When in Rome...
Greetings Divers,
It looks like I am starting out diving wet. I visited my LDS last week and was very impressed with the people there. They have a group of folks that do regular local Saturday shore dives. And they all do it wet. We're talking from April through November, with special dives for New Year's Day, etc. They said the would sell me a dry suit if that is what I wanted...but when in Rome...
I certainly could have made all of the points in favor of drysuits that have been made in this thread, but these are people who I am hoping take me under their wing and help me become a better diver. I am new enough that being a copycat feels better. I suspect my second suit will be a drysuit, but until then...when in Rome...
To their credit, they seem to have figured out a way to make a wetsuit quite livable in our cold waters. They bring several large coolers of very hot water to the dive site. Then then pour containers of it down their suits before heading in. They claim to stay warm and comfortable this way, between the type of wetsuits they wear and the hot water trick.
Speaking of which, I am now the proud owner of:
A Waterproof W4 5mm;
A Waterproof Neoskin 1.5mm; and,
A Waterproof U1 2/5mm Hooded Vest
Apparently, I am fairly "normally shaped," (Good to know!), so everything fits properly and is comfortable, even despite the bulk of wearing all three pieces together.
I have been invited to bring my gear back and use their salt water pool to get everything dialed in before my first Saturday dive. Having my weight/trim roughly figured out, along with knowing what rental equipment I will need will keep me from being a needy pain on that first Saturday morning. I will most likely be able to get out there tomorrow to start figuring things out.
So there it is.
I am still very appreciative of your advice and opinions, but it looks like I will be getting into a drysuit in two bites instead of one.
As for the other sage advice I have received here, did I mention they are a Shearwater dealer?
When I go to check out their pool, I will have my checkbook in hand for that Peregrine.
Step by step, inch by inch.
THANK YOU!