Drysuit buoyancy and stops

[BlueTrin]

There are quite a few threads about drysuit buoyancy issues but I wanted to ask specifically this question.

I tried my new drysuit in a quarry for the first time yesterday. I think I did ok considering:

• I have only about 20 dives
• this was my second day in a dry suit
• this is a new dry suit.

However I still lost control a few times and touched the surface with my fins, which was ok since we were doing a shallow dive and I didn't ascend too fast. I also tried this time to use only my suit for buoyancy. During my drysuit cert, my suit flooded so I had to use my BCD (which is actually easier for me to maintain buoyancy rather than using only the drysuit)

My question is: if one day I would like to do dives that require a deco stop, I assume that I should be able to always hold my buoyancy, so I should practice using my drysuit until buoyancy is not an issue at all, isn't it ?

I was also wondering for people who hold very long deco stops, not safety stops, is holding your buoyancy never an issue ? Do you need to reach the point where holding a stop is never an issue before to get close to NDL ? (I assume that the answer is yes whether you use a dry suit or not)

EDIT: I have already taken a PADI drysuit class

 

[swimlikethefish]

Easy solution...

Use less air in your drysuit. Put just enough to get rid of the uncomfortable squeeze. Then utilize your wing as you normally would. As time progresses it will become second nature.

 

[Compressor]

My question is: if one day I would like to do dives that require a deco stop, I assume that I should be able to always hold my buoyancy, so I should practice using my drysuit until buoyancy is not an issue at all, isn't it ?

@BlueTrin: Good buoyancy and trim are the hallmarks of a good diver. So to answer your question, you need to control your buoyancy carefully especially with a drysuit as an uncontrolled ascent in a drysuit (example ascending feet up towards the surface) can be very dangerous. Did you learn in a wetsuit? If so, then perfect your buoyancy and trim in a wetsuit first then add the complexity of a drysuit. Also consider taking a drysuit course.

Hope this helps.

 

[BlueTrin]

Easy solution...

Use less air in your drysuit. Put just enough to get rid of the uncomfortable squeeze. Then utilize your wing as you normally would. As time progresses it will become second nature.

@BlueTrin: Good buoyancy and trim are the hallmarks of a good diver. So to answer your question, you need to control your buoyancy carefully especially with a drysuit as an uncontrolled ascent in a drysuit (example ascending feet up towards the surface) can be very dangerous. Did you learn in a wetsuit? If so, then perfect your buoyancy and trim in a wetsuit first then add the complexity of a drysuit. Also consider taking a drysuit course.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the replies, I will try to use my wing again the next time for buoyancy. I wanted to try something different than the first time and that is why I was using the drysuit only this time. I thought I should try both techniques to see which one I prefer.

To answer your questions:

• I learned in a wetsuit and I am fine in a wetsuit. I am using now a drysuit because it is too cold in the UK at the moment to dive in a wetsuit
• I have taken the PADI drysuit class

 

[Gareth J]

There are two schools of thought on buoyancy control.

1. Minimal gas in the drysuit to take the squeeze off. Buoyancy control on the Jacket/Wing.

2. Buoyancy control on the suit.
The majority probably dive with buoyancy on the suit. Which once mastered, is easier than the jacket.
Buoyancy control on the suit is very difficult if you are over weight. Whilst I could accommodate it on twins and stages, I would general switch to wing only, or a combination.
For normal single cylinder diving, or even a twinset, if you are correctly weighted. You should comfortably be able to control the buoyancy on the suit. The amount of additional air need for buoyancy, over the air need to take the squeeze off is negligible.

When I teach new Sports Divers, I always say if you plan 5 minutes of decompression, you should be able to comfortably do 10 minutes (i.e. double the planed/required). That way, if you make a mistake, and overrun the planned time you KNOW you can complete the required stop. A new sports diver, should comfortably be able to do 5 minutes of stops.

 

[ChuckP]

I may make small adjustments to buoyancy at depth with my suit but I really use my BC, I just make myself comfortable in the suit. I dump my suit before I ascend cause I think my control is easier with my BC. Some guys dive all the time dry, way more experience and maybe they can control themselves with their suit only but with my little experience, I use the BC.

I'm always flat or slightly up in the water - I can get air outa my BC quicker and finer than trying to tuck and force air up to my left shoulder, making that high etc...

 

[Edward3c]

There are quite a few threads about drysuit buoyancy issues but I wanted to ask specifically this question.

