A class is worthwhile but by no means nevessary if an experienced drysuit diver can spend a little time with you. Almost everyone I know dives a dry suit and not even one has ever taken a drysuit class. Most of our students (for instance my kids) have never worn any other kind of suit.
Get someone experienced to show you the ropes (preferably in a pool the 1st time) and watch you real close your first 4-8 dives. Do practise being inverted and getting yourself back upright so the situation won't stress you. Don't worry too much: I've never actually seen someone go feet-skywards except as practise.
Do consider this to be a long-term learning project though, it takes many people (typically wetsuit divers not brand new divers) dozens of dives before they find the drysuit no trouble at all.
I am happy with a wetsuit hood not attached to the suit and I dive water that is often 4C in the middle of summer. I use an 8mm Bare hood w/zipper under the ice and a 5mm Waterproof hood otherwise. Two 3mm hoods one on top of the other also works quite well, and a 3mm hood over a thicker hood can be a nice added warmth. Some people find dry hoods an enjoyable, warm luxury, also a huge help with ears that develop problems easily. I just haven't found a dry hood to be a necessary investment. at least 1/2 the winter/ice divers I know use 5-8mm wetsuit hoods.
BTW I do like gaiters with a membrane suit. they seem nicely warm too.
And don't discuss bouyancy by suit vs bouyancy by BCD/wing unless you want people to become very ... "enthusiastic" about their point of view. It seems to be like politics or religion among drysuit divers
Get someone experienced to show you the ropes (preferably in a pool the 1st time) and watch you real close your first 4-8 dives. Do practise being inverted and getting yourself back upright so the situation won't stress you. Don't worry too much: I've never actually seen someone go feet-skywards except as practise.
Do consider this to be a long-term learning project though, it takes many people (typically wetsuit divers not brand new divers) dozens of dives before they find the drysuit no trouble at all.
I am happy with a wetsuit hood not attached to the suit and I dive water that is often 4C in the middle of summer. I use an 8mm Bare hood w/zipper under the ice and a 5mm Waterproof hood otherwise. Two 3mm hoods one on top of the other also works quite well, and a 3mm hood over a thicker hood can be a nice added warmth. Some people find dry hoods an enjoyable, warm luxury, also a huge help with ears that develop problems easily. I just haven't found a dry hood to be a necessary investment. at least 1/2 the winter/ice divers I know use 5-8mm wetsuit hoods.
BTW I do like gaiters with a membrane suit. they seem nicely warm too.
And don't discuss bouyancy by suit vs bouyancy by BCD/wing unless you want people to become very ... "enthusiastic" about their point of view. It seems to be like politics or religion among drysuit divers
Last edited:
