Hey Cold Water Divers~~~

[Hoosier]

Surface was below 32 F. The water temp was 41 degree that is pretty much all year around at the local quarry.

After completing 2nd dives, it is getting darker and colder. All my gear was frozen immediately including the regulator, wing, hanrness, and dry suit...

What is the best way to handle the frozen equipment?
Do you always bring the hot water?

Yes, there was no indoor shelter and it is pretty much primitive place.

Thanks for your expertise.

 

[Rick Inman]

Oh man, there's nothing like squatting down while standing around after a dive just to break the ice off your drysuit. And if you lean against your truck, you stick!

I just put the frozen gear into my Explorer and before I get home it's defrosted. I've got a little gear room in my garage that I keep at 54 degrees F, that's got a sink, racks, hangers, etc.

Of course, being in Washington, we believe the most important thing to do when it's that cold is to stop at Starbucks on the way home.

 

[JeffG]

Unzip your drysuit ASAP. Most of your gear can handle being frozen for a bit, if you do not man handle it. On days like you describe, I just get the gear in the car, it will dethaw on the way home, then I put it all away.

But don't ** your drysuit zipper.

 

[Diver0001]

Surface was below 32 F. The water temp was 41 degree that is pretty much all year around at the local quarry.

After completing 2nd dives, it is getting darker and colder. All my gear was frozen immediately including the regulator, wing, hanrness, and dry suit...

What is the best way to handle the frozen equipment?
Do you always bring the hot water?

Yes, there was no indoor shelter and it is pretty much primitive place.

Thanks for your expertise.

Depending on your options I would tend to bring it home assembled and disassemble it at home.

Whatever you do, don't use warm water to defrost it. Things will break. Use cold water if you must. Compared to your gear it's already a lot warmer and it will do the trick.

R..

 

[crpntr133]

Sounds like you had the same problem I had before leaving Blue Springs. I think leaving the wing and regs together would be best. If all else fails dip the dry suit in the water to thaw it out and quickly put it in something for the ride home. With having the truck it wasn't an issue for me.

BTW Hoosier, after my trip to FL the BC will be sent in for repairs...for free. Never expected that one. I never did figure out what changed with my set up but I was for sure no descending.

 

[Hoosier]

We used to drink some teas instead of the coffee......

Thanks. It is a good tip to un-zip dry suit ASAP.

 

[moneysavr]

a tent man they are so cheap and the new ones pop up easy and quick,
you can stand up in with a cheap o heater is the best bet and place out of the wind,
Brad

 

[Gary D.]

Cold temps is just one of the reasons our gear is placed in our vehicles the way it is. Being there 24-7-365 it needs to not only warm quickly but cool quickly as well.

So to aid in this we lay the gear out so the vehicle heat gets to the suit seals first and then works it’s way down to the rest of the gear. Sometimes we only have 5-10 minutes from frozen to getting into it. A good vehicle heater as well as a good thermostat helps.

If you have an old VW Bug forget it.

If you can’t get to a vehicle a camp fire or Bar-B-Q is your next best bet.

Gary D.

 

[NadMat]

because for winter dives we often use not only a tent, but one of these garage propane heaters that looks like a little jet engine.
The reason that makes me feel so wimpy is I'm in Austin, Texas where things really never get or stay that cold (of course that is one of the many reasons I am here )

 

[spectrum]

Probably not a whimp, you just havent had a need to tap your inner warmth. If the tent and heater were gone and you wanted to dive you would adapt your style and gear.

Pete

because for winter dives we often use not only a tent, but one of these garage propane heaters that looks like a little jet engine.
The reason that makes me feel so wimpy is I'm in Austin, Texas where things really never get or stay that cold (of course that is one of the many reasons I am here )