Drysuit urine management survey - men

[flymolo]

I've always found an added benefit to the p-valve is that I can stay zipped in my suit in between dives. Less wear on the zipper is always good, I guess...

I probably didn't use (or hook up to) the p-valve for the first 100 or so drysuit dives I did. Once I used it though, I've never looked back.

I would encourage anyone on the fence to give it a try- you won't regret it.

 

[Akimbo]

Have you met the condom catheter user's best friend?

Small bandage scissors make removal a LOT easier.

 

[Lorenzoid]

It's difficult to refrain from drinking a lot of water when diving in 72F Florida springs in summer air temperatures of 90F. I need to pee every 30 minutes or so. I sweat a lot, which also causes the adhesion to weaken. Although most drysuit divers have difficulty removing the catheter, at least in the summer, with some catheter brands, I have the opposite problem, and I sometimes resort to swabbing on a little Urobond for extra adhesion.

 

[Divegoose]

I refrain from drinking alot before I dive, and usually try to make the "bladder gladder" before the final zip. Unfortunately it is not "peeing" that I have to worry about, it seems to be the pressure changes that cause issues with the "other end", sometimes requiring an "emergency zip" and a mad dash when I get out of the water.

Divegoose

 

[rjack321]

My longest dive is just over 5 hrs. p-valves are a necessity. I don't know any serious divers using diapers in 2018, 1) they don't hold much liquid and 2) you have to stew in it the rest of the dive 3) you end up needing to wash your undergarment more often which (depending on the type) breaks down the insulation. With the advent of the she-p both male and female tech and cave divers of any duration use p-valves. Sure for 1-2 hrs you can manage to hold it. Beyond that it starts to be a health risk.

 

[flymolo]

sometimes requiring an "emergency zip" and a mad dash when I get out of the water.

Divegoose

All the more reason to use a pee valve! You'll never do that dance again

 

[boulderjohn]

All the more reason to use a pee valve! You'll never do that dance again

I don't think you read his post carefully enough. A pee valve would not help. I have been there myself, and it can be a horrible experience.

 

[flymolo]

I don't think you read his post carefully enough. A pee valve would not help. I have been there myself, and it can be a horrible experience.

Oh damn. Guilty as charged. Indeed that's rough!

 

[boulderjohn]

The degree of one's need to pee in a drysuit is, IMO, largely dependent upon your warmth. If your undergarments are keeping you toasty warm, you can go quite a while. If you are chilled, your need will arrive much sooner.

Even then, I don't see how some of the people talking about waiting 2+ hours can do it. This might be TMI, but just a couple of days ago, while plenty warm during the dive, I happened to be looking at my computer when I finally started to pee for the first time. I started just as I reached the 82 minute point in the dive. Curious, I also checked when I was done, which was well into the 85th minute. Holding something like that would have been agony. That was not the end of events on that dive, either.

My final comment--pick out a really good brand of condom catheter, one in which you can place your full faith in its ability to stay in place, and do not change brands to one you don't know. I know what I am talking about.

 

[Gjoyce3]

I found that using the plumbing during a dive became habit forming. I could hold it just fine until I installed the valve. Sure there were one or two mad rushes to hit the head, but overall I could make it the 1.5 hours the total dive experience took (zip to unzip so to speak). However, now with a valve installed, every dive I add to the water level of the ocean without fail.

I might try a dive with an extra layer to see if that helps. I am always diving on on the edge of cold (keeping my weight down) which may contribute to the urge.