new diver, some questions

[sarita75]

I would agree with David re: drysuit courses. I took mine as part of an AOW which included instruction in drysuit, boat, night and navigation. Boat was kind of a no-brainer, but the instruction in how to be a better "passenger" on a boat, how to pack your gear, etc. was nice. I think alot of people could have benefitted from that.

The only thing I would have liked would be more time in the drysuit in the ocean. We only used them for the boat dive during which we were also working on navigation, etc. it was a bit complicated attempting to manage it all.

I am off to Wallins tomorow....pool time. yahoo.

 

[scubajunkee]

Thanks,

I was actually reading your site just after posting this - lots of usefull information here. Diving here seems much different so I want to go into Monterey for the first time in a drysuit as part of a class/with an instructor to learn the ropes.

Why don't you try diving in a 7mm wetsuit and hood? There's less to fiddle with on your first few dives here in Monterey. No need to task load yourself when dealing with working the drysuit, kelp, and the viz all at the same time.

-Ericson

 

[sandapanda7]

Just finished 2 dry suit dives, and got my dry suit cert. Must say I loved the experience - the water today was 47 degrees but we were pretty warm.

Took the course with an instructor form Diver Dan's - I liked the instructor, and would gladly train/dive with him again. (PM me for his name). Diver Dan's itself was average for a dive shop IMHO.

 

[saf1]

Why don't you try diving in a 7mm wetsuit and hood? There's less to fiddle with on your first few dives here in Monterey. No need to task load yourself when dealing with working the drysuit, kelp, and the viz all at the same time.

-Ericson

Was going to ask this question myself. Although I must say I'm a a new diver with less that 20 dives under my belt. But much like the OP I recently cert in 06 with warm water dives following. Diving Monterey is a lot different - lol.

On Saturday morning my comp registered our first dive at 51 degrees (31 feet or so deep - I didn't check on surface) around 8 a.m. Our second dive was a tick warmer around 53 or so - again around 30 feet depth give or take a few (don't have my log book in front of me).

The 7mm rental I was in worked fine and I didn't have any issues with being too cold to dive. I think I noticed it was colder on the second dive but I honestly think it was because I was more tired - if that makes sense (out of shape I guess). But on the first dive the suit was great. In fact, all four of us didn't seem to mind the water temp.

The way I looked at it is I'm a new diver still learning. First couple of dives off a beach in Monterey is going to be tough enough as it, I didn't want to complicate things with a dry suit. Beach entry, surf, other divers, visibility, etc - more than enough things to pay attention to.

While nice - it is something I will look into has my skills progress further. Right now I'm just not there yet.

 

[sandapanda7]

I am going to have to try a wet suit - but our rental comps registered around 48 degrees on the bottom ~43 feet and I will wait for warmer days. Drysuit was fine, the only problem I had that I was underweighted a little and had a tendency to float up as soon as my air hit 1000 (al80). We fixed that eventually. To get drysuit boyancy down will take at least 10 more dives though and hopefully by then my weight needs will go down.

 

[RoyN]

Maybe add more 4 pounds if you use a Al80 would help? As for the wetsuit, I'm happy with my Akona suit. It was cheap but works well and have kept me semi-warm.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

AL80 isn't relevant. Well, AL isn't, the tank material doesn't matter, given the data
at hand. 80 is slightly relevant.

He got floaty at 1000 PSI, so it shouldn't take more than one or two pounds
to get him on target, that is unless he was diving double 120s or something and had a
lot more molecules to breathe between 1000 and 300 PSI. I'd go with one more pound
and see how that works out. You want to keep that drysuit pretty well shrinkwrapped.

 

[RoyN]

AL80 isn't relevant. Well, AL isn't, the tank material doesn't matter, given the data
at hand. 80 is slightly relevant.

Don't look at me, I'm only doing things by the book.

 

[sarita75]

As for the wetsuit, I'm happy with my Akona suit. It was cheap but works well and have kept me semi-warm.

I love my akona too, I think it was $150 or something like that. I use a hyperstretch hooded vest (5/3) over it and never does my body get cold. Only my hands.

 

[zen_man]

the water today was 47 degrees but we were pretty warm.

Was this at Breakwater? I was there this last weekend. My wife and I have AquaLung flex 7mil wetsuits and hooded vests, the temp was 47 degrees and we were both fine. The coupel we were diving with wore drysuits and they were impressed that we didn't get cold at all(though, I felt it in my fingers).

I think both have there advantages and disadvantages and meet needs at different times. Welcome to Monterey diving! I love diving in Monterey because of the challenges it brings. The environment helps me hone my skills and become a better diver.