Dry Suit Boat Diving Etiquette

[swarrin]

Hi all,

I've been diving in a wetsuit for a few years, but have just recently started diving in a dry suit. This weekend's going to be my first dry suit dive from a boat, and I am wondering about dry suit boat diving etiquette.

Normally when I dive in a wetsuit I just have my one big mesh dive bag that holds all my gear and a second small bag that holds my weights (or use weights from the boat). Now in the drysuit I think I'll have to take on at least one more large bag to hold the drysuit. That seems like a lot of bags to be loading onto the boat. What is the normal drysuit etiquette? Do you just bring on all that gear, do you put on the drysuit before getting on the boat? Any tips appreciated!

 

[Tug]

Since I dive primarily in the North East, drysuit a are pretty common. Everybody brings their drysuit bags onboard and as long as people don't go crazy with extra stuff it usually works out well.


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[Tom Winters]

Drysuit bags pack up nice and small - no problem. Not like the photographers with all the hard cases with every spare part known to man. That stuff gets bulky, plus since it's a hard case and for camera gear, it's sacred and subject to veneration.

One thing though is with the extra bag, make sure that you pack your stuff well so you can get set up efficiently. Watching people go from bag to bag to bag to bag pulling out items gets kinda annoying. Not like those photographers though.

 

[tbone1004]

how big is your suit bag? Mine is the size of a small duffel bag and since it is smaller than a wetsuit, no issues to bring on board. I pack pretty light though which helps.

 

[flots am]

do you put on the drysuit before getting on the boat? Any tips appreciated!

That depends on how long the boat ride is and the weather and if you have a pee valve.

If it's a short ride or it's cool outside, I'll quite often put the suit on before boarding, and leave the zipper open.

If it's hot out, I'll wait until we get there.

Also, if you're new to drysuits, you might find it easier to get there an hour early and put it most of the way on, in the parking lot, so you don't get all stressed out on the boat trying to keep up with the others. Just don't get overheated.

flots.

 

[rivers]

Normally, I get my suit on before I get on the boat. If it's the temperature is quite warm, I strip both my suit and undersuit down to my waist. Normally, on the boat, I'll put my undersuit on fully as the wind can be a bit chilling

 

[lowviz]

... What is the normal drysuit etiquette? ...

One acceptable way:

Stow it and undergarments below with your dry clothes when you board. Dress below. Once it is wet, neither you nor the D/S re-enter the cabin.

 

[Peter_C]

In Monterey it is the norm to put your suit on before leaving the parking lot. Most will leave the top off, unless chilly.

 

[Redshift]

Don't fart in your drysuit and vent it next to someone...

 

[Buoy_A]

I'm in San Diego and my drysuit mesh bag is big (incl the undergarments). On the smaller, more cramped boat I use (40' w. typically 16 passengers) I put my drysuit on before boarding. I put it on right next to the boat. Then I put the remaining (now very small) mesh back into my gear back. On the larger boat I use (80' w. 30 passengers) it's not an issue as there's plenty of room. I suit up on the boat.

How small a drysuit will fold up will vary greatly, mostly depending on the material (a TLS350 is the smallest I've seen), the undergarments required, and whether or not a suit has boots or socks built into it.