Dry Suit - Learning to dive dry

[Boogie711]

Here's the big issue with a drysuit course as I see it.

There are a lot of posts saying "a drysuit course is a good idea" provided it's with the 'right' instructor.

OK - hands up all existing drysuit instructors who believe that they're NOT the right instructor? Anyone at all?

OK - let's try to thin the field... how many drysuit instructors here insist on using the suit for buoyancy (especially if the student expresses a desire or asks a question about other techniques), and YET feel they're 'not' the right instructor? Anyone at all?

How many drysuit instructors here who have put students into stock sized suits because that's what they had on the shelf... who have students who can't reach their valves... and who teach the suit for bouyancy... yet feel they're 'not' the right instructor... anyone?

I can go on and on. It's sad but true. There are some courses worth taking, no matter how horrible the instructor might be... but drysuit isn't one of them. And anyone who claims otherwise is probably making good money of selling drysuit classes, or has a horribly inflated self image. I haven't seen a lot of posts on here that say "taking a drysuit class was one of the best courses I've ever taken. I learned so much."

There are some wonderful, patient instructors out there. But respectfully to all existing drysuit instructors who read this post - odds are that not all of you are that person. Again, sad but true.

So to simply claim that all new drysuit divers 'should' take a drysuit class is shortsighted at best.

 

[OneBrightGator]

*raises hand*

oh poop... were those trick questions? :11:

 

[diverbrian]

Here's the big issue with a drysuit course as I see it.

There are a lot of posts saying "a drysuit course is a good idea" provided it's with the 'right' instructor.

OK - hands up all existing drysuit instructors who believe that they're NOT the right instructor? Anyone at all?

OK - let's try to thin the field... how many drysuit instructors here insist on using the suit for buoyancy (especially if the student expresses a desire or asks a question about other techniques), and YET feel they're 'not' the right instructor? Anyone at all?

How many drysuit instructors here who have put students into stock sized suits because that's what they had on the shelf... who have students who can't reach their valves... and who teach the suit for bouyancy... yet feel they're 'not' the right instructor... anyone?

I can go on and on. It's sad but true. There are some courses worth taking, no matter how horrible the instructor might be... but drysuit isn't one of them. And anyone who claims otherwise is probably making good money of selling drysuit classes, or has a horribly inflated self image. I haven't seen a lot of posts on here that say "taking a drysuit class was one of the best courses I've ever taken. I learned so much."

There are some wonderful, patient instructors out there. But respectfully to all existing drysuit instructors who read this post - odds are that not all of you are that person. Again, sad but true.

So to simply claim that all new drysuit divers 'should' take a drysuit class is shortsighted at best.

My recommendation is to actually to take the course AND have the mentor for the first couple of drysuit dives out of the course. But that is me. I follow the theory that a little more training never really hurt anyone. Of course, like I said, our dive shop has the class for nothing with the purchase of the drysuit, so why NOT take it!?

As far as being able to reach valves, the fact is that in a single tank, recreational rig, many people don't have the flexibility to do this in a 3mm Hyperstrech wetsuit. I can in that kind of rig, but it isn't the easiest thing in the world. It is (admittedly) far easier in my doubles rig and that is what I dive 80 percent of the time. Dive buddies do make this task so much easier for most people . That is also the issue that our tech instructor sees the most of when he teaches Advanced Nitrox and introduces the skill. This has little to do with the drysuit in any of the cases that he deals with. It has to do with the shoulder and arm flexibility to reach back there and the tanks being in an awkward spot for the hands to reach.

Having said that, if you were to meet me in person, my advice would vary slightly from the open forums. I can clarify points in person so that a slight misinterpretation does not result in someone taking me out of context. I have even been known to give to dive with drysuit people who aren't taking the course and are in a drysuit for the first time. My dive buddy at drysuit days (and up in Canada for those that ran into me on the Kingston and Brockville trips that I took last year) took a total of about ten minutes in the water to become perfectly comfortable in a drysuit. But I still have advised her and my other dive buddies whose DS orientations that I do to take the course in case I missed anything.

We all have our own opinions and that makes this place great!

Have fun with the drysuits and stay safe.

Brian

 

[jbisjim]

So to simply claim that all new drysuit divers 'should' take a drysuit class is shortsighted at best.

I personally believe a class is a good idea, but to claim that a class will make you a good Drysuit diver is not nessessarily so. As stated nothing replaces experience.

 

[SubMariner]

The Catch-22 is liability and responsibility. As people that post here, we are semi-responsible for what gets taken out of our posts. I do NOT want to be the one in open forum that says that a drysuit course is a completely dumb idea. For one thing, I think that they are worth the time and money with the RIGHT instructor.

Exactly.

 

[OneBrightGator]

I would be honestly interested in a case where the "I read it on the internet" defense has been used and someone else was held accountable for that person's actions.

Stupid people are just that, with or without great advice.

 

[String]

Darwin has a low tolerance to stupidity.

 

[JeffG]

Exactly.

Exactly???? BS...We are not responsible if some dimwit trys to learn all that needs to be know on the internet and then goes and tries it...Darwin is in play here. If you want to play the PC card...well thats just fine, but it doesn't change the truth.

Drysuits are not rocket science.

I will say on an open forum that a Drysuit course is a total waste of money.

Find someone who as actually used a drysuit (more than 1 or 2 times) and let him give you some pointers....you should be good to go. Even if "these guys" suck..they would of managed to survive a few times and gotten in their head..."Air go in this way....goes out this way". I'm not saying that that is the best instruction...but it might just be the level that PADI instructor that tries to teach a drysuit course.

If you find someone who actually has a clue...(which excludes most instructors) you might actually be on the right path.

 

[Boogie711]

OK - hands up all existing drysuit instructors who believe that they're NOT the right instructor? Anyone at all?

For one thing, I think that they are worth the time and money with the RIGHT instructor.

Exactly.

OK - out of curiousity SubMariner - would you consider yourself a "right" instructor?

 

[JeffG]

OK - out of curiousity SubMariner - would you consider yourself a "right" instructor?

You are an evil man....I like it