Dry Suit diving and long hair

[Bonnet Ray]

Ok how do I get in and out of my dry suit without ripping my hair out?

We are going to do our rescue diver next month in the UK and the dive instructor suggests we wear dry suits. Now I haven't been in a dry suit for about 7 years so I thought I would check i could still fit in (since having a child!). My hair has also grown and as i struggled into the suit I got it tangled up in the seal. Ouch. Getting out was just as bad .

Cutting my hair isn't an option so what can I do to ease getting in and out of my suit?

BTW I am going on a drysuit refresher before the course as it's been so long.

 

[Spectre]

It was a pain, but it wasn't too bad with a neoprene neck seal. I'm not sure what a latex seal would be like though...

 

[Bonnet Ray]

It's a latex seal. My hair seemed to stick to it and it wouldn't let go;-0 .

Prehaps it's all that colourant I put on it!

 

[SueMermaid]

I feel your pain.

I found a simple solution, though. Get yourself a spandex hood. It makes your head slipperier (Slipperier. hey! I just invented a new word!) so you can get the neck seal over your head without either balding yourself, or breaking your neck. You can leave the hood on under your regular neoprene hood, too.

I got mine at ?Performance diver? I think? Either that or Diver's Direct. It's worth its weight in gold.

 

[Bonnet Ray]

I'll get one for we go

It's been a long time since I've dived in the UK, at least it's not December which was when I took my OW. Not going to be quite as warm as the Seychelles though ;-0

 

[SeaGypsy]

I use unscented talc on my latex seal and it doesn't stick to my hair.

 

[kingdiver]

Yes!

Diving with long hair is an issue for some of us.

Which is why I cut it!

 

[seakdivers]

Oh gads - I hate getting in & out of my drysuit!! I try to manage my hair with ponytails or buns...... it really doesn't matter - I always end up with a tangly mess at the end, and it really hurts to pull that latex seal up 'n over it!!
=-)

 

[SubMariner]

When I first started drysuit diving I had shoulder-length hair. Then (as now) the seals I favoured were neoprene.

Needless to say, with long hair it was always a bit of a pain to doff/don the suit. So I started using a spandex "cap", where I could tuck my hair up under it & get through the neckseal with less hassle.

Also, something that works well with neoprene seals is to make sure you have a good hold of the seal & are able to stretch it wide open.

I still dive dry, BTW. But I have short hair!

~SubMariner~

 

[Bonnet Ray]

It has taken me 5 years to grow my hair following a silly decision to have it cut very short. Short hair just doesn't suit my face, so I don't want to cut it. I guess I'll just have to put up with the pain whilst I get in and out of my suit.