Dry Suit Inflation System

[gerardnealon]

I was curious how much air most people use in their drysuit during a dive. I understand a lot depends on depth and temperature. I guess I am just looking for ball park answers. I am interested in knowing how much air I can save by purchasing a seperate tank for the dry suit and also what size tank would be a safe purchase. Thanks.

Gerard

 

[jonnythan]

For typical rec dives, it's almost negligible. 6 cf is a popular size for the guys who go deep, and even then I hear they typically last more than one dive.

I wouldn't bother unless you're putting helium in your tanks, then you'll probably want something warmer like air or argon.

 

[gerardnealon]

For typical rec dives, it's almost negligible. 6 cf is a popular size for the guys who go deep, and even then I hear they typically last more than one dive.

I wouldn't bother unless you're putting helium in your tanks, then you'll probably want something warmer like air or argon.

I was actually throwing the idea around for argon because it gets quite cold up here in the winter. The only problem is, I dont know any place that fills argon.

 

[jonnythan]

Depending on who you ask, argon has basically no greater insulating qualities than air. I haven't tried it, but I think if you're getting cold you should be wearing better or more undergarments. A simple fleece vest does a bunch.

 

[gerardnealon]

I heard the same thing from someone else also. I am not getting real cold but I am not very warm either. I dive with the DUI 300g fleece undergarments which work pretty well. When I hit below 40 I can tell a little. Good idea on the fleece vest. You know of any particular good ones?

 

[jonnythan]

Go to your local outdoor goods store. Hell, even try the army/navy store and get a second layer of fleece for the really cold days.

 

[Snowbear]

Argon works.

As for a seperate system to conserve air - It takes 2-5 dives (depends mostly on depth) for me to use up a 6cf bottle, so I don't think it saves much.

 

[String]

The main reason that people use Argon is not when diving air, its when diving helium which is a FAR more efficient gas at transfering heat and therefore makes a diver much colder breathing it AND conducts heat away from the body if used to fill the drysuit.

There is a theoretical difference between it and air but as stated above, some people cant tell any difference at all. Its main use is in mix gas diving.