Question GUE Fundies - Drysuit or Wetsuit?

[Lorenzoid]

Very few get a tech pass on first try. You’ll be learning a decent amount regardless- so I suggest you do it in whatever configuration you are most competent in. Then build up from there to eventually get the tech pass.

If you try and change too much beforehand you risk over complicating things

I didn’t want to say this, since the OP is already a tech diver through TDI, but yeah.

 

[kierentec]

If you were taking the class with me, based on the experience you have, I would highly recommend taking fundies in a drysuit so you can learn to manage it properly. It’s the right configuration for most tech dives, so you would benefit most from learning to manage it correctly now before you create any bad habits with it.

 

[jadairiii]

However on the other hand I’ve read that drysuit diving makes staying in trim much easier, therefore in this case a wetsuit/no-suit might be a better option.

Thoughts?

I did tech fundies in a wetsuit and Cave 1 in a drysuit (1st time ever in a drysuit), Cave 1 (to me) was like tech fundies on steroids. Anyway, in my experience, its about equal, pro/con. If you intend on diving dry then it is a great way to really dial in your drysuit diving.

If you go dry, and you find your feet are a bit floaty, like I did, sneak a 2lb weight into each inner thigh pocket, works like a charm!

 

[kierentec]

If you go dry, and you find your feet are a bit floaty, like I did, sneak a 2lb weight into each inner thigh pocket, works like a charm!

This is why it’s good to do fundies in a drysuit, there’s much better ways to manage having light feet than putting weights in your pockets

 

[jadairiii]

This is why it’s good to do fundies in a drysuit, there’s much better ways to manage having light feet than putting weights in your pockets

Tried them all. I've always had light feet/legs. Of course, when I look at what some of my buddies put in their thigh pockets, they've got more than 2lbs extra!

 

[AnnikaPersson]

I would suggest looking at where you mostly will do your diving, and if that is dry suit, do the GUE fundamentals in dry suit - of course !

You need to look at the learning experience - and it will take you to achieve your goals, just enjoy the procrsss along the way.

Good luck ’

 

[Nosmosis]

I am a tech diver and have a GUE tech pass and Cave 1 cert. I had a long road with Fundies - and was recommended that I not "focus" on the Tech pass because few people get it and when I did Fundies the first time, I had very little experience on doubles and only a little more experience in a drysuit. One of the guys in my group went in with drysuit and doubles and succeeded in earning a "provisional recreational pass." I also got the same as him. In my opinion, the class is pretty difficult and you get into some pretty task loady skills, that if you haven't been exposed to them previously can be a real challenge in executing them and simultaneously maintaining a stable platform. After my original provisional, I did Fundies again (because I missed the time required to upgrade) and that time did it in drysuit and doubles and earned a recreational pass. I upgraded later. I think the learning was that I was "rushing" to technical pass focused on the goal and not the learning and totally value that it took the time it did for me to reach the end goal. It felt damn good getting that letter from JJ in the mail after all that work.

My recommendation: Do a Drysuit Primer and a Doubles Primer first if you aren't super comfortable in these equipment configurations. It will be worth it. Then attempt the tech pass, even though you might not get it right away.

 

[bradStyle]

I can't recall seeing a single photo of a GUE diver in tech gear (doubles or rebreather) with a wetsuit.

Forgive me, I couldn't resist. GUE Cave 1 and Tech 1 diver here. I've never used a dry suit. I'll likely change that before Cave 2.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Forgive me, I couldn't resist. GUE Cave 1 and Tech 1 diver here. I've never used a dry suit. I'll likely change that before Cave 2.

Someone pointed out upthread that backmount doubles with wetsuit is more common where aluminum rather than steel doubles are used, such as the tropical Asia-Pacific region. My experience is limited to Florida and Mexico caves and some Florida and Mid-Atlantic states ocean, and from what I've seen, GUE divers are almost exclusively in drysuits, even with aluminum doubles. As I noted in the post you quoted, nothing in the standards precludes wetsuits with doubles--it just doesn't seem to be very common, especially with steel tanks where the the suit can serve as redundant buoyancy in case of wing failure.

 

[bradStyle]

Someone pointed out upthread that backmount doubles with wetsuit is more common where aluminum rather than steel doubles are used, such as the tropical Asia-Pacific region. My experience is limited to Florida and Mexico caves and some Florida and Mid-Atlantic states ocean, and from what I've seen, GUE divers are almost exclusively in drysuits, even with aluminum doubles. As I noted in the post you quoted, nothing in the standards precludes wetsuits with doubles--it just doesn't seem to be very common, especially with steel tanks where the the suit can serve as redundant buoyancy in case of wing failure.

Yup, I agree, my principal teammate and I are a bit of an anomaly in the region (we're Cozumel + Tulum divers). And I would never dive twin steels with my regular configuration. I'm generally comfortable on a Cave 1 duration dive in a 5mm wetsuit with a hood, but once longer dives are introduced I'll be looking to switch to dry.