Dry Suit Undergarments ? What can you wear?

[cojoe]

I just joined the post and wanted to say hello to all. I would love to discuss issues from fellow divers to enhance and better myself in certain diving situations. I am an advanced diver with Nitrox Card entering the world of cave diving. I was certified last year and just purchased my first Dry Suit. i went with the Dive Rite 905 and was just wondering about the undergarments on what to wear vs what I can get away with wearing. I am particularly diving the Peacock, Ginnie, etc area. If anyone has any do's and don'ts. I would love to hear about it.

Thanks for all the help.

cojoe

 

[Afraid_of_Fish]

Welcome to ScubaBoard!! You should check out the "New 2 scuba" and "Basic scuba Discussion" forums. They can be a lot of help.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. Hope to see you around the board!

<33 Jess

 

[Wendy]

What's the rush to become a cave diver?

Also it would be appreciated if you would fill out your profile.

 

[Uncle Pug]

To answer your drysuit question:

The undergarment serves several purposes. Keeping you warm is the one most are familiar with. But having material other than your flesh to fill up the folds and creases as the suit compresses on descent is another important feature.

What can you us as an undergarment? Anything that is hydrophobic, warm and soft enough to fill the folds. The less compressible the better. Stretch is nice. Non-binding fit is important. Cheapest way to go and still have the above that I have found is a Softwear undergarment.

 

[pdoege]

I use generic polartech undies. About $100 IIRC. I believe that Up's link is a good start.

With the undies and a hood I am good for about 2 hours.

I dove with just street clothes when I was just starting. Without deco or cave training you really don't need the hood or the undergarments in the springs because you don't go into a overhead environment. If you get cold you just come up. I have a few 45 minute dives with just clothes and I may have been a bit cold but no big deal.

I know of a few newer guys that are using sweaters and other winter wear. I never did this. They require a lot of air to keep you warm.

I agree with Wendy about the rush to full cave. Get a cavern course; take your time. There is a lot more to life than full cave.

Peter

 

[Scott Riemer]

I can't answer your question since I dive wet, But wanted to say,"Welcome to Scubaboard!" It's a great place!

 

[headhunter]

Welcome to ScubaBoard! :happywave

Sounds like you're already getting some answers to your question. I've never used a dry suit, but am looking into it for the future.

You may want to look through the Exposure Suits forum. You'll probably find lots of good information there.

Don't forget to fill out your profile, so that we can add context to your future posts. Also, once we know where you are geographically, you may find that you'll have a whole bunch of new dive buddies to choose from locally.

Dive safe!

Christian

P.S. Due to the high volume of new posts in the Introductions and Greets forum, it's not always possible to keep up with all the new posts here. So, please help me out and send me a PM if you post anything you want me to read or repsond to in this forum.
almtree: :sunny

 

[DandyDon]

Howdy!

Welcome to SB!! :happywave Put us in your computer's favorites and check in often. This is a great place to learn, compare, argue Look around our various forums - everything from New-To-Scuba to Instructors-Only to Dive Medicine.

For Dry Suit and Garment info, I'd suggest the Exposure Suit forum here on SB.

don

BTW - Did you set up your Profile? Some ideas for your Profle might be taken from looking at mine. Click on my Username to the upper left, then click on my Profile, and see what I've done. For your's, click the [CP] in the upper left of the screen, then click [Edit Profile]. If you need any help, PM me direct.

 

[Don Burke]

I was certified last year and just purchased my first Dry Suit. i went with the Dive Rite 905 and was just wondering about the undergarments on what to wear vs what I can get away with wearing. I am particularly diving the Peacock, Ginnie, etc area. If anyone has any do's and don'ts. I would love to hear about it.

Depending on the temperature, you will find me in anything from shorts and a t-shirt to sweats to the drysuit underwear I got with mt Bare drysuit.

Here is some scar tissue for you:

- No matter how warm it is, wear something on your upper body to deal with chafe. A cotton t-shirt over a nylon t-shirt is the best I have found so far for warm water.

- Wear something slick under drysuit underwear. I have some cheap nylon t-shirts that work just fine.

- If it is cold, be warm before you put the drysuit on and change out of all the clothes you were sweating in before you put the suit on.

- If it is cold, preloading your gloves with warm water or wearing dry gloves will make a big difference.

- Argon is not a substitute for sufficient insulation.

- Do not scrimp on your hood. My 7mm hood seems to make almost as much difference as the underwear.

Have fun. Dive often.

Don

 

[baitedstorm]

Welcome to the Board and best of wishes in all that cold water, sorry can't help you out in that area.