ElectricZombie
Contributor
I would save my money. You can learn to use a drysuit fairly easy by yourself...even quicker if you have a buddy to give you some tips.
Prices for drysuit classes
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Wrong again... we include the drysuit class with the drysuit - not because we want to "squeeze some more money" but because we want our divers to be comfortable, competent and safe. That way they'll dive a lot, have fun doing it, and *that* will be good for business.
Rick
docmartin
Contributor
$150 (incl. drysuit rental) plus $45 for SSI course materials. the $150 can be applied towards purchase.
sheck33
Contributor
Rick, then your drysuit class must be better than all the drysuit classes i have seen them do in the LDS. Besides, if someone just spent $$$$ on a drysuit they wouldnt be too happy spending another $150 on a drysuit class so no wonder the class is included with the suit.
What it boils down to is that i am getting more & more frustrated some of these BS specialty's that are being done and the overall level of diver training.
i want to dive but i do not know how to avoid the LDS BS i am exposed too, sometimes i think it wouldnt be a bad idea to just quit.
Scubaroo
Contributor
Sounds like WileEDiver had a better class in Monterey than I did for the same money - my instructor left me to watch a video, then came out dressed in a WETSUIT for the "one and a half" shore dives. He refused to help me trim the seals on the suit because he said if it was screwed up he'd be liable for replacing them. Never mind the fact my face was purple and my eyes were bulging.
The skills we covered were mediocre - about the only thing I picked up was to fin like crazy during a feet first ascent and it gives you an added margin to correct the problem. Never mind that I did a feet first polaris imitation because he made me hold onto a rock while he inflated the suit until the bottom was ripped out of my hands thanks to the bonus 100 pounds of lift he put in my suit.
So find out what you get for your money. A pool session would certainly have helped me. Also an instructor that wears a drysuit for the class themself so they can demonstrate skills rather than surface from 20-30' every five minutes to tell you what he's trying to signal. Gee, a slate might have helped there.
The skills we covered were mediocre - about the only thing I picked up was to fin like crazy during a feet first ascent and it gives you an added margin to correct the problem. Never mind that I did a feet first polaris imitation because he made me hold onto a rock while he inflated the suit until the bottom was ripped out of my hands thanks to the bonus 100 pounds of lift he put in my suit.
So find out what you get for your money. A pool session would certainly have helped me. Also an instructor that wears a drysuit for the class themself so they can demonstrate skills rather than surface from 20-30' every five minutes to tell you what he's trying to signal. Gee, a slate might have helped there.
bm9
Guest
I would save your money. Practice in shallow water to get the hang of it and if you have problems ask a fellow drysuit diver.
I have to admit, I never took a class. I bought it then spent several hours in the pool just getting familar with it. I also inflated it turned upside down to see how difficult it was to get my feet back down. Personally I found it not too difficult.
By the way, I don't use my drysuit for buoyancy. This way I won't have too much air inside so this decreases the chances of me having an out of control feet first ascent.
So far so good.
LVX
By the way, I don't use my drysuit for buoyancy. This way I won't have too much air inside so this decreases the chances of me having an out of control feet first ascent.
So far so good.
LVX
Spending some time in confined water was useful, luckily my buddy is a DM at the LDS so I got my open water skills evaluated for free. If you don't buy the suit from them they charge $75 for a pool session orientation.
Like LVX I use the drysuit to keep the squeeze out and control buoyancy through my bc, I've had a couple feet first ascents but never got more than 10 ft off the bottom before getting it under control. You can't practice that in a pool very well, you'll break the surface everytime in 12 fpw.
If you don't know a proficient drysuit diver I'd reccommend the class, but only from an LDS you trust and don't be afraid to demand your money's worth.
CD
Like LVX I use the drysuit to keep the squeeze out and control buoyancy through my bc, I've had a couple feet first ascents but never got more than 10 ft off the bottom before getting it under control. You can't practice that in a pool very well, you'll break the surface everytime in 12 fpw.
If you don't know a proficient drysuit diver I'd reccommend the class, but only from an LDS you trust and don't be afraid to demand your money's worth.
CD
No, they are a way to provide the divers who want it a supervised introduction to dry suit diving. Unlike the lousy OW classes, that you are forced to take cuz you need a card to dive, nobody is forcing you to take a drysuit class.
Unless you inflator sticks.
sheck33
Contributor
When your inflator sticks you disconnect it, problem solved
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