Hints for a new Dry Suit owner

[BluewaterSail]

I'm sure that its all be written before, and I apologize for that, but my searching is not yielding adequate results.

In 2.5 weeks I will have my very first dry suit. I am scheduled for a dry suit course, so I am not looking for hints on how to dive it. No need to tell me that my bouyancy will go to hell, and I will need to practice. Rather, I am looking for the voice of experience on how to deal with it in general.

For example, I have seen talc mentioned in regards to dry suits. What is it used for? Is it the traditional talc or corn flour based powders?

Whats the big deal about the zippers?

Do you just hose it off, or do you soak it after a salt water dive?

What happens if there is not time to dry it before you need to pack up and leave the dive site or club?

Any other words of wisdom that will lead me to care for my new drysuit properly?

I could ask my instructor all of these things (and probably will), but I would like to hear different approaches and why. Also, I would like to buy any useful items in advance.

btw, I am getting a Santi EMotion with a 200 gram thinsolate Santi undergarment, and a 4th element wicking layer.:banana:I'm so excited!!!

Thanks,
Linda

 

[Scott]

For example, I have seen talc mentioned in regards to dry suits. What is it used for? Is it the traditional talc or corn flour based powders?

I haven't used talc in a number of years, I'm just careful when putting the suit on so I don't tear the seals. Avoid using scented talc. I have several dry suit buddies that use 'suit juice' on the wrist seals to aid in donning.

Whats the big deal about the zippers?

When they leak, you'll get wet. No biggie.
Be careful not to kink or bend the metal zipper, this will increase the chances of you not staying dry. I fold/roll my suit from the feet up so the zipper is on the outside of the roll, so less chance of the zipper kinking.
You will want to clean the zipper with a soft brush to remove the finer particles, which will prolong the life.

Do you just hose it off, or do you soak it after a salt water dive?

Most of my dives are in freshwater but I still clean it the same way. I turn my suit inside out and rinse it with a hose, then hang to dry, then right side out, rinse again and hang to dry, then store.

What happens if there is not time to dry it before you need to pack up and leave the dive site or club?

Some materials will dry faster than others. I use a DUI TLS350 and it usually takes 5-10 minutes. Just pack it up and rinse it as soon as you can. May take more thorough cleaning.

Any other words of wisdom that will lead me to care for my new drysuit properly?

Back to the zippers. Use a good zipper wax.
If you search the DIY forum you find some threads about building fan powered suit driers or you can look at a few of the commercial products that are available.

btw, I am getting a Santi EMotion with a 200 gram thinsolate Santi undergarment, and a 4th element wicking layer.:banana:I'm so excited!!!

Never tried a Santi garment but my wife loves her Fourth Element garment and wicking layer.

Stay dry, stay warm and have fun.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Also the big deal with the zipper is that a new one will run you big bucks if you don't take care of it. Say as much as $400 on up.

I use McNett's seal saver on the wrist and neck seals. Conditions them and makes is easier to slide on. I have had seals last as long as 5 years and show no signs of cracking or dry rot.

If you don't rinse the inside occasionally you will stink.

If you don't rinse and dry the suit out after diving it will stink and then you will the next time you put it on.

Don't forget and pee in the suit. It will surely stink and you will marinate in it until you take it off.

Make your drysuit instructor smile. Pass gas after you have zipped up and ask him to check your exhaust valve. Tell him if he listens real close he can hear it leak. Then after he's been there a while tell him what you did. And do it loudly. You'll bring joy to the class.

Most of all bask in the warmth and dryness of the suit when others are shivering and turning blue around you.

 

[Graeme Tolton]

You may very likely need new fins, as usually a larger foot pocket is required.

I recomend rubber fins such as scubapro jet fins, turtle fins or oms slipstream. The type of fin you choose can help trim you out. The jet fins are quite negative and can offset the need for ankle weights.

Personally i use jet fins.

Also, the slipstreams are stiffer and will give you a bit more propulsion.

