Dry Suit Thoughts and Experiences?

[Wibble]

Another question concerns me, how do you buy the diving gear you want when dive shops do not offer what you want? I bought my regulator, octopus and dive computer from manufacturers' websites, not scuba wholesale stores, yet dive shops discourage online purchases.

I understand the importance of getting a feel and fit on items such as exposure suits, boots, fins, masks, undergarments and so on, but what if a particular item is not available to try on? If you buy directly from the manufacturer online, getting the gear you want would not be a problem.

You must really hate shops that make recommendations and attempt to help you. The internet is awful for that.

There’s an element of use 'em or loose 'em with dive shops. Then where are you going to get your gas and training?

 

[Wibble]

BC for buoyancy, not the suit.

For a novice, definitely.

However, it’s far more subtle than that for experienced divers who will use both.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Another question concerns me, how do you buy the diving gear you want when dive shops do not offer what you want? I bought my regulator, octopus and dive computer from manufacturers' websites, not scuba wholesale stores, yet dive shops discourage online purchases.

I understand the importance of getting a feel and fit on items such as exposure suits, boots, fins, masks, undergarments and so on, but what if a particular item is not available to try on? If you buy directly from the manufacturer online, getting the gear you want would not be a problem.

I left my original shop partly because of this. They would not get the items I wanted or needed for the type of diving I was getting into.
My "local shops" became Leisure Pro, ScubaToys, Tech Diving Limited, and Piranha Dive Mfg. I still get items from some of them even though I am a dealer for a couple of brands. Why? because my brands don't always have what I want for myself or my students want something different than what I carry.
Rather than try to get them to substitute, I go outside the box and get them what they want and take the loss of profit or I send them directly to the other source.
This BS about trusting the LDS to have your best interests at hand is an ideal that I do try to live up to (and so have no issues with referring people to my "competitors") but others do not. Why should I trust anyone who assumes I haven't done the research and know what I want and why?
Many times certain shops base their recommendations on their bottom line. Not necessarily what is in the best interest of the diver. This seems to be more true in some cases where the shop is locked into a certain high priced brand that has restrictive dealer policies. Or those where the staff have little to no experience with anything other than what the shop sells.
Like my original shop that tried to tell me I didn't need a BPW for doubles, a long hose, or a slung pony. Only because he didn't use those things or do the types of dives I wanted to do. Nothing to do with my best interests.

 

[Wibble]

I’ve just been stiffed by an online LDS who ordered the wrong cylinders because they don’t know about rebreathers and ordered the wrong diameter cylinder that no rebreathers use (4.7"/11.5cm not the normal 4"/10cm). "It’s a special order so not subject the the Sale Of Goods Act".

Whilst I won’t ever use them again, I’m annoyed at having $400 worth of cylinders I can’t use.

 

[Marie13]

I’ve just been stiffed by an online LDS who ordered the wrong cylinders because they don’t know about rebreathers and ordered the wrong diameter cylinder that no rebreathers use (4.7"/11.5cm not the normal 4"/10cm). "It’s a special order so not subject the the Sale Of Goods Act".

Whilst I won’t ever use them again, I’m annoyed at having $400 worth of cylinders I can’t use.

For something very specific like that, I’d order from the specialist dealers (who specialize in CCR stuff) even though it might cost more.

 

[Cdncoldwater]

Almost completed SDI eLearning Dry Suit certification; although I have not completed OWC, nor have i used a wetsuit for diving purposes, dry suit diving is overwhelmingly complicated and riskier than wetsuit diving, in accordance from what i have studied through eLearning.

Would any one like to comment or share your thoughts or personal experience about dry suit diving?

I've dove both, 7 and 3mm wet and compressed neoprene dry and the majority of my diving is dry suit simply because of water temperature. There is some training and practice required for dry suit but it's not overly complex and is nice to be warm or needing to dry off after. I have failed to check my zipper once and had floaty feet once when I changed from rock boots to integrated boots but have yet to repeat those mistakes. My need for weight hasn't increased and I dive more because I'm comfortable.
If you go with a neoprene dry suit get the hyper compressed neoprene (you don't lose buoyancy at depth) but realistically you can probability get a very good trilaminate cheaper. Take the dry suit course or some form of training if available as well.

 

[Water_is_my_blood]

For a novice, definitely.

However, it’s far more subtle than that for experienced divers who will use both.

Is there some advantage using both dry suit and wing for buoyancy at the same time? You could argue that you always use both but I mean adding air to dry suit for buoyancy. Apart from more air = more warmth. ?

 

[lexvil]

Is there some advantage using both dry suit and wing for buoyancy at the same time? You could argue that you always use both but I mean adding air to dry suit for buoyancy. Apart from more air = more warmth. ?

To a point, if you’re over weighted more air can make you colder, to demonstrate this seal you hand in a plastic bad and push it underwater, bubble to the top and very tight skin to plastic seal on the bottom. If you are very over weighted and use the suit for buoyancy you may actually feel colder, the trick is to be properly weighted for “your” dive. A single tank diver can easily (depending) get by with the suit for buoyancy but someone properly weighted for doubles will usually be better off offsetting the gas with the b/c. There are no hard and fast rules but there are good practice baselines and adjust from there as you learn.

 

[greeniguana]

Is there some advantage using both dry suit and wing for buoyancy at the same time? You could argue that you always use both but I mean adding air to dry suit for buoyancy. Apart from more air = more warmth. ?

Yes. It's like downshifting and applying brakes when you're driving a car. If you can do both, you'll be a better car driver. Although it's really difficult to explain the process..... You just need to practice.

 

[Water_is_my_blood]

To a point, if you’re over weighted more air can make you colder, to demonstrate this seal you hand in a plastic bad and push it underwater, bubble to the top and very tight skin to plastic seal on the bottom. If you are very over weighted and use the suit for buoyancy you may actually feel colder, the trick is to be properly weighted for “your” dive. A single tank diver can easily (depending) get by with the suit for buoyancy but someone properly weighted for doubles will usually be better off offsetting the gas with the b/c. There are no hard and fast rules but there are good practice baselines and adjust from there as you learn.

Ok, thanks. I use wing for buoyancy as it is easier for me. I am over weighted with steel cylinder without any lead. Is there any theoretical/practical reasons why to use both for buoyancy? Things like if you rupture your wing bladder you have some buoyancy left in suit...