Drysuit Diving Buddy

[arhemed]

I recently became certified and I want to start diving dry and recently bought a dry suit. I am looking to see if anyone would be willing to show a fellow diver the drysuit way instead of taking the official course at a dive shop. I can purchase the book and video but would rather buy a fellow diver lunch several times then send money at a LDS.

 

[ScubaSarus]

What you are asking is not out of the question. But there are issues.

How many dives do you have already would be one and how experienced are you.

There is a lot of liability there in what you ask should you have a feet first ascent and embolize or get the bends. I think the course is essential and I have first hand experience with drysuit divers that took the shortcut you want to take and had to be pulled or held down by me risking my own injury down to prevent them from an uncontrolled ascent. One guy did this twice on me in one dive.

In another instance the guy was so over weighted he ended up 70 feet at the bottom of a quarry on me sinking like a rock. Unfortunately this guy ruptured his tympanic membrane. Once again I risked the bends as I felt an obligation to my buddy. He had over $5000 worth of brand new hi tech gear strapped to him, I thought he was professional; he acted very calm throughout the ordeal and that help me help him get back to the surface but his ascent was then a little too fast.

Both times, the divers beat around the bush when I asked if they had the proper training. I found out later neither had.

Although what you want can and has been done, there is no better way than proper training.

Where did you buy your drysuit that never asked you if you had a proper drysuit course ?

 

[arhemed]

What you are asking is not out of the question. But there are issues.

How many dives do you have already would be one and how experienced are you.

There is a lot of liability there in what you ask should you have a feet first ascent and embolize or get the bends. I think the course is essential and I have first hand experience with drysuit divers that took the shortcut you want to take and had to be pulled or held down by me risking my own injury down to prevent them from an uncontrolled ascent. One guy did this twice on me in one dive.

In another instance the guy was so over weighted he ended up 70 feet at the bottom of a quarry on me sinking like a rock. Unfortunately this guy ruptured his tympanic membrane. Once again I risked the bends as I felt an obligation to my buddy. He had over $5000 worth of brand new hi tech gear strapped to him, I thought he was professional; he acted very calm throughout the ordeal and that help me help him get back to the surface but his ascent was then a little too fast.

Both times, the divers beat around the bush when I asked if they had the proper training. I found out later neither had.

Although what you want can and has been done, there is no better way than proper training.

Where did you buy your drysuit that never asked you if you had a proper drysuit course ?

I have 8 logged dives 4 of which were checkout dives. I want to get into dry right away because I want to dive year round and not be cold. I want to start ASAP. I bought my drysuit from craigslist so questioning the certification wasn't an issue.

I am not trying to avoid the course but seeing if there are alternatives.

 

[DavidInNH]

I agree with ScubaSarus that drysuit diving is not to be taken lightly. As a VERY new diver (only 8 dives) I'd put the suit away for a while and dive wet until I was very comfortable and had good diving skills. Especially in regards to buoyancy control, you are not as likely to get hurt diving wet as dry if you mis-manage your weighting and control. I have never run into a diver with so few dives who had completely mastered buoyancy control. (I know it took me many more than 8 dives to be able to efficiently and confidently do this.)

As for the liability issues SS described, I know I would not want to take out a newly-certified diver for an advanced diving situation (as drysuit diving is). This is not rocket science but it is like taking a newbie diver on a deep dive or other challenge that requires more experience. I'm not saying that the skills are different than basic ones - just that even the basic ones must be automatic and will not be at that early a time in one's diving career.

As for buying a drysuit on Craigslist, I see nothing wrong with doing that but I wouldn't want to dive the suit until it was professionally checked out and I was with someone who could help me if there was a problem. This is where the dive instructor comes in.

• Are the seals intact? (They may appear okay but not be okay when submerged under pressure.)
  
• Is the zipper completely waterproof? (Slight leaks from as little as a almost-invisible string can cause water to seep inside. I know, I just replaced a zipper for that very reason - nothing obvious until water got into the suit.)
  
