Trying to think of the things people have shared with me . . .
1) Spring straps. They rock. Neoprene mask straps with nylon attachments that can't break are pretty good, too.
2) Use Seal Saver to lubricate your wrist and neck seals before getting into your dry suit. Better lubrication, and much less messy than talc.
3) If you have trouble getting your fins off at the end of a dive, stand on one foot, bend the other knee bringing the foot BEHIND the leg you're standing on (making a figure 4) and grab the fin with the other hand (right fin, left hand). Then use your leg to pull the fin off.
4) If you have trouble reaching your valves, then at the beginning of the dive, put a little extra air in your drysuit (at the surface), lie in the water a little head down with your arms over your head, and wriggle a bit. This lets your rig pull your suit up a little, and increases the slack you have in the arm and shoulder area. (Known locally as the Raul maneuver, but I've seen it referred to on SB as the Beto maneuver, too.)
5) A large, plastic juice bottle full of hot water to pour over your head is a very civilized thing at the end of a dive.
1) Spring straps. They rock. Neoprene mask straps with nylon attachments that can't break are pretty good, too.
2) Use Seal Saver to lubricate your wrist and neck seals before getting into your dry suit. Better lubrication, and much less messy than talc.
3) If you have trouble getting your fins off at the end of a dive, stand on one foot, bend the other knee bringing the foot BEHIND the leg you're standing on (making a figure 4) and grab the fin with the other hand (right fin, left hand). Then use your leg to pull the fin off.
4) If you have trouble reaching your valves, then at the beginning of the dive, put a little extra air in your drysuit (at the surface), lie in the water a little head down with your arms over your head, and wriggle a bit. This lets your rig pull your suit up a little, and increases the slack you have in the arm and shoulder area. (Known locally as the Raul maneuver, but I've seen it referred to on SB as the Beto maneuver, too.)
5) A large, plastic juice bottle full of hot water to pour over your head is a very civilized thing at the end of a dive.