It's Official, I'm Certified!

[DandyDon]

Hi DandyDon,

I saw the information about the beanie. I'm definitely looking into purchasing one of those. Even though I was more comfortable with the hood on the 2nd day, it still drives me bonkers to have anything around my neck. Even the wetsuit was bothersome, but that I could leave partially unzipped in back.

Pam

The beanie covers the important part of the head and protects against heat loss almost as well as a hood, withouth the strangulation effect.

If you have to leave you wetsuit opne in back, you need a bigger one. That undermines the protection.

 

[PamJScuba]

The beanie covers the important part of the head and protects against heat loss almost as well as a hood, withouth the strangulation effect.

If you have to leave you wetsuit opne in back, you need a bigger one. That undermines the protection.

First, it should be noted that I do have a thyroid problem and have a growth known as a cold nodule that pushes against my throat. When I wear anything around my neck, I feel uncomfortable like I can't swallow. I knew this might be a problem with a wetsuit and it was only aggravated with the bib style hood.

I only left the wetsuit partially open. I didn't have it zipped up the last 1 to 1 1/2 inches at the neck and I didn't do the velcro shut. The wetsuit fit great except that it was just a enough pressure against my thyroid/lower neck that I found it difficult to swallow. In order to swallow, I would pull the neck part of the wetsuit and bib of the hood away from my throat, then swallow. Without a bib style hood, I would have been able to zip up the wetsuit completely.

 

[TheRedHead]

Hi DandyDon,

I saw the information about the beanie. I'm definitely looking into purchasing one of those. Even though I was more comfortable with the hood on the 2nd day, it still drives me bonkers to have anything around my neck. Even the wetsuit was bothersome, but that I could leave partially unzipped in back.

Hi Pam:

Congratulations! :wave-smil

Sounds like you may have been wearing too much neoprene. I have a beanie from Henderson (here's a link to all sorts of hoods/beanies)
http://www.leisurepro.com/Catalog.aspx?Op=CatDisplay&CategoryID=985&Context=980

and it is very comfortable. Leaving your 7mm unzipped negates a lot of the warmth in a 7mm. If you have a Henderson dealer near you, check out the Henderson Hyperstretch wetsuits as they mold themselves to you without choking you. I can't stand any other wesuit now that I've been in hyperstretch.

Have fun diving!

 

[DandyDon]

If you'd like to explore a custom made suit, here's an interesting source. Their prices blew me away! I have a 1 mil, a 3, a 5, and a 7, but next time - I'll try them!

http://store.triple-l.biz/

Call them and talk to them about your bump. :shades:

 

[TheRedHead]

If you'd like to explore a custom made suit, here's an interesting source. Their prices blew me away! I have a 1 mil, a 3, a 5, and a 7, but next time - I'll try them!

http://store.triple-l.biz/

Their BC prices are even better! And I need some luggage too.

 

[Far_X]

Way to go, Pam!!! Congratulations. You can post more than 50 messages now that you are qualified

 

[DiverDan25]

Congrats!!!!!!!!!

 

[shiekarj]

Vis did drop some towards the end because of all the muck being stired up off the lake floor.

The water temperature was a balmy 66 degrees.
Pam

Congrats Pam! Since you did not chicken out, you are probably hooked! My last instructor told me if you can dive in cold, mucky lake water, you can dive almost anywhere!