Drysuit Course

[Divedoggie]

If you can read the instructions, get ahold of a drysuit video from ebay, and then try your suit out in a pool, then dive with a buddy who has drysuit experience...you probably shouldn't waste your time and money on the course.

If you can't do the above things, and are feeling uncomfortable with the situation, then take the course.

 

[SubMariner]

Id say if you have a buddy or someone experienced in using a dry suit who is prepared to show you how to use it the course is a total and utter waste of time and money.

Unfortunately, you are more likely to pick up someone's bad habits that way than learning the truly important points about using a drysuit. For example, how many people practice how to get out of a feet first/inverted ascent? What to do if their inflator gets stuck open? Best weighting configuration? Or better yet, know how to TEACH those skills?

It's one thing to be able to dive; quite another to teach.

Good luck,

 

[scubajoe]

Id say if you have a buddy or someone experienced in using a dry suit who is prepared to show you how to use it the course is a total and utter waste of time and money.

Not wanting to start a war or anything here but if you use this type of logic why does anyone need an instructor to teach them anything. A lot of the old time divers never had a course and have dove safely for years. Couldn't you just read the nitrox book or talk to a buddy? Same for any of the other specialties.
I feel the same as Submariner....istruction is extremely valuable.

Joe

 

[OE2X]

Just because I'm very competent diving with my drysuit doesn't mean that I can teach the finer points of how to use one. Diving dry for 3 -4 years I now forget what has become instinctive to do. I found that a DS course was a very good investment.

 

[String]

Unfortunately, you are more likely to pick up someone's bad habits that way than learning the truly important points about using a drysuit. For example, how many people practice how to get out of a feet first/inverted ascent? What to do if their inflator gets stuck open? Best weighting configuration? Or better yet, know how to TEACH those skills?

It's one thing to be able to dive; quite another to teach.

Good luck,

We're not talking anything complicated here. There is nothing about using a dry suit that a user cant teach someone else in an hour or two. Inversion recovery. Simple forward rolls. Not difficult. Stuck inflator valve, just like the stuck inflator drill for a BC. Again very simple. Weighting? No different to wet suit diving working that one out.

Drysuit is an incredibly simple item to use, incredibly simple to pick up and i find it incredible the rip off by some companies/shops to charge people for this. I find any sort of course 100% a waste of money. This isnt as complicated as dive instruction, its teaching a fully qualified diver how to use one extra simple piece of equipment. What next, a $100 speciality course for how to deploy a DSMB? Dry-glove familiarity speciality? Its just a way to extort money out of people for a course that doesnt need to exist.

 

[ththooft]

I say ask the shop to throw in the course if you buy the suit from them. It worked for me. A dry suit is a big purchase and they're going to want to make the sale.

 

[all4scuba05]

then again...we all know there are some people who really really need a course for just about anything they do... others get a grasp of things fairly easily and don't need their hands held...unfortunately since we don't which group you fall in, we would rather play it safe and tell you take the course...for those of you who are blessed with the ability to learn things easily...congrats on the money saved...

 

[dherbman]

I may be out of line here, but why doesn't an LDS require a "Wet Suit" C-card if you want to rent a 7mm farmer john/jacket. The buoyancy issues when diving deep with lots of neoprene can be just as disastrous as diving a dry suit.

the K

Do you dive dry? After making my first dry dives last weekend, I can assure you there is a huge difference in the issues between wet and dry.

As for a course, there are some things you need to know. A course is probably the best way. An experienced buddy is good, but there always seem to be those "Oh yeah, I forgot to warn you about that" things that occur.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Dave you and I should actually get into the pool so we can do a few emergency things.

 

[dherbman]

Al, can't wait to jump back into that 87 deg. pool in the drysuit! I'm still trying to rehydrate after the last session. I'm tight on time this week, maybe late Friday? I may be on the Smith early Friday to check the flow. What are your plans for Friday?