• Are the valves working properly? (Failure to vent adequately is a recipe for disaster.) Would you know what to do if the inflator valve stuck open?
  
• How much weight would you need? (If you go with an instructor, he will help you determine the right amount and will be able to remove/add weight as needed. If you go without one, it is likely you will be too heavy (we tend to never be too light) and buoyancy issues are compounded.)
  
• What happens if you get inverted? Would you be able to reverse that quickly enough to avoid an unplanned ascent? (All practiced in class with instructor.)
  
• How would you manage your multiple-point buoyancy control? (BC and suit.) I don't use my BC for buoyancy control when submerged, but others do.

If you are just trying to save money, that's fine, but I wouldn't do it. I also wouldn't take on the responsibility for someone else for a free lunch. I know I would be concerned about a newly-certified diver thinking he would "rather buy a fellow diver lunch several times [sic] then send money at a LDS". This is a safety issue and I'd caution you not to skimp on your safety.

I hope you take all our suggestions to heart and make sure you are experienced enough and safe before getting into this part of diving. We wish you well.

 

[ScubaSarus]

As Dave says, that suit needs to be professionally checked initially.

The valves also have to be in good working order and no leaky O-rings or sticking valves from worn out o-rings or springs.

The suit needs to be checked for leaks also and proper fit.

If that neckseal is too tight, it will need trimming as it could cause you to pass out.

And if the neck seal is too loose, it will need replacing and can cause a flood or a lot of discomfort on a new diver.

The seams are also a source of leakage.

Although some leakage occasionally occurs and is an annoyance, you don't want a newish diver suddenly getting 45 F water in their suit as they could react to the cold in ways unknown at depth.

If you know you have a deal buy it, but get the proper training and some dives behind you before using it.

 

[arhemed]

thanks for all the info guys

 

[spectrum]

arhemed,

Many divers do learn drysuit diving from a mentor but those relationships are usually pre-exisiting. In effect you are asking someone to step forward to play instructor. With neither of you knowing each others abilities there is a lot that could go sour here.

Please do take a course so you know what you are dealing with. It will cover a lot more than just making the dive. What I have seen in the past year underscores that at this stage you don't even know what you don't know.

The other upside of taking a bonafide course is that you will be able to rent. if you travel or your suit is out of commission that could come in handy. you also get to dive without a guide (still need a buddy) at demo days like DUI & Whites offer.

Pete

 

[Jaysun1327]

I'm actually taking a dry suit course next weekend. The cost of the course is less than $200 and only takes a weekend. With the amount of money you already have invested in equipment, it makes sense to spend a little more and learn to properly use that equipment. Since you are newly certified I would recommend you spend the summer diving wet and in the fall when you have more open water dives logged take the dry suit class. The LDS I'm taking the course through offers the dry suit course once a month through December (their schedule only goes out that far)

I started diving New England waters last July and had a dive in every month until October. During July, August, and September I was comfortable to hot in a 7mm wet suit. In October I started to get a little chilly and my girlfriend was frozen. That had more to do with the air temp than the water temp since the water temp was basically the same as it was in July.

 

[hypertech]

Some people learn to dive in drysuits so experience is not an obstacle to using your suit, IMHO.

The course is useful. Around here I think it runs about a hundred bucks. For that money you get an instructor paying attention to you for a couple dives.

Is it possible to learn with a good buddy, sure. But, out of all my dive buddies there are only a few that are both good drysuit divers and good teachers. Your odds are better taking the course from an instructor with good drysuit experience. I recommend taking the course.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Actually I do think experience is an issue. Learning to dive dry is a rodeo. Not rocket science, but there is more stuff going on than diving wet and it can be very "exciting" for a few dives.

A new diver can accomplish this learning cuve with an instructor. At 12 dives, your a new diver.

An experienced diver (lets say 100 dives just for a number) can learn on their own with some advice and an experienced buddy who won't mind devoting several dives sole to helping you. Short of this, just take the course.