That being said, spring straps are a must with rubber fins, as they make donning the fins much easier, yet are very secure.

 

[Scuba_Noob]

I wax my zipper (the metal zipper, not the protective outer zipper that some suits have) between every week or so (between 3-4 dives) to keep it zipping smoothly. I use seal saver on my latex seals every week or so as well for easier donning (you don't need this for silicone seals). I don't like talc (for seals and easier donning), and I don't use it.

I clip my nails regularly and make sure they're not pointy, just in case I might scratch a seal. However, latex seals are pretty tough. Silicone, you'd have to be careful.

After a dive session (e.g., two dives), I zip up everything on the suit and soak it for a few minutes, closing the seals with my hand. This is to get the salt out. Then I hang it on a rack with the zipper open to dry out. I wash the inside once every couple of weeks to not stink too much, but I don't sweat/fart or have leaks in there, so rarely is smell a problem.

My suit doesn't dry quickly, so it's always wet during post-dive transport. I have a big box (that doesn't mind water) for scuba gear, so no problems there. I'd prefer it wet before cleaning anyway because I don't want the salt to dry.

 

[3D diver]

If you have a back zipper tell whoever's zipping it to pull, not yank. Tell them to let you do the final, sealing, pull.

Double check all zippers are closed.

Talc, unsented, helps donning and keeps the rubber bits from sticking to themselves.

I wax the zippers.

Rinse and let dry before storing.

Use it...my last one delaminated in storage.

Learn, and practice, how to recover from an inverted position.

 

[tye1138]

When I was teaching, I never took care of my dry suits, I always threw them in the back of the truck and they were always covered with other gear. I also wore dry gloves, so wrist seals were never an issue. I was doing 6 - 10 dives a week on whichever suit I had at that time and they all took the abuse pretty well. The trilam suits were the most rugged because the material was super strong. Yea, I got wet in them because of the typical manufacturing issues around the crotch area that all trilam suits seem to have, but they worked well otherwise. Never had a seal go out and never had any major issues with any of my suits that wasn't related to manufacturing.

I did wind up dropping a tank or something super heavy on one of my suits and it broke the zipper. So yea, if ya don't abuse it, then they'll last forever. LOL

Ohh in terms of cleaning the suit, I use to pop plastic containers in the neck and wrist seals (if you don't have dry gloves) then fulling it up with air and washing it off that way. If you just wash it with no air in it, you'll most likely not get it all clean. My suits never were smelly, water was too cold where I dove, so I never had an opportunity to build any sweat! heh

 

[BluewaterSail]

Thanks guys. This was really helpful.

I do expect to need to buy larger Jet Fins. My current ones are Large, and I don't expect the boots to fit in them.

Another question. Someone told me not to use a weightbelt with a drysuit. He recommended V weight only. Any opinions on this? Will a weight belt damage the suit, or keep the gas from moving around well? Its a Santi Emotion, if that makes any difference.

 

[Pullmyfinger]

I use a weight belt with my drysuit. I have the rubber Marseille style weight belt that's normally used for freediving.
The typical v weights that are sold are 8 lb. and 11 lb. weights.

If you need a bit more weight than that, adding a weight belt is a good option.

With your Halcyon plate you wouldn't fit a v-weight bigger than an 11 lb. weight anyway...the plate has too much of a bend in it.

That being said, you probably wouldn't have much need for a weight bigger than 11 lbs. I have a 15 lb. v-weight that I never use. If I did need to use it, it would only work with a DSS plate and not a Halcyon plate.

Back to the weight belt...I love the Marseille style weight belts!
They don't slip, and you don't even realize it's there.

I keep one with 4 lbs. on it, and another one with 6 lbs.

P.S.................. Your buoyancy will go to hell.................You will need to practice. .

-M

 

[altaskier]

I sometimes bring a dry suit on travels, like sneaking in a dive day at Monterey Bay in California as part of a work trip to the Bay Area. My suit is not always dry when I have to pack up and head home; I just dry it inside out, and outside in, when I return home.