Drysuit Diving Buddy

[oly5050user]

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.

Not a good idea. You are asking someone to be liable if something went wrong.Anyone who assisted you in this endeavor should realize that if something went terribly wrong and you or your survivors sued him/her it would become very costly for them.This is why instructors are trained for/have experience in this activity.Instructors carry expensive liability insurance for if an incident occurs.

 

[mmerriman]

if you decide to go the course route - I am an instructor and am taking 1 person out for the dives on May 28. If you want to join that class, we'll can arrange the class and pool session in advance - but like others said you need to get the suit checked out prior...

 

[dave4868]

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.

Although I think self-instruction based on a decent drysuit book is probably sufficient for most divers with good buoyancy control, your post obviously raised liability concerns for many people. That's mostly because you're a newly certified diver asking for someone to instruct you in return for a consideration (meals).

It would have been far better to avoid any contractual relationship.

I'd suggest you read a drysuit instruction book, test your suit in a pool, practice skills and, if you're still convinced you just need mentoring, ask for someone to informally advise you.

Let's all say it together: "TORT REFORM NOW!" Individual self-responsibility continues its sad decline....

Anyway, here's a good book:

Drysuit Diving- A Guide to Diving Dry by Barsky, Long & Stinton

Dry Suit Diving Book - Scuba Diving Book from Hammerhead Press

Dave C

 

[DavidInNH]

... Let's all say it together: "TORT REFORM NOW!" Individual self-responsibility continues its sad decline....

Dave C

I don't think that the liability issue is the primary issue here. To sum up my concerns:

• The suit should be checked by an expert.
• The diver is a novice in all aspects, not just diving dry.
• I wouldn't take on responsibility for a newbie who hasn't had training, not just for liability reasons but because he couldn't help me if I needed assistance. (I'd be safer alone.)

 

[porgyhunter]

I'am not trying to be cavalier here, but what happened to the Good ole Days? Drysuits are just not that difficult to dive. Just dive it with no air, like a wet suit. When the newbie [We wereall newbies] gets comfortable add your inflator. My first Dry was a Henderson with a oral inflator I had to use cuz I mistakenly conected to my high pressure port. I was a new diver. I dove my recent dry with just a packpak for awhile using the dry for bouyancy. Theres a bunch of easy ways to get the feel. There are many old coots like myself that learned on archaic equip. Example. No pressure gauge[your researve was a pull wire] You take what you have a gain experience.

 

[AfterDark]

I'am not trying to be cavalier here, but what happened to the Good ole Days? Drysuits are just not that difficult to dive. Just dive it with no air, like a wet suit. When the newbie [We wereall newbies] gets comfortable add your inflator. My first Dry was a Henderson with a oral inflator I had to use cuz I mistakenly conected to my high pressure port. I was a new diver. I dove my recent dry with just a packpak for awhile using the dry for bouyancy. Theres a bunch of easy ways to get the feel. There are many old coots like myself that learned on archaic equip. Example. No pressure gauge[your researve was a pull wire] You take what you have a gain experience.

Same here. I bought my 1st dry suit from a commerical diver that was buying a new one. He gave me a run down on how to operate the valves. What to wear under it. I don't remember fancy undergarments then. He gave me his 2 thin walled shaperned pipes to repair small holes and tears in the suit. And showed me how to test it. I nicknamed the suit patches as it was already patched up quite a bit. The second dry suit I bought direct from the factory. Dry suit classes were yet to be invented so the only question was will the check clear? I bought my new suit last year from the LDS. The kid behind the counter asked me if I knew how to use it. I told him yes.

 

[Starcruiser]

I too just purchased a drysuit from Craigslist. I happen to to have close to 200 dives (not a lot, I know) and I'm fairly competent in the water in a wet suit. I also happen to have a stellar group of dive buddies and a reasonably shallow place to learn and practice. I went into drysuit diving with the mindset that I was learning to dive all over again. If you can afford it, I'd say take the class. I also agree that diving through the summer wet will get you more experience in the water before taking on more tasks.

 

[arhemed]

How bad is it to dive a dry suit wet? What I mean is not use the air?

 

[fisheater]

How bad is it to dive a dry suit wet? What I mean is not use the air?

The squeeze would be a real issue. I agree that you'll be better off just taking the class. You'll be safer and your dives more enjoyable. Plus, with the DS cert., you can rent a DS if need be.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dave4868]

How bad is it to dive a dry suit wet? What I mean is not use the air?

Here's some reading that will answer some basic questions on diving dry:

Why Dive Dry - A Beginners Guide to Drysuit Diving

Dave C