Gators or no Gators...

[globaldiver]

I have been looking at gators for a while, but haven't decided if I need them or not. I know they are not essential to diving with a dry suit, but would they be a worth while investment to make wreck diving a bit safer?

I am taking DIRf the 19th of July.

Sincerely

Anders

 

[Arnaud]

How long have you been diving with a dry suit?

Do you use ankle weights?

 

[Doppler]

globaldiver once bubbled...
I have been looking at gators for a while, but haven't decided if I need them or not. I know they are not essential to diving with a dry suit, but would they be a worth while investment to make wreck diving a bit safer?

I am taking DIRf the 19th of July.

Sincerely

Anders

Anders: does your drysuit fit you well or is there lots of "free" material? Do the boots fit your feet?

 

[Scubaroo]

I use gaiters with my drysuit, but that's because it has attached boots, and is a stock size that is loose fitting. In my case they are worthwhile, because they reduce the amount of gas in the legs.

If you've got a properly fitting drysuit, you probably don't need them, but they're preferable to ankle weights IMO.

 

[globaldiver]

Well I have been diving with a dry suit since 1998, and do not use ankle weights. I have a custom DUI CF 200 tech suit, so I guess I probably do not need the gators.

I was just wondering if some people use them anyway for added benefit to prevent air travelling to the legs if going head first into a wreck opening or similar.
The Rock boots on my suit prevents air to travel to the feet, and I guess that may be good enough.

The probable answer is that I do not need them, and that is propably why I have not made myself to purchase them yet...

sincerely

Anders

 

[globaldiver]

..head first into a wreck opening or similar...


I meant going vertical/head down into a wreck opening...

Anders

 

[Arnaud]

globaldiver once bubbled...
Well I have been diving with a dry suit since 1998, and do not use ankle weights. I have a custom DUI CF 200 tech suit, so I guess I probably do not need the gators.

Exactly!

...The Rock boots on my suit prevents air to travel to the feet, and I guess that may be good enough...

Apparently, some DIR divers consider that Rock boots are not DIR...

 

[globaldiver]

Apparently, some DIR divers consider that Rock boots are not DIR...

Now on what grounds would that be the case?

Anders

 

[Arnaud]

globaldiver once bubbled...


Now on what grounds would that be the case?

Anders

The two main critics are the lack of flexibility in the ankle and the risk of entanglement with the laces.

Just to be clear, I'm just repeating what I have heard and read. I am not a cave or wreck diver. I can see a problem with the laces in some situations, though.

As a recreational diver, I enjoy my Rockboots very much, especially for shore diving.

 

[globaldiver]

Hmm. .. The laces are pretty well hidden in the new type of rock boots, but I guess there could possibly be a minimal risk of entanglement. Well that would be a point where I would not follow DIR gear configuration, if that is a generally accepted opinion. Diving and moving around with boots is far more stable and comfortable compared to the other DUI option.

I guess I will find out on the DIRf class later this month.

Thanks for the input

Sincerely

Anders