I've been diving wet for a couple of years and am now thinking of going for a drysuit. Does a dry suit make you feel less "restrained" than a wetsuit? I don't mind diving wet; I don't get cold easily (in or out of the water) and I don't mind being wet after a dive. What I do mind is the feeling of being "compressed" by the wetsuit (7mm). Does a (properly fitting) drysuit eliminate that factor? Does diving become more enjoyable? Does the freedom of movement increase? What are the down sides (besides getting used to it) to diving dry? Your input is much appreciated.
Is a drysuit that much better?
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Freedom of movement is potentially better with a properly fitting dry suit and underwear but the suit iself is also more bulky and adds drag in the water compared to a wet suit. There is also a bit more work load involved dumping air from the suit as a slight change in position is usually needed to dump from a swimming position. The big advantage of dry suit, other than warmth, is less compression in the chest area if your wet suit is a little tight.
I prefer a wet suit for the improved streamlining it offers as well as the generally lower task loading. I also like getting wet during a dive. I will switch from my drysuit to a wet suit as soon as the thermocline is deep enough to accomodate the longer deco stops at 20 ft and 10 ft in relatively warm water (over 55 degrees) and will stay in my wet suit until the water cools again.
Dry suits are more maintainence intensive and require a little more time and organization to don. The argument is that a Drysuit costs more but lasts longer than a wet suit and is actually cheaper per dive. Given the falling cost of wetsuits and the ability to get a good semi-dry fro around $200, that argument is not really all that6 valid anymore.
I prefer a wet suit for the improved streamlining it offers as well as the generally lower task loading. I also like getting wet during a dive. I will switch from my drysuit to a wet suit as soon as the thermocline is deep enough to accomodate the longer deco stops at 20 ft and 10 ft in relatively warm water (over 55 degrees) and will stay in my wet suit until the water cools again.
Dry suits are more maintainence intensive and require a little more time and organization to don. The argument is that a Drysuit costs more but lasts longer than a wet suit and is actually cheaper per dive. Given the falling cost of wetsuits and the ability to get a good semi-dry fro around $200, that argument is not really all that6 valid anymore.
As a caveat -
1. All of the following is merely my opinion. I've been diving drysuits since 1986.
2. There are different types of drysuits. Some are made of vulcanized rubber. Some crushed neoprene. Others trilaminate (trilam). Some stretch. Most don't. Its difficult to generalize to all of them.
3. Drysuits are frequently worn with some sort of thermal layer beneath them. What type of undergarment you wear beneath the drysuit often has much to do with your experience of how flexible the suit feels. So, a "drysuit" is a combination of the 'inner layer' and the 'outer layer'.
Now on to your questions:
(lets refer here to a trilaminate or 'shell' drysuit with thinsulate undergarment, which is pretty common...)
Yes, generally speaking. You inflate a drysuit just a LITTLE to offset the feeling of being 'restrained' as you descend. As with all good things in life, however, there is a trade-off. The more you inflate the drysuit (to a degree), the less 'restrained' you feel. However, having a lot of gas inside the drysuit plays havoc with your bouyancy and trim, because when you alter your position in the water column the gas shifts to the highest point of the suit. For this reason most drysuit divers minimize the amount of gas in the drysuit. With no gas at all in the drysuit it can become pretty darned 'restrained' indeed...
Yes it does. But reconsider the above. It definitely takes some getting used to, to find the perfect balance for you.
While its a subjective answer, it is certainly "Yes" for myself and for a great many other drysuit divers, I suspect. That being said, recognize that its an environmentally-driven sensation. If I were in Palau, I'd far rather be diving wet. At 200' on a wreck in extremely cold, dark water off Vancouver, I'd be far more comfortable dry. It's not all one way or the other.
There are a number of examples. Here are three common ones. First, for both men and women, relieving oneself inside a drysuit is problematic. Divers often wear drysuits because they intend to be submerged in cold water for long periods, thus the urge is pretty likely. The answer for men often is a catheter hooked to an 'overboard discharge valve' or P-valve. For women it is often Depends or a similar product. Second, drysuits are notoriously intolerant of neglect or abuse. They demand a more disciplined approach to care, cleaning, and maintenance of the zipper and seals. Third, if a drysuit neck seal or wrist seal lets go on Day 2 of a week-long remote Liveaboard trip, that diver has problems unless they have the spare seals, the glue, and the ability to replace their own seals. It only takes 3 or 4 hours for the glue to set up, but if you haven't got the spare seals, the glue and the know-how, you're likely poop out of luck. A wetsuit diver could simply use a bit of adhesive and be back in business in 15 minutes.
So drysuits require a more demanding and disciplined approach, as well as some skills that wetsuit divers don't need.
That said, for more demanding diving (cold, deep water, etc.) they are the only way to go.
Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.
Doc
1. All of the following is merely my opinion. I've been diving drysuits since 1986.
2. There are different types of drysuits. Some are made of vulcanized rubber. Some crushed neoprene. Others trilaminate (trilam). Some stretch. Most don't. Its difficult to generalize to all of them.
3. Drysuits are frequently worn with some sort of thermal layer beneath them. What type of undergarment you wear beneath the drysuit often has much to do with your experience of how flexible the suit feels. So, a "drysuit" is a combination of the 'inner layer' and the 'outer layer'.
