Drysuit question

[Rick Inman]

Yeah, I read all that stuff about feet-first runaways, too. So when I got my first drysuit, I went to the local river (24' hole) and practiced re-inverting from feet first ascents. Over and over, I'd grab the log on the bottom, stick my feet up, fill my legs with air, let go, head straight up feet first, flip myself back over, vent and dump and stop the ascent. I got real good at it, however, I've never been close to having it really happen.

I have seen it happen. Doing a night dive with a guy and the vis was about 4'... He reached back to adjust his fin keepers, stirred up the silt, got disoriented, started breathing a little heavier, his feet turned upward, and up he went. Unfortunately, due to the poor vis and his light shinning off into the silt he'd stirred up, he didn't realize he was ascending until both his drysuit and BC had expanded beyond recovery. He says that when he hit the surface, he shot straight up out of the water feet first and splashed back down. He was OK, but we were diving under the docks, so he was lucky he didn't break a leg.

 

[ffde31]

I have seen it happen. Doing a night dive with a guy and the vis was about 4'... He reached back to adjust his fin keepers, stirred up the silt, got disoriented, started breathing a little heavier, his feet turned upward, and up he went. Unfortunately, due to the poor vis and his light shinning off into the silt he'd stirred up, he didn't realize he was ascending until both his drysuit and BC had expanded beyond recovery. He says that when he hit the surface, he shot straight up out of the water feet first and splashed back down. He was OK, but we were diving under the docks, so he was lucky he didn't break a leg.

Can you imagine sitting on the dock with your girl, and all of a sudden an object appears being shot out of the water like a torpedo!!!! That might leave a mark.

 

[moneysavr]

Dry suit is a great buy,it makes you get more dives in,have more fun on the dives! Get a good set of fins as said like Scubapro Jet's,Turtles,, any of the heavy black ones! They make you go fast! err thats what they say IMO the weight is good for the feet area, And keep your tank low,and if you do feel like your feet are light get ankle weights! and as you dive you may be able to not use them,
The group that knocks ankle weights is the same dudes that will say a octto on your rig is a sign for newbie rec divers! They dive doubles,drive 60K cars= not paid for (BTW) and well are mostly all bald !and I think have script for viagra! I got to post this one back on the deco stop,lack of nitrogen,,,,,errrrrrrr
Dive safe,
Brad

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I've done the inverted ascent thing, actually I was spending most of my dive inverted when I first started with the drysuit I just learned to pretend I was a trumpetfish Get a drysuit that FITS, mine was too big and that caused a lot of my problems. I had smaller neckseals put in and got heavy underwear to take up some of the space in the suit and that solved a lot of problems. Inverted is no big deal as long as you don't panic, pay attention in the class and learn to tuck and roll to get right side up, it's no big deal.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[cmalinowski]

the same dudes that will say a octto on your rig is a sign for newbie rec divers! They dive doubles,drive 60K cars= not paid for (BTW) and well are mostly all bald !and I think have script for viagra! I got to post this one back on the deco stop,lack of nitrogen,,,,,errrrrrrr
Dive safe,
Brad

I am not mostly bald. I chose to cut my hair this way

 

[jepuskar]

Here I go....you will probably be told to use your drysuit only for buoyancy. Do it for the class unless your instructor doesnt mind..discuss aheaad of time. You really want to limit the amount of air in your suit just enough to offset squeeze...I prefer as well as others to feel a snug fit of my suit on my body.

Either way you do it though...if your neutral than going feet up is not gonna make you rise..especially at deeper depths. The air will go to your feet and it will be weird, but you just wont automatically start to rise..or atleast you shouldnt. The shallower you are though the minor increase in depth will have an affect and you will start to rise.

I dont think the drysuit class is BS..alot can be learned in two supervised dives. It all depends on how much time your instructor is willing to devote.

J

 

[ianr33]

If you do a course there is a chance that you may be taught to use your drysuit for bouyancy. A lot of folks prefer to use the BC/Wings for bouyancy and just have enough air in the drysuit to prevent squeeze. Much easier that way and less chance of runaway ascents

 

[ianr33]

OK jep,you were typing faster !

 

[jepuskar]

If I was you, I would be embarrassed we even had the same thoughts....doesnt say much about you!