Wart, welcome to our world!
It's Cold!!!!
You're lucky I saw 3 basking sharks last week or I would have been off to Malaysia again!
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Wart, welcome to our world!
I started out using my BC for buoyancy and suit only for squeeze, but over the years, I've migrated to "as much gas in the dry suit as possible" for maximal warmth.
I also vote in favor of dry gloves. Not only are they warmer, but they're MUCH easier to get on and off.
It's funny -- once you get accustomed to the dry suit, it doesn't bug you as much... I'm so used to the suit that the differences just don't matter any more, and I love being warm.
Steve, have you checked your exhaust valve to ensure its not clogged? I borrowed a drysuit from a family member when I travelled to New Zealand. First dive I tried to vent and nothing (maybe a few small bubbles). I thought through it, and ended up having to vent from my neck seal (that was cold). When I checked the drysuit out on the boat (after remvoving the ocean from the drysuit), the exhaust was completly clogged with fibers from the woolies. Also, I have heard that putting duct tape over the woolies where your exhaust valve is can help to keep the area clear and allow for easier venting.
My hip d-rings (yes plural - nobody jump on this, I need both for work!) were mounted fairly close to the BP so that they would be at mid-hip level when diving, with the added girth of undersuit and drysuit I ended up moving them forward over an inch, initially because the 'warm-water' placing was to hard to find,
Yes, I agree. D-ring(s) about mid-body, so position is to an extent determined by exposure protection.