DRYSUIT Question

[bedmund]

I want to repeat what bcsean said a few posts ago. Don't use your drysuit for bouyancy. Some drysuit classes teach that using the BC for bouyancy and having to inflate/deflate the drysuit for squeeze is task-overload but I woudn't agree and many divers don't either. The bc (or wing) is the bouyancy device. Just inflate the drysuit enough to prevent squeeze. Learn that in the beginning and you'll be proficient at doing both.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Yeah, I agree. The drysuit is there to keep you warm, not keep you neutral. Use each tool for it's intended purpose. Also by keeping the suit farily tight on you, you can pretty much eliminated a feet-first ascent, simply because there isn't much air to move around in there.

 

[aquaoren]

I'll second Dryglove.
Take a course as you don't appear to really know how a dry suit works.
If you don't want to take a course, than for your own safety at least find a buddy with some experience in dry suit diving to support you in the pool or in shallow water first.

 

[vjongene]

Thanks for all the info everyone. One more question, does the inflator hose just connect to the 1st stage then to the suit? The BC i use is only for 1 tank. not sure about getting into the whole 2 tank or pony bottle stage, hopefully eventually, but not at this point in time. Also, don't plan to "go deep" until more experience is gained, but i think i need the drysuit to be able to gain some experience, kinda catch 22!

All you need is an intermediate pressure port on the 1st stage. Most regs have two HP and four MP ports, so even if you dive with only one first stage you can connect your primary, your octopus, and two inflator hoses for the BCD and the drysuit. However, many drysuit divers choose to have two 1st stages, because when diving in cold water this provides some safety in case of a free-flow. Using a Y or H valve, it is easy to connect two 1st stages to a single tank.

 

[scubadobadoo]

This isnt meant to flame you but please take a class. A class will be highly beneficial to you as it seems you have very little knowledge of how a drysuit works and operates. Without the basic knowledge of how a drysuit works you can get severely hurt or worse and the web isnt the place to learn.

I agree. I also always suggest buying the book DRY SUIT DIVING by Barsky, Long, and Stinton. All your answers will be found in this book but the knowledge within won't lead you to being an experienced dry suit diver. For that, a class is a perfect start. Have fun and good luck. I have been diving dry for about 40 dives now and still don't feel as comfortable in my dry suit as I do in a 3mil wet suit so practice!

 

[AtomicWalrus]

You'll need another LP inflator whip to connect your reg 1st stage to the drysuit, but most suits come with one.

Definitely take a class to learn how to use your suit. You'll get a pool session where you can get a feel for making buoyancy adjustments with your suit, and learn some of the extra maintenance needed. It'll take a little while to get used to diving in a drysuit, particularly learning to anticipate buoyancy changes when you're going up a gradual slope, but practice makes perfect.

You probably wouldn't want to use your suit for buoyancy control. You can do it, but it's tricky because the suit purge is very slow compared to a BCD and the air tends to accumulate in the worst place (your neck & shoulders, or your feet.)