I tried my new drysuit in a quarry for the first time yesterday. I think I did ok considering:
I have only about 20 dives

• this was my second day in a dry suit
• this is a new dry suit.

However I still lost control a few times and touched the surface with my fins, which was ok since we were doing a shallow dive and I didn't ascend too fast. I also tried this time to use only my suit for buoyancy. During my drysuit cert, my suit flooded so I had to use my BCD (which is actually easier for me to maintain buoyancy rather than using only the drysuit)

My question is: if one day I would like to do dives that require a deco stop, I assume that I should be able to always hold my buoyancy, so I should practice using my drysuit until buoyancy is not an issue at all, isn't it ?

I was also wondering for people who hold very long deco stops, not safety stops, is holding your buoyancy never an issue ? Do you need to reach the point where holding a stop is never an issue before to get close to NDL ? (I assume that the answer is yes whether you use a dry suit or not)

EDIT: I have already taken a PADI drysuit class

If you’ve joined a BSAC club, see if you can get on a Buoyancy & Trim Workshop (B&T). There great fun, plus you get to learn and practice 2 minute stops at 12, 9, 6,5,4,3 and 2m followed by 30 seconds at 1m.

Using both your suit and BC whilst still gaining experience isn’t advised; you have to manage 2 gas bubbles rather than 1.

Without seeing you in the water I would just be speculating on what might be causing you to rise. I’m running a B&T on 13th April in Loch Fyne; your welcome to attend.

 

[lexvil]

I started out using the b/c for boyancy but before long I started using the suit only, the roll to exhaust comes without thought or any other action required, my wing is only inflated for the swim out and a little if any at the end of the dive. I don’t like squeeze in my trilam suit so I use a few extra pounds of lead with it but watch the lead and don’t over weight yourself, it can actually make you colder with to much air, cold on the bottom warm on top sort of thing.

It takes a little while to get truly comfortable in a dry suit but with time you will find the method that works best for you. For me it’s proper weighting and suit for boyancy control and an empty b/c.

 

[Storker]

Using both your suit and BC whilst still gaining experience isn’t advised; you have to manage 2 gas bubbles rather than 1.

For me, short-term buoyancy changes, typically due to descending or ascending, is handled automatically by my suit air. When I descend and take off the squeeze, the volume inside my suit is pretty much the same as before I descended. Which means that I'm still neutrally buoyant. I have just enough air in my wing to offset the weight of my gas, and as I consume gas I vent my wing accordingly. As I ascend, the air in my suit expands, and when I dump just enough air from my suit to release that increased volume, I'm neutral again. If I'm squeezed but neutral, I have too much air in my wing and dump a little from the wing, if my suit bubble is too large while I'm neutral I don't have enough air in my wing and hit the inflator just a little.

There's also the point that running your suit really tight means that you have less loft in your undergarments and won't be as warm. So it's not uncommon up here to add a kg or two to your belt in the winter, for maximum loft. Weight=warmth, so I prefer to weigh myself for a little looseness in my suit. Not much, but definitely looser than some divers prefer.

 

[BlueTrin]

For me, short-term buoyancy changes, typically due to descending or ascending, is handled automatically by my suit air. When I descend and take off the squeeze, the volume inside my suit is pretty much the same as before I descended. Which means that I'm still neutrally buoyant. I have just enough air in my wing to offset the weight of my gas, and as I consume gas I vent my wing accordingly. As I ascend, the air in my suit expands, and when I dump just enough air from my suit to release that increased volume, I'm neutral again. If I'm squeezed but neutral, I have too much air in my wing and dump a little from the wing, if my suit bubble is too large while I'm neutral I don't have enough air in my wing and hit the inflator just a little.

There's also the point that running your suit really tight means that you have less loft in your undergarments and won't be as warm. So it's not uncommon up here to add a kg or two to your belt in the winter, for maximum loft. Weight=warmth, so I prefer to weigh myself for a little looseness in my suit. Not much, but definitely looser than some divers prefer.

About your last paragraph, I wonder if I wasn't a bit underweighted.

I could descend by really exhaling hard but it wasn't easy to descend, I had to shake a bit to get all the air out.

Also I had to really drop every bit of air I could to just hold my safety stop.

Seems that once I have a cold water undersuit, the PADI roll position where you squeeze your arms and legs traps some air in my legs, so it was easier for me to keep my legs straight and a bit down to let the air migrate to my shoulder.