Drysuit disaster from La Jolla to DC...!

[eightytwenty]

What fins are you using? Do they have springstraps, or the adjustable rubber straps seen on old rocket/jet fins?

 

[Diverantz]

What fins are you using? Do they have springstraps, or the adjustable rubber straps seen on old rocket/jet fins?

I'm not recalling what I used the second time, but the first and third attempts I used rented springstraps-

 

[sea_ledford]

I'm not recalling what I used the second time, but the first and third attempts I used rented springstraps-

Wait a second... are you at close to 100 dives and you are renting ALL of your gear and not just a drysuit? I'd say it's time to spend some money and increase your comfort exponentially.

 

[eightytwenty]

I'm not recalling what I used the second time, but the first and third attempts I used rented springstraps-

Wait a second... are you at close to 100 dives and you are renting ALL of your gear and not just a drysuit? I'd say it's time to spend some money and increase your comfort exponentially.

I'd have to agree with sea_ledford on this one... SCUBA is a big fit game, just about everything needs to fit you and fit you well for you to have a good time (or the best time possible I suppose...)

Were you renting fins so that they would fit in larger drysuit boots, or do you not own a pair?

 

[Diverantz]

Wait a second... are you at close to 100 dives and you are renting ALL of your gear and not just a drysuit? I'd say it's time to spend some money and increase your comfort exponentially.

Yes! I know, crazy right? But I've really stalled out knowing what to get, because I thought I would become a cold water drysuit diver and now that's gone really badly so far. Not all of it, but all the important stuff, reg and BCD. I have some of the accessories, only a 3mm wetsuit though and a sharkskin top with hood, and I heard that's not even enough to dive the chilly waters of Komodo next week-

 

[Diverantz]

I'd have to agree with sea_ledford on this one... SCUBA is a big fit game, just about everything needs to fit you and fit you well for you to have a good time (or the best time possible I suppose...)

Were you renting fins so that they would fit in larger drysuit boots, or do you not own a pair?

Yeah I've been renting gear since I got certified in 2019 (there was that long COVID break) but I've got the basic outfit and upgraded to slightly better versions of the mask, fins recently. I did use their fins in all these drysuit trainings because either I was away from home without or I didn't think mine would fit in the boots-

 

[ABCdivepro]

Hey internet dive buddies, looking for expert advice!

I'm just a baby diver and have been since my drysuit misadventures started, though by now I'm nearly up to 100 dives and wearing out my newbie excuses. Here's my sad drysuit story.

I got drysuit certified in La Jolla in Feb 2022. It went okay until my rented mask swamped, and while I was trying to clear it I caught air and did an unplanned ascent...shallow, but still-

So I tried again, in Lake Allure, May 2023. This time, ruin in the first five minutes: I'd overweighted myself, lost a fin, and sank to the (luckily shallow) bottom. I did the first dive, wound up being dangerously cold (didn't wear the undergarments, thought they'd be too "bulky"), couldn't even do the second dive.

OK. Third try. Present day. Last week I'm in the pool, tucking and rolling, when I catch too much air in my feet, unplanned ascent, can't right myself, lose a fin. Classic me in a drysuit.

Am I taking this act to the quarry this weekend? You betcha. Need all your tips and tricks for survival.

Maybe I can partially blame the ill-fitting rental gear for these mishaps, but am I really going all in and buying a drysuit at this point?

Also, if somebody in the Washington DC area wants to train a floundering would-be drysuiter, as, like, your do-good springtime project I'm here for it-

I agree with others on using drysuit gas as little as possible, and not for buoyancy in most situations. Ball up and get as much air out before zipping, only add air in small amounts as you descend to counteract squeeze.

With your own kit, familiarity and muscle memory will help reduce weighting to just what you need, improve your position and technique.

Stopping or slowing rapid air travel to lower legs or feet is the key to preventing uncontrolled ascent. Slowing down a runaway situation gives time to deal with the issue.

Simplifying and practising techniques help reduce brain load, react faster in problem or unfamiliar situations.
Unlike you, most divers have already developed skills and muscle memory with wing/BCD for buoyancy before moving to drysuit. Keeping that unchanged is best practice, unlearning is harder than learning.

So heavier tech fins, fin keepers, and good technique all help, but good fitting calf gaiters can work really well as they keep drysuit gas from rushing to the feet. Amazon has plenty of $20-$30 neoprene velcro gaiters that work fine, eg Sylong (ASIN B0BJJRH2LX) works great with SP membrane suit and drylastic under.

Kudos to you for sharing these common problems where many are reluctant, it helps everybody benefit. stay with it you'll get there.

 

[happy-diver]

Is this a thing, do you have a video, explanation

Ball up and get as much air out before zipping

Thanks!

 

[lexvil]

Is this a thing, do you have a video, explanation



Thanks!

It’s a common thing you see people doing, basically you zip up, cross your arms and do a deep knee bend squat while pulling your neck seal out to vent. This is a good boat dive technique where you go straight into the water and you don’t want to be a cork while things vent, unnecessary if you are shore diving and have any sort of swim out since, if the exhaust valve should be open, water pressure will push out any excess air before you get to the drop point.

 

[Diverantz]

Thanks for the tips; I think I was rushing my way into drysuiting before I mastered wetsuiting! Going to take your advice and get my first round of gear in hand before hitting that cold water-

I agree with others on using drysuit gas as little as possible, and not for buoyancy in most situations. Ball up and get as much air out before zipping, only add air in small amounts as you descend to counteract squeeze.

With your own kit, familiarity and muscle memory will help reduce weighting to just what you need, improve your position and technique.

Stopping or slowing rapid air travel to lower legs or feet is the key to preventing uncontrolled ascent. Slowing down a runaway situation gives time to deal with the issue.

Simplifying and practising techniques help reduce brain load, react faster in problem or unfamiliar situations.
Unlike you, most divers have already developed skills and muscle memory with wing/BCD for buoyancy before moving to drysuit. Keeping that unchanged is best practice, unlearning is harder than learning.

So heavier tech fins, fin keepers, and good technique all help, but good fitting calf gaiters can work really well as they keep drysuit gas from rushing to the feet. Amazon has plenty of $20-$30 neoprene velcro gaiters that work fine, eg Sylong (ASIN B0BJJRH2LX) works great with SP membrane suit and drylastic under.

Kudos to you for sharing these common problems where many are reluctant, it helps everybody benefit. stay with it you'll get there.