New Drysuit Diver - Do I Need The Course?

[Rick Inman]

I learned how to dive my drysuit on the internet. In fact, here on Scubaboard.

I went out to the river for my first dive and did a few up and downs to get the hang of adding and dumping air. I went down to the bottom at 20' and grabbed a branch and filled air into my feet, let go and practiced flipping back over and dumping so I knew how to escape the dreaded feet-first ascent (which, BTW, has never happened to me in real diving).

I applied what I'd read and spent an hour practicing it.

Then I went diving.

That's it.

Not saying this would work for everyone, but really, a drysuit isn't rocket science.

 

[msg]

I took the course after getting my drysuit. It was helpful in learning the techniques while at the hands of a competent instructor. However, I use my suit for warmth and being dry, not for bouyancy. I have found after diving it, that the BCD is easier to control. I also do not dive overweighted, but do use a steel tank, not doubled.

 

[dkatchalov]

I learned how to dive my drysuit on the internet. In fact, here on Scubaboard.

I went out to the river for my first dive and did a few up and downs to get the hang of adding and dumping air. I went down to the bottom at 20' and grabbed a branch and filled air into my feet, let go and practiced flipping back over and dumping so I knew how to escape the dreaded feet-first ascent (which, BTW, has never happened to me in real diving).

I applied what I'd read and spent an hour practicing it.

Then I went diving.

That's it.

Not saying this would work for everyone, but really, a drysuit isn't rocket science.

Yet another thanks for another useful post. The grabbing an object at the bottom and simulating a feet up ascent is an awesome idea. Any special way you used to get air into your feet? Or did you just line up your feet so they are above your waist and pumped some more air into your DS?

 

[dkatchalov]

Three particular challenges (among many) with a DS: 1. Getting the neck seals trimmed properly before diving the suit; 2. Learning to maintain bouyancy (depth) control, irrespective of what is the primary control device (BCD vs DS); and 3. Avoiding an uncontrolled, foot-first ascent ( a biggie).

Thanks Colliam.

1. My LDS trimmed my neck and wrist seals for me, so I should be ok there.

2. My buyoancy is fairly good. I dive with 6kg around my waist with heavy wet exposure protection (7mm suit, 5mm vest, boots, gloves, hood). I am 6'6" and weight 87kg. With 6kg on me I can maintain a safety stop at 5 meters with no air in my BC and < 50 bar in the tank. I basically control my SS with my breath. At depth, I only add minimal air to my wing. I intend to add about 3kg to the DS to start (9kg total) and see how that goes under the pier.

3. I'll practise getting out of the feet up ascent under the pier. Like I said, if I don't feel 100% that I can repeat the same procedure at 20 meters, I will wait for my course before I dive the suit.

 

[Rick Inman]

Any special way you used to get air into your feet? Or did you just line up your feet so they are above your waist and pumped some more air into your DS?

Exactly.

Oh, and don't forget to exhale on the way up.

 

[Gombessa]

I don't know if it was mentioned earlier, but one of the main reasons against using the DS for buoyancy is because the DS can't dump air as fast as the typical BC, so uncontrolled ascents with all that extra are are harder to deal with (and if you're in one of those feet-up deals, you won't be dumping anything).

However, balance that against the task loading of dealing with two inflators, two dump valves, plus squeeze management as you descend and ascend--it's easy to see why intro DS training (and DS manufacturers like DUI) starts off by suggesting the DS handle buoyancy.

I borrowed a friend's DS for the first time, and spent the first 30 minutes of our dive in 20ft OW, practicing suit squeeze, chicken-wing dumping, and correcting feet-up orientation, with my buddy right next to me. Then we went diving. I just stuck with BC for buoyancy, partly because it was what I was used to, and partly because it seemed the safer way to dive.

 

[JeffG]

Yes I know some ppl will say using your DC for buoyancy control is fine, but I disagree, it just doesn't make sense from a drag/streamlining perspective.

The reality is that the drysuit isn't the most optimum device for controlling your buoyancy, but if you are weighted right and using a smallish single tank (~ 80 ft3) its not that big of a deal.

Also, its not a bad skill to know. (in case you need it)

But once you go past small single tanks, it becomes more important to use the BC to control your buoyancy needs.

 

[dkatchalov]

Thanks Jeff.

 

[texdiveguy]

I think a well instructed Dry Suit class for a new ds diver shortens the learning curve.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

dkatchalov,

One more thing you may find helpful/amusing/ridiculous: I've heard that some dive shops won't rent a drysuit to a diver unless that person holds a drysuit certification card. (I want to emphasize that this is purely secondhand info.) Being able to rent a drysuit is a nice backup plan in case you're on a dive vacation at a cold water destination and your own drysuit malfunctions, e.g., leaks badly, neck/wrist seal tears, etc.

I hope that what I heard isn't true. Then again, maybe if you showed the dive shop that you actually own a malfunctioning suit, then the shop would be more inclined to rent one to you.

On a separate note, 6 pounds/3 kg more is a good starting point for dialing in your weighting needs. I would recommend a full-blown weight check (with nearly empty tank) to determine optimal weighting. Also, realize that any change to your undergarments will affect your weighting. This means that if you were feeling a little chilly on that last drysuit dive...and you want to add that attractive, fluffy pink fleece pullover on your next dive...be prepared to take a little extra weight and do another weight check.

Enjoy.