First drysuit dive today!!

[Garth]

Today i went out with an instructor I know to dive a local quarry in my new drysuit. I was extremely nervous and excited because I just got the suit for Christmas. A few things:

ONE.... just when I thought I got a handle on my bouyancy, i silted the bottom... bummer, tend not to do that at all when diving wet.

TWO.... on the good side I didn't rush to the surface with my feet in the air, but... I didn't exactly have good trim either. Actually I could tell I didn't. Although my friends said I looked fine, I think they were just glad that I was able to control myself somewhat.

THREE.... those doubles, well they got pushed back a lot until I figure out how to dive dry.

and
FOUR.... i had the time of my life and I can't wait to do it again next weekend.

just wanted to share with all of you my joy of diving. thank you for listening.



oh and one more thing, I normally dive without weight when diving wet, so I got a weight belt and 22lbs which seemed to be just right for diving dry. How do you place your weights? I felt like I couldn't bend over to put my fins on as good. All of the weight was on my waist.

 

[gbray]

You are my envy now. I have done my drysuit class but have not yet gotten a drysuit. It is different diving dry isn't it? I really enjoyed it. sounds like you didn't do too badly, for Christmas or diving.

 

[mrfixitchapman]

Today i went out with an instructor I know to dive a local quarry in my new drysuit. I was extremely nervous and excited because I just got the suit for Christmas. A few things:

ONE.... just when I thought I got a handle on my bouyancy, i silted the bottom... bummer, tend not to do that at all when diving wet.

TWO.... on the good side I didn't rush to the surface with my feet in the air, but... I didn't exactly have good trim either. Actually I could tell I didn't. Although my friends said I looked fine, I think they were just glad that I was able to control myself somewhat.

THREE.... those doubles, well they got pushed back a lot until I figure out how to dive dry.

and
FOUR.... i had the time of my life and I can't wait to do it again next weekend.

just wanted to share with all of you my joy of diving. thank you for listening.



oh and one more thing, I normally dive without weight when diving wet, so I got a weight belt and 22lbs which seemed to be just right for diving dry. How do you place your weights? I felt like I couldn't bend over to put my fins on as good. All of the weight was on my waist.

Weight harness

DC

 

[Chris12day]

Congratulations

 

[reddiver970]

Great christmas present, it doesn't take long to get the hang of it. Have Fun!

 

[carrielsal]

I bought my first drysuit 2 months ago and absolutely love it. I'm diving double AL80's with my weights in weight pockets on my harness. I have been working on my trim ever since. Even with all the air out of my feet and legs, my legs are extremely floaty. I added a 6# v-weight down low on my backplate, but that wasn't enough. I have found putting a 3# weight in each thigh pocket trims me out nicely, but this is not a good long term solution. I'm now in the process of trying longer steel tanks.

 

[Garth]

thank you for all of your responses, i will update this next weekend when I get a chance to put some more dives on my suit. I'm thinking of either going the harness route or adding weights to my backplate. amazing though how nice it is not to be cold. The quarry I dive is the PDRA quarry in mooresville NC. Lake norman quarry. 45 or so all year round at the bottom so I thought the drysuit was necessary for my diving practice.
take care all.

 

[carrielsal]

Are you diving a BC or BP/w?

 

[Crush]

I am normally conservative with my money, so I pondered a drysuit for two years before I got a custom tailored unit (diving wet for those two years) - the drysuit was the best $1700 I ever spent! I can't imagine ever diving wet in our cold northern water.

Welcome to the club of divers who are poorer, but happier (and warmer).

 

[Crush]

Are you diving a BC or BP/w?

Argh!