 

[TheBullfrog]

You actually can rinse a trilam drysuit in a 5 gallon bucket. I shore dive 2x per week on average, and I do almost all my gear rinsing on site with a bucket of fresh water that I bring from home.

That's good to know. I always carry a 5 gallon for my gear, but didn't think it would work with my suit. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks!

 

[Subcooled]

Ok fellow drysuit divers. I've finally taken the plunge and mortgaged my house so I can have my own drysuit and not rent one every time.

But....unlike gear, which can be rinsed in a freshwater bucket on site if necessary, a drysuit cannot. So, my question to you all is, how long can a drysuit sit with drying salt water on it and not cause any issues?

Rubber, trilaminate or neoprene (crushed or not)?

You can rinse it with a garden hose (or take a shower) as long as you do not spray water into the hood and thus into the suit. If water enters the suit, you will dry it for a week, untill the boots are dry

Sweat can accumulate, depending on your undergarments, coverall, etc. I have washed the inside of my drysuit maybe twice in the 5 years.

For instance you go out on a day dive, and then hang out all day to do a night dive later. We're talking hours of saltwater drying on the suit. Will this be an issue?

Salt on cloth?
You do not want salt crystals in your reg (=trouble), but on your suit, ..., ?
OK, I am not an expert on fabrics, but it doesn't sound all that bad.

You should make sure to rinse the exhaust valve and the inflation valve, though. Those are quite important!

I'm sure this is a bit paranoid, but again, having spent the largest sum to date on a piece of gear, I want to make sure I take care of this suit as best as I can.

Thanks everyone!

 

[flymolo]

I’ve gone 5-6 days in a row diving salt water without a rinse. I would not worry about it.

Just hose it off inside and out when you’re done diving for the day and flip it inside out to dry the inside and then reverse it to dry the outside.