DRY SUIT COURSE

[northernone]

If I signed up for a drysuit diver specialty class and ended up in a drysuit purchasing and repair class I'd be disappointed to be sitting around and working in a shop instead of being primarily focused in the water developing dive skills.

In the drysuit diver manual and standards there is a theory component but to make the class into a drawn out technicians class seems like a stretch and would be closer to a work shop.

To be a dry suit DIVER specialist you'd not need to know how to change out a zipper necessarily.

 

[BoltSnap]

If I signed up for a drysuit diver specialty class and ended up in a drysuit purchasing and repair class I'd be disappointed to be sitting around and working in a shop instead of being primarily focused in the water developing dive skills.

In the drysuit diver manual and standards there is a theory component but to make the class into a drawn out technicians class seems like a stretch and would be closer to a work shop.

To be a dry suit DIVER specialist you'd not need to know how to change out a zipper necessarily.

Come on, don't change the meaning of what I said. It wasn't a technician course at all. People learn about what it takes to make simple repairs as part of "care and maintenance" of their very expensive equipment but it isn't the main or the major part of the course. We don't cover replacing a suit zipper especially since we don't do it in our workshop, so please don't add words to what was said.

 

[northernone]

Come on, don't change the meaning of what I said. It wasn't a technician course at all. People learn about what it takes to make simple repairs as part of "care and maintenance" of their very expensive equipment but it isn't the main or the major part of the course. We don't cover replacing a suit zipper especially since we don't do it in our workshop, so please don't add words to what was said.

Started a thread in the instructor forum.

If we're getting people replacing neck seals why not zippers? Both can be considered being a repair specialist skill set and to me neither necessary to be a good drysuit diver. Meaning I know good dry suit divers who would rather have someone else do the repair and maintenance.

Cameron

 

[BoltSnap]

Started a thread in the instructor forum.

If we're getting people replacing neck seals why not zippers? Both can be considered being a repair specialist skill set and to me neither necessary to be a good drysuit diver. Meaning I know good dry suit divers who would rather have someone else do the repair and maintenance.

Cameron

Because replacing zippers requires a lot more tools and expertise than what is available to most people. Replacing wrist or neck seals don't require it. The course isn't about suit repairs, this part is a very small part of it just to be able to do service for the issues that come up much more frequently for the drysuit diver.

 

[northernone]

Because replacing zippers requires a lot more tools and expertise than what is available to most people. Replacing wrist or neck seals don't require it. The course isn't about suit repairs, this part is a very small part of it just to be able to do service for the issues that come up much more frequently for the drysuit diver.

Makes sense to me. I like doing my own shop work on all gear.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

When I purchased my first drysuit I got sat down in the shop in front of a video that went over the basics of drysuit diving. I then went to the pool for about an hour with one of the shop DM's who had me do a few basic exercises. They told me to enjoy the suit and sent me on my way. Ironically, over the 12 years I was a NAUI instructor I taught the drysuit specialty several times, and issued a bunch of drysuit c-cards ... but to this day I have never owned one, despite doing more than 3,000 dives in a drysuit.

The class I taught began with the NAUI video ... which was dated even when I taught the class, and has since been discontinued. But it did provide a good overview of the basics, and established a basis for conversation about the different types of suits and options available, as well as the inevitable suit-vs-bcd for buoyancy control discussion. After the video we would go over basic maintenance of seals and zippers. I'd show them how to remove and replace the valves. We'd talk about proper fit, undergarment selection, different choices for things like socks, gloves and hood. I'd show them a few different options for zipper and seal lubricants, and talk about the pros and cons of each.

The in-water portion of my class didn't involve pool work, as I lived and taught just a few minutes from a pretty nice dive site. We'd go down there for a couple of dives. The first dive was shallow ... 20 feet or less. We'd do the basic safety drills ... inflator hose removal, how to manage air in your feet, tuck and roll maneuver for recovering from a feet up situation, and spend quite a bit of time practicing buoyancy control and trim management. Second dive was more of a fun dive, just to get some practice managing the suit while changing depths. We'd typically keep that one to 60 feet or less, but with a lot of depth changes to give the student some practice adding and venting suit air.

The class typically took a day, and I charged $150 for it, which included student materials and c-card.

FWIW - I always told students before selling them a class that they could learn all this stuff without formal training, and that the only real thing a c-card got them was the ability to rent a suit ... no self-respecting dive shop would rent them one unless they could show proof of training.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Michael Guerrero]

I just bought a used drysuit off my buddy and went into the shallows to practice. Read up a bit on the forums for feet-up scenarios, did some flips, etc., and that was about it. I never powder my seals, installed a p-valve, heater plug, and replaced my inflator and exhaust valves, and never had issues.

It's really not that hard. No hand holding required.

 

[boulderjohn]

First of all, if you have the time and patience, you can learn pretty much anything on your own. Calculus, astrophysics--you name it, and you can learn it on your own. Most people prefer to get formal instruction for some of those topics. Which topics call for formal instruction depends upon the individual.

One problem with drysuit instruction is that most people take it to learn how to use the suit they just bought. As they go through all the material on choosing the right kind of drysuit, I suppose more than a few have been thinking, "Well, damn, if I had known that before I bought it...." It would be great to do the class with a rental suit and then make a decision about purchasing, but I would guess that would be a pretty rare class.

I took a class when I first started diving a drysuit, and I think it was necessary. I learned enough to get by. I learned a lot more later on though, including learning that my instructor did not know all that much when he taught the class. When I teach it, I have a lot more tips to give that I learned through the many dry suit dives I have done, which is many hundreds more than my instructor had done when he taught the class.

 

[kelemvor]

So for instance being able to properly choose a suit afterwards does not matter?

The drysuit divers I know personally (myself included) had to buy the suit before taking the class. How would you take a drysuit class without having a drysuit? Selling someone a suit for a few thousand dollars and then teaching them a class that might show them they need to return it and buy another? Not going to make for a happy customer imo.

 

[kelemvor]

To be a dry suit DIVER specialist you'd not need to know how to change out a zipper necessarily.

I know how to do that. Put it in a box (or have the LDS box it) and send it off to Steve Gamble (or the manufacturer). A few days later the magic box will have repaired your zipper.