Drysuit Leg Squeeze And Cramps Between 25-30 Feet On Ascent

[JohnN]

A very strange (at least to me). With a non-neoprene drysuit when I ascend to about 25-30 feet, I start to get leg cramps. Descending will remove the cramps as well as going slightly feet up (more air in the legs).

So I understand why going feet up fixes the problem, but why does descending work also? My hypothesis is that my shoulder valve is venting a little too much on ascent, but I'm at a loss to explain why descending also works.

Opinions?

 

[Bigeclipse]

A very strange (at least to me). With a non-neoprene drysuit when I ascend to about 25-30 feet, I start to get leg cramps. Descending will remove the cramps as well as going slightly feet up (more air in the legs).

So I understand why going feet up fixes the problem, but why does descending work also? My hypothesis is that my shoulder valve is venting a little too much on ascent, but I'm at a loss to explain why descending also works.

Opinions?

First off what type drysuit is this? trilam? Brand?
If the pain is indeed do to squeeze, a number of things could be the culprit. Is the drysuit custom fitted to you? I know that part of using a drysuit is maintaining and position of the air bubble inside the suit and if you have a poorly fitting suit you can have issues with having too much air in once area of the suit while having to little in another. Maintaining and position of the air bubble affects numerous things such as buoyancy control, to suit loft keeping you warm, to squeeze. I know many people who prefer squeeze and some who do not. In my opinion the drysuit should feel like it is "hugging" you...not SQUEEZING you...especially to the point of discomfort. Have you tried tightening your shoulder vent down a bit to help prevent air from leaving to fast on an ascent? I know I had to adjust mine to get it to where I like it. Sometimes i even close it during a dive if I am going into weird positions which would normally dump air out my shoulder. Also, you could try adding say 2 lbs lead which would allow you to carry a bigger bubble.

 

[JohnN]

First off what type drysuit is this? trilam? Brand?
If the pain is indeed do to squeeze, a number of things could be the culprit. Is the drysuit custom fitted to you? I know that part of using a drysuit is maintaining and position of the air bubble inside the suit and if you have a poorly fitting suit you can have issues with having too much air in once area of the suit while having to little in another. Maintaining and position of the air bubble affects numerous things such as buoyancy control, to suit loft keeping you warm, to squeeze. I know many people who prefer squeeze and some who do not. In my opinion the drysuit should feel like it is "hugging" you...not SQUEEZING you...especially to the point of discomfort. Have you tried tightening your shoulder vent down a bit to help prevent air from leaving to fast on an ascent? I know I had to adjust mine to get it to where I like it. Sometimes i even close it during a dive if I am going into weird positions which would normally dump air out my shoulder. Also, you could try adding say 2 lbs lead which would allow you to carry a bigger bubble.

BiLam and TriLam. TriLam is custom fit. Leg squeeze is enough to cause leg cramping when my knees are bent, forcing me to fully extend my legs. Sorry I wasn't more clear

 

[Doby45]

If the only thing that is "squeezing" on your ascent is your legs, I would say you are not ascending in a horizontal position..

 

[JohnN]

If the only thing that is "squeezing" on your ascent is your legs, I would say you are not ascending in a horizontal position..

Maybe up to 10 degrees off horizontal, not much more

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

Maybe up to 10 degrees off horizontal, not much more

Are you descending slightly head first? If so the bubble is traveling up your legs - or at least that would be what I suspect. Otherwise it does not make sense - physics still applies.

I duck dive and ascend head first in my drysuit. Other than that the bubble will follow the path of least resistance - it does not seem to bother me. I do not wear ankle weights or gators - YMMV.