Losing Circulation in Feet

[N0_0ne21]

Hey guys,

I've done some searching and I think this might be an easy answer but I'm just not sure. I recently switched to diving dry (Scubapro Evertec 4) and have only done a pool lesson, and a 10ft checkout dive. I have a few things to change and learn but an issue both times was feeling the circulation in my feet go almost out completely.

In the pool: My fins from all my wetsuit diving were tight but I thought they fit well enough. Taking them off seemed to relieve the problem which obviously points to needing new fins at a larger size. Easy. I got some last week and that's when I went on my 10ft checkout dive.

Checkout dive: My new fins actually have a little extra space unfortunately side-to-side so I'm looking into the finkeeper things. But, seeing as there's extra space, I thought there would be no way my feet would feel tight but on the surface I felt like I was losing circulation again. I'm only wearing typical white socks inside the wetsuit and then Rock Boots. The Rock Boots are slightly difficult to get into but once on they feel like a perfect length and width. However, I think the overall volume might be too small to stuff all the sock/wetsuit material into the boots.

Should I just try to get different sized Rock Boots? Wouldn't they then be too long even though all the material might fit in them? What about getting air to my feet? I know I don't want air there so I don't shoot to the surface uncontrolled but wouldn't that relieve the pressure some?

Thanks for your time.

 

[TSandM]

One of the things I don't much like about lace-up boots is that you have to tighten the laces to make the boot secure, and it's easy to get them too tight and cut off circulation. It's also necessary to use a considerably larger boot than you would normally wear, in order to accomodate the thick neoprene sock of the suit, as well as anything you are wearing under it. I wear a women's 7 (which I think is about a men's 5) for street wear, but I need a men's 9 for my dry suit. (Never tried a women's, because I WANTED the width.)

You may be able to make your laces a little looser and use the finkeepers for security. But also be aware that if you are diving in a feet-down position, your feet are going to be squeezed INSIDE the dry suit, and adjustments you make to the shoes aren't going to change much. Putting a little air in your feet will make them warmer and more comfortable, but you will have to monitor how much so that you don't end up with your feet in the air.

 

[00wabbit]

I noticed in my class that if I stayed vertical at the surface the suit squeeze on my feet was very strong. I think it was because my shoulders were out of the water so all the air wanted to sit up there. I changed to more of a back stroke position so that my feet were near the surface as well and this helped the foot squeeze a lot.

I also ended up doubling up athletic type socks to add a little more cushion for the squeeze.

 

[N0_0ne21]

One of the things I don't much like about lace-up boots is that you have to tighten the laces to make the boot secure, and it's easy to get them too tight and cut off circulation. It's also necessary to use a considerably larger boot than you would normally wear, in order to accomodate the thick neoprene sock of the suit, as well as anything you are wearing under it. I wear a women's 7 (which I think is about a men's 5) for street wear, but I need a men's 9 for my dry suit. (Never tried a women's, because I WANTED the width.)

You may be able to make your laces a little looser and use the finkeepers for security. But also be aware that if you are diving in a feet-down position, your feet are going to be squeezed INSIDE the dry suit, and adjustments you make to the shoes aren't going to change much. Putting a little air in your feet will make them warmer and more comfortable, but you will have to monitor how much so that you don't end up with your feet in the air.

Well I'll check if my LDS has a bigger size and check that out. You're right of course, looser laces probably won't be that much of an adjustment.

I noticed in my class that if I stayed vertical at the surface the suit squeeze on my feet was very strong. I think it was because my shoulders were out of the water so all the air wanted to sit up there. I changed to more of a back stroke position so that my feet were near the surface as well and this helped the foot squeeze a lot.

I also ended up doubling up athletic type socks to add a little more cushion for the squeeze.

Makes sense as well. I'll look at keeping my body more horizontal on the surface and see if that helps. I haven't really needed heavy socks in my two dives but I play a lot of soccer and have those socks for when needed so that might help. Although I feel like that would increase the volume of material and without increasing the allowable volume of the Rock Boots it would just hurt as much or more.

I hope I can sell my too small Rock Boots though and not lose too much money on a size issue especially after 2 very short uses.

 

[00wabbit]

What size are your boots?

Never mind. Read your post.

 

[Zen Diving Inc.]

I would start with getting rid of your street socks and replacing them with thick wool socks(or similar). The padding alone will relieve the stress of pressure on your feet by distributing it evenly around your feet. 10' check out dive seems a bit strange to me. 15' for 20 min = 1 Dive. Proper training would relieve the symptoms. Dry suits have inflators which pressurize the suit to combat the squeeze... Adequate inflation and body position would eliminate your feet squeeze issue. Inflate, invert problem solved.

 

[N0_0ne21]

I would start with getting rid of your street socks and replacing them with thick wool socks(or similar). The padding alone will relieve the stress of pressure on your feet by distributing it evenly around your feet. 10' check out dive seems a bit strange to me. 15' for 20 min = 1 Dive. Proper training would relieve the symptoms. Dry suits have inflators which pressurize the suit to combat the squeeze... Adequate inflation and body position would eliminate your feet squeeze issue. Inflate, invert problem solved.

I definitely will start using wool. But again, wouldn't that increase the amount of material I'm shoving into my Rock Boots? Also, the 10' check out dive is simply because it was a local dive spot with friends who know the area and max depth was around 30'. Due to other reasons though I didn't go past the 10' mark and basically was trying to get my weight correct and see if the larger fins solved my foot circulation problem.

 

[00wabbit]

I had the same thought. My boots are actually a size too small for me. I was using thin bicycle type socks in the pool and the squeeze hurt. Once I got to the open water I switched to 2 layers of socks. I had to cut the toes out of the top layer to make room but I found that while there was still pressure on my feet it was more evenly distributed and it was more comfortable. I actually didnt even really notice my feet while diving. I only noticed at the surface where my feet were under water and my upper body wasnt.

 

[N0_0ne21]

I had the same thought. My boots are actually a size too small for me. I was using thin bicycle type socks in the pool and the squeeze hurt. Once I got to the open water I switched to 2 layers of socks. I had to cut the toes out of the top layer to make room but I found that while there was still pressure on my feet it was more evenly distributed and it was more comfortable. I actually didnt even really notice my feet while diving. I only noticed at the surface where my feet were under water and my upper body wasnt.

So wait, you switched to 2 layers of socks but still wear boots that are a size too small for you?

 

[00wabbit]

So wait, you switched to 2 layers of socks but still wear boots that are a size too small for you?

Yup. I got the suit used. I had to use the 2 layers of socks to get through the drysuit certification dives and now I am getting new boots on the suit. When I bought the suit I thought the size wouldn't be a big deal, but after my first pool dive I was proven wrong.