Drysuit questions

[buff]

Couple of questions for the knowing:

1. Are ankle weights on a dry suit a sign of the users bouyancy diffuculties. I have a little trouble keeping my inflated feet under control-Are ankle weights the answer or just more practice?

2. My wrists are so skinny-and yet I wear an Xtra large suit. I thought I could save money and get a stock size suit and change the seals as needed-and that much I was correct on. Presently the seals don't leak that bad-just a little damp in the wrists. If I were to change the seals would I just lay the new latex seals over the old ones and glue them on-or should I be realistic and hand it over to a professional?? Should I replace the whole cuff with a ring so I can replace torn latex seals in the field?

Thanks
Mike

 

[Lost Yooper]

Hey Mike,

Some people use ankle weights or gaitors and some don't. I use ankle weights. Some people are very overweighted or use their suits for buoyancy control and have a rough time with buoyancy control. I can go without ankle weights, but I find them to be more comfortable. You don't want a bubble around you, just enough to keep the squeeze away. Warmth is achieved through the underwear, not the bubble so much.

Try folding your existing seals inward an inch or so and see if they seal better. I'm not a suit repair expert, but I would take off the existing seals and replace them with smaller diameter seals (heavy duty seals). Depending on the suit I guess, replacing seals is fairly easy to do (Viking suits are easy).

Mike

I don't have much of an opinion on the rings.

 

[Parsons]

Yooper
I'm new to the dry suit. PADI teaches to use your suit to be neutral except at the surface. One of my buddies said to put just enough air in to get the squeeze off then use your BC for neutral. Your opinion please.
Thanks

 

[CheeseWhiz]

Glad to see you finally decided to sign up. There are a whole bunch of smart people on this board...then dummies like us.

When does you suit come in?

 

[JamieZ]

Put just enough air in to your suit so that your not being crushed . Dont add air to controll your bouyancy use your BC. Listen to your buddy he is correct with his advise.

 

[Lost Yooper]

Parsons,

Yes, use the BC for buoyancy control, and the dry suit for keeping you dry. Add just enough air to keep the squeeze relatively comfortable. Various parts of your anatomy will let you know if the squeeze is too much.

Mike

 

[Jonathan]

I think we could do with a can of worms icon......

Never used ankle weights and never really needed them so can't comment.

As to buancy control with a dry suit on I always use the dry suit and not the BC and this is the way I was taught. In fact I have also seen some divers that have the lp hose disconnected from their BC - not sure I would do that as I would want it ready to go if I needed it.

Jonathan

 

[SubMariner]

1. Are ankle weights on a dry suit a sign of the users bouyancy diffuculties. I have a little trouble keeping my inflated feet under control-Are ankle weights the answer or just more practice?

The main reason for "floaty feet" is not improper buoyancy control, but rather the fact that air moves around inside a suit. So, unless you wear gators or rock boots (DUI), you will probably need ankle wts. Wearing ankle wts can also help your trim: you will be more horizontal when swimming. Also, sometimes you can take wt off your belt if you have some on your ankles.

My wrists are so skinny-and yet I wear an Xtra large suit. I thought I could save money and get a stock size suit and change the seals as needed-and that much I was correct on. Presently the seals don't leak that bad-just a little damp in the wrists. If I were to change the seals would I just lay the new latex seals over the old ones and glue them on-or should I be realistic and hand it over to a professional?? Should I replace the whole cuff with a ring so I can replace torn latex seals in the field?

I have yet to see anyone have TOTALLY dry seals. If all you are experiencing is a little dampness at the wrists, I wouldn't bother changing them out.... more trouble (and money) than it's worth. BTW, even the tightest seals can leak; water tends to "follow down" tendons or chords in your wrist (and sometimes neck) if you stretch or change the angle. Because of the change in shape, the seal no longer makes its best contact, and some water may trickle down. Not a biggie, really....

Most Instructors I know (myself included) teach using the drysuit for buoyancy control underwater and the BC only for surface flotation. Otherwise there are just too many airspaces to have to control while diving. Gotta keep it simple!

~SubMariner~

 

[Green_Manelishi]

I am DRY each time I dive. The seals work fine as long as I do
my part.

As for the "two air spaces more trouble than one" I disagree.
Many, DIR or not, use the suit as a suit and BC as a BC.

 

[Lost Yooper]

Using the BC for buoyancy and the suit as a suit is just a matter of practice.

Please, I don't mean to offend ANYONE (I really mean it ) , but the reason I think instructors teach suit buoyancy is because it can be taught and "learned" very quickly. Learning the other way takes a lot of practice (10-30 dives), but in the end, I think it's a better way.

Mike