Next class: PPB or Dry Suit?

[stever2002]

I think my buoyancy skills improved after (1) purchasing my own BC and (2) a nice vacation where I dove several days in a row. However, I have always thought that I could benefit from the PPB class. HOWEVER, I live in the North East US and local diving is COLD. Hence, I'm also giving the Dry Suit class a good look. A buddy of mine, took both (PPB and Dry) at the same time. At over $200/class, I want to get the most bang from my buck.

Also, as an aside: Has anyone ever traveled to obtain any certs beside OW, AOW & Nitriox? I suppose I could plan a trip to Florida (or anyplace warmer) to take PPB or even Rescue Diver (my next major cert).

Thoughts?
-PH

 

[Mustard Dave]

I would do the drysuit course with a good instructor. It is obvious it is a useful skill to have. The biggest part of learning to dive in a drysuit is buoyancy control, so it should help in that department too.

 

[Doby45]

I would go for dry suit for sure. Having the dry suit will have you in the water more as you will be more comfortable (temp wise) and then you can work on your PPB IN your dry suit..

 

[soonerwink]

I would opt for the drysuit class also. Your diving will increase being more comfortable in the water and hence your buoyancy control will improve. More diving less classes unless you just like to collect certs.

 

[Marie13]

Drysuit. It will really extend your diving season.

Also, if you want to dive your local waters, I don't see any wisdom in traveling to warmer places for classes. If you only want to dive warm water, sure, but if you want to dive your local cold(er) waters, get trained in those waters.

 

[boulderjohn]

I'll pile on.

The standards for the in-water skills for the dry suit class I teach are very much geared toward teaching buoyancy, so you should learn a lot about buoyancy just by taking that class. If you were taking the class from me, I would be observing your skills as you do the two required dives, and I would be doing what I thought would be necessary to improve your buoyancy. The class will thus turn into a mini-PPB class. I would imagine most instructors would do the same.

 

[Landau]

I'll pile on to the Drysuit first - the drysuit changes your buoyancy and trim techniques lot. The distance the air bubble can move in a BCD or Wing is much less than the distance the air bubble can move in a dry suit when you change orientation. Also deflating the drysuit is much slower and trickier than deflating a BCD or wing.

Personally I use the drysuit and BCD about equally for buoyancy control. I like air in the dry suit for warmth and not too much squeeze, but I also like some in the BCD that I can release in a hurry as I ascend if the drysuit is not venting as fast as I would like.

As my technique improves I'm keeping more and more air in the drys uit and less in the BCD - I used to put just enough in the drysuit so I wasn't uncomfortably squeezed.

A PPB class in he tropics won't teach you much about buoyancy at home in a drysuit - and once you master buoyancy in a drysuit buoyancy in the tropics in a wetsuit seems really easy.

 

[Landau]

Forgot to add - being nice and warm and dry during surface interval while other are shivering in wet suits - priceless.

Diving Dry lets you dive locally more often. More diving = better. Love the cold water dives here in Vancouver as I can't travel tot he tropics taht often.

 

[undrwater]

Forget the name of the class. Talk to instructors about your goals, and how they can help you reach them.

 

[Scott]

+3 pile on

With the right instructor your drysuit course will contain all the skills, drills and techniques you would get with a PPB course. Double bonus for the price of one.