Do Thick, Cold-Water Hoods Make You Paranoid?

[Vegan Shark]

I dove with a 2mm beanie instead of a 7mm hood for the first time recently, and was pretty shocked at the difference. With a 7mm hood I get air in my ears, creating random, strange and eerie noises, and the sound of my bubbles are really amplified the whole dive--puts me a little on edge.

Anyone else?

 

[Kharon]

With a hood you need to let some water in after submerging. The noise will go away and you won't be risking having air driven into your ears as you go deeper. I will often dive with a beanie because the hood is a PITA to get under my wetsuit. I eventually cut the bib off and now use it more - but still only in pretty cold conditions - early spring and late fall.

 

[Steve_C]

1. I used to dive a fairly heavy hood in cold water. Wore it on the outside.

2. Now I dive a lighter hooded vest in cold water. Vest goes inside.

3. Year around in warmer water I dive a beanie.

Not sure I would say paranoid but the heavy hood does feel different. Much prefer number 2 and 3.

 

[tstormdiver]

To me, Hoods are a necessary evil. I hate them, but must wear them in 42 degree water. They are uncomfortable & feel like they are constantly choking me (unless I get them so big that they are useless). Like mentioned above, let a little water in before starting the dive to prevent trapped air in the ears, it also helps with equalization.

 

[tbone1004]

Tammy, get one of the Deep Sea ones with a zipper in the back, makes all the difference in the world.

To the OP, when you get in as part of your cold water treatment or on descent you need to be pulling the edge of the hood back and flushing it, then roll on either side to get water into your ear canals. Same thing you should be doing without a hood, but without one they tend to fill up on their own. This prevents external ear barotrauma, and will eliminate the doom and gloom sounds you are hearing.

 

[Scubatude]

As stated above, I let water in at the beginning of every dive, and several times during the dive as needed. Also, bubbles from regulator exhaust tend to find their way under the hood. Make sure there are a few small holes in the top of the hood to let the air escape.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Hoods, like other equipment, vary greatly in price, quality and comfort. I have never used more than a 3 mil hood, in water down to 50 F and I prefer that with a couple of small vent holes. Trapping air can be a problem, overcome by experimenting with body position and trim modification. Many people have more problems clearing when wearing a hood than when they don't. but paranoid? I don't think so. Just a little more constricted and restricted.
DivemasterDennis

 

[tstormdiver]

Tammy, get one of the Deep Sea ones with a zipper in the back, makes all the difference in the world.

Alas, I have tried them a few years ago & didn't help much. I had a Henderson hood that I could better tolerate, but lost it. :depressed: Has the design changed much? Do they also come in a drysuit style, as I wear a drysuit more than wetsuits?

 

[Scubatude]

I love my Henderson hood! Henderson, DUI, and Tilos all make drysuit (no bib) hoods. I much prefer my Henderson full bib hood for drysuit diving.

 

[tstormdiver]

I currently use the Aqualung drysuit hoods for cold water & I'm not crazy about them, but I can tolerate them for the duration of a dive,... as soon as I am out of the water, though.... it comes off.