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![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
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
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