Now on to your questions:
(lets refer here to a trilaminate or 'shell' drysuit with thinsulate undergarment, which is pretty common...)
Yes, generally speaking. You inflate a drysuit just a LITTLE to offset the feeling of being 'restrained' as you descend. As with all good things in life, however, there is a trade-off. The more you inflate the drysuit (to a degree), the less 'restrained' you feel. However, having a lot of gas inside the drysuit plays havoc with your bouyancy and trim, because when you alter your position in the water column the gas shifts to the highest point of the suit. For this reason most drysuit divers minimize the amount of gas in the drysuit. With no gas at all in the drysuit it can become pretty darned 'restrained' indeed...
Yes it does. But reconsider the above. It definitely takes some getting used to, to find the perfect balance for you.
While its a subjective answer, it is certainly "Yes" for myself and for a great many other drysuit divers, I suspect. That being said, recognize that its an environmentally-driven sensation. If I were in Palau, I'd far rather be diving wet. At 200' on a wreck in extremely cold, dark water off Vancouver, I'd be far more comfortable dry. It's not all one way or the other.
There are a number of examples. Here are three common ones. First, for both men and women, relieving oneself inside a drysuit is problematic. Divers often wear drysuits because they intend to be submerged in cold water for long periods, thus the urge is pretty likely. The answer for men often is a catheter hooked to an 'overboard discharge valve' or P-valve. For women it is often Depends or a similar product. Second, drysuits are notoriously intolerant of neglect or abuse. They demand a more disciplined approach to care, cleaning, and maintenance of the zipper and seals. Third, if a drysuit neck seal or wrist seal lets go on Day 2 of a week-long remote Liveaboard trip, that diver has problems unless they have the spare seals, the glue, and the ability to replace their own seals. It only takes 3 or 4 hours for the glue to set up, but if you haven't got the spare seals, the glue and the know-how, you're likely poop out of luck. A wetsuit diver could simply use a bit of adhesive and be back in business in 15 minutes.
So drysuits require a more demanding and disciplined approach, as well as some skills that wetsuit divers don't need.
That said, for more demanding diving (cold, deep water, etc.) they are the only way to go.
Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.
Doc
There is a litte more drag with a dry suit vs. a wet suit, but I'm so much more comfortable diving dry. I never had a problem with the first dive when diving wet, it was the second one that was not so much fun. Here is the PNW the average water temp runs around 48 degrees give or take a few degrees. The real problem is during the surface interval. If it's cold and rainy diving wet just plain sucks. In the summer months diving dry can be tough also, but at least you can layer your undergarments which helps a little. I too do not like the "compressed" feeling of a 7mil wet suit gives. I don't get that same feeling from my dry suit.
On the other hand my Atlan artic one piece wet suit is probably the warmest wet suit ever produced and to me just as warm as any dry suit . I to use dry suits on occasion but find the restriction of movement and air out, air in procedure anoying.
Amobeus
Amobeus
ScubaScott
Guest
For two years I dove wet and was strong about it. Many dives in <40 deg water, and I loved it. What I didn't love was getting out of the water and changing in -5deg wind. That can make a good dive crappy and unenjoyable.
Picked up a drysuit last winter and still swore I'd dive wet again during the summer months, but it never happened. Once you get used to diving dry, its hard to go back. People told me to sell my wetsuit, but I was sure I'd use it again in the summer.
Its not difficult to learn to dive dry. Temps in our area rarely hit 60 degs, so its certainly worth it. And for the few adjustments that have to be made, it makes a world of difference!
SS
Picked up a drysuit last winter and still swore I'd dive wet again during the summer months, but it never happened. Once you get used to diving dry, its hard to go back. People told me to sell my wetsuit, but I was sure I'd use it again in the summer.
Its not difficult to learn to dive dry. Temps in our area rarely hit 60 degs, so its certainly worth it. And for the few adjustments that have to be made, it makes a world of difference!
SS
... since wetsuits compress and get thin as you go deep they do not offer the same thermal protection at depth.
For those deeper dives the shell drysuit is wonderful since the thermal protection is constant as you add gas to the suit to offset the compression.
cyklon_300
Contributor
of diving wet, I purchased a drysuit last month.
The increase in comfort level for diving in colder water is remarkable and the learning curve for using the suit was not steep at all. I felt dialed in only a couple of dives.
There were, however, a number of equipment issues that arose from this changeover.. I've had to purchase a steel cylinder, trim weight, underwear, different fins, p-valve, and pockets.
These added additional expense, but are essential to maximizing the use of the suit. Altho not a serious downside, there is additional time required to suit up.
The suit will extend my dive season by several months...no more wimping out because the water temp is in the 50s...wish I'd had this setup when I lived in the PNW.
The increase in comfort level for diving in colder water is remarkable and the learning curve for using the suit was not steep at all. I felt dialed in only a couple of dives.
There were, however, a number of equipment issues that arose from this changeover.. I've had to purchase a steel cylinder, trim weight, underwear, different fins, p-valve, and pockets.
These added additional expense, but are essential to maximizing the use of the suit. Altho not a serious downside, there is additional time required to suit up.
The suit will extend my dive season by several months...no more wimping out because the water temp is in the 50s...wish I'd had this setup when I lived in the PNW.
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