first dive dry

[alpenadiver]

Well yesterday was our spring gear check, and my first dry dive with doubles, let me tell you I sure wasn't very graceful, as a matter of fact I looked like the Salmon after they die off, my nose in the sand, and my feet pointing to the sky. Then I strapped on some ankle weights, and low and behold I was horizontal, amazing (must be the 2xl HD boots on the suit). This is totally different than diving wet but I think I can get used to it, we were in for almost 2 hours max depth of 12 - 15 feet, and 42° water. Now all I have to remember is to put a little air in the suit, I seem to have some nice pinch marks on my arm pits, and other place.

Mike

 

[gtxl1200]

Well yesterday was our spring gear check, and my first dry dive with doubles, let me tell you I sure wasn't very graceful, as a matter of fact I looked like the Salmon after they die off, my nose in the sand, and my feet pointing to the sky. Then I strapped on some ankle weights, and low and behold I was horizontal, amazing (must be the 2xl HD boots on the suit). This is totally different than diving wet but I think I can get used to it, we were in for almost 2 hours max depth of 12 - 15 feet, and 42° water. Now all I have to remember is to put a little air in the suit, I seem to have some nice pinch marks on my arm pits, and other place.

Mike

hehe yep I remember my first drysuit dive. same thing So worried about doing a feet first uncontrolled ascent that I dont even think I hit the inflate button needless to say wife was sure suspicious about those hickies all over my body she kept asking me I thought you went diving???

 

[dmax tim]

Looks like I'm going to try out the drysuit Friday, hope u guys help and don't laugh tooooo much.

 

[Mitten Diver]

Looks like I'm going to try out the drysuit Friday, hope u guys help and don't laugh tooooo much.

Bahahahahahaha, sorry had to get that out of my system. Don't worry all of us started in a drysuit at one point.

Mitten Diver

 

[cldwdiver]

Virtually all drysuit divers have had similar experiences their first few dives.
It is the price of taking on a major piece of new gear.

If we laugh, it is because we remember our own "humbling experiences" in our early drysuit dives. Trust me, we are laughing with you.

We are ready and willing to help you learn and shorten that learning curve.

Somewhere between 12-24 dives later you will only want a wetsuit when you are in the tropics.

 

[bladephotog]

I've got seven dives in my drysuit now and with each dive I gain more control and confidence. But I still feel like I have much to learn. Mostly, I'm not sure about my weighting.

With 24 pounds of weight I feel neutral but it doesn't leave me much room to add air to my drysuit before I start getting floaty. At 26 pounds I feel like I have more control and room to add air in my suit but I do sink pretty easily. I can't configure 25 pounds with my weights and still be trim.

How much squeeze is too much, and how much air in the drysuit is too much? I'm sure it's a personal thing. But I feel squeeze all the time but it's not real bad. Should I be putting more air in the suit?

Andy

 

[jonnythan]

I dive with as much squeeze as I can stand that doesn't inhibit my range of motion.

 

[Diver0001]

Well yesterday was our spring gear check, and my first dry dive with doubles, let me tell you I sure wasn't very graceful, as a matter of fact I looked like the Salmon after they die off, my nose in the sand, and my feet pointing to the sky.

LOL. I remember my first dry dive. There were no drysuit specialties back when I bought my first drysuit and my first dive included such classic moves as the "vertical fin breach" the "under water dog-paddle" and something that I only remember as "thaar sheee bloowwws!" That was the first time I realized that when you swear through your regulator other people can understand you...

It took me about 10 dives to get over the feeling that I had wasted my money, but once I got the knack of it I never went back to wet.

R..

 

[alpenadiver]

I can't wait to get back out, I had on a pair of Oceanic split fins, I'm trying out the Scubapro Jet's next, they should be more negative than the Oceanics. Hopefully I will be able to lose the ankle weights. I'm laughing also, because I know I looked just liked one of those over spawned Salmon I saw last fall on a few night dives last fall

Originally posted by jonnythan:
I dive with as much squeeze as I can stand that doesn't inhibit my range of motion.

That is a good point to remember, thanks jonnythan.


Bladephotog, 26 lbs seems like alot of weight, I had only 8 lbs and feel like I could drop some more.

 

[Mitten Diver]

Bladephotog, 26 lbs seems like alot of weight, I had only 8 lbs and feel like I could drop some more.

Bouancy will be detemined by your undies. I use six pounds when I wear my light polypro's and about 12 pounds when I have on my Andies 1000's. Time and practice will allow you to dial yourself in. Your choice of tanks will also play a part in weighting as well, steels will allow you to take some of the weight off your belt as you will now have it strapped to your back.

Mitten Diver