Redundant buoyancy in warm weather

[RJP]

Why baste in your own juices wearing a drysuit in the tropics?

Faulty premise.

I think, for some reason, you imagine that I'm diving in a full neoprene suit, heavy undergarments, 7mm hood, and dry gloves. That is not the case. The 30/30 is made for diving in warm water (30/30 refers to 30deg above/below the equator) and it is made from a "breathable fabric" so it is a DRY suit but not a HOT suit. (To be honest, I'm not sure how it "breathes" without letting water through... but it does.) It has no attached boots/socks so your feet get wet, which I believe helps quite a bit in being different than a full tri-lam "body-bag" sort of suit.

I assure you that I've never once sweated wearing my tropical drysuit... even on 2hr dives in Truk in 85F water. Not even gearing up in direct sun on a beach in Curacao. Not on a liveaboard in the Caymans. Not climbing up and down 1,000 Steps in Bonaire.

I can appreciate that you don't need/want to dive dry in such locations - I believe you've posted elsewhere that you are an excessive sweater - but wonder why you always spout the same uniformed, reactionary "baste in your own juices" opinion about what diving dry, properly equipped, in warm water is like.

 

[rongoodman]

These closed smb's provide 40# of lift. So something like this
Halcyon Big Diver's Alert Marker, 4.5' long, closed circuit,

If I was going to carry an inflatable for redundant buoyancy, it would be my Halcyon lift bag rather than an SMB, because the OPV is near the top of the bag, where the air will be, rather than at the bottom.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Faulty premise.

I think, for some reason, you imagine that I'm diving in a full neoprene suit, heavy undergarments, 7mm hood, and dry gloves. That is not the case. The 30/30 is made for diving in warm water (30/30 refers to 30deg above/below the equator) and it is made from a "breathable fabric" so it is a DRY suit but not a HOT suit. (To be honest, I'm not sure how it "breathes" without letting water through... but it does.) It has no attached boots/socks so your feet get wet, which I believe helps quite a bit in being different than a full tri-lam "body-bag" sort of suit.

I assure you that I've never once sweated wearing my tropical drysuit... even on 2hr dives in Truk in 85F water. Not even gearing up in direct sun on a beach in Curacao. Not on a liveaboard in the Caymans. Not climbing up and down 1,000 Steps in Bonaire.

I can appreciate that you don't need/want to dive dry in such locations - I believe you've posted elsewhere that you are an excessive sweater - but wonder why you always spout the same uniformed, reactionary "baste in your own juices" opinion about what diving dry, properly equipped, in warm water is like.

No . . .not a faulty premise or "the same un-informed, reactionary opinion" but an actual objective fact --and especially for those of us divers who sweat profusely, and are susceptible to Miliaria (heat rash, sweat rash) with Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema under that to begin with.

So bad in fact . . .I have to use oral corticosteroids (30 to 60mg of Prednisone a day as needed) at times during the trip to reduce the inflammation. A drysuit, even here in temperate SoCal homewaters doesn't help, so it's a trade-off between staying warm in the water or having a torturous itchy/scratchy fit during the dive.

You damn right I have a reason to "spout-off" about it. . . :shocked2:!

 

[RJP]

No . . .not faulty premise but actual objective fact --and especially for those us divers susceptible to Miliaria (heat rash, sweat rash) with Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema under that begin with.

So bad in fact . . .I have to use oral corticosteroids (30 to 60mg of Prednisone a day as needed) at times during the trip to reduce the inflammation. A drysuit, even here in temperate SoCal homewaters doesn't help, so it's a trade-off between staying warm in the water or having a torturous itchy/scratchy fit during the dive.

You damn right I have a reason to "spout-off" about it. . . :shocked2:!

Right, so what you meant to post earlier is "I wouldn't dive dry in warm water because I am susceptible to miliaria with Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema under that begin with. So bad in fact . . .I have to use oral corticosteroids (30 to 60mg of Prednisone a day as needed) at times during the trip to reduce the inflammation. A drysuit, even here in temperate SoCal homewaters doesn't help, so it's a trade-off between staying warm in the water or having a torturous itchy/scratchy fit during the dive."

That's a bit different - and far more limited in scope - than the reactionary suggestion that no-one should dive dry because they will "baste in their own juices."

:d

 

[The Chairman]

Dang Kev,

no wonder why you avoid dry suits. I sweat a lot, but that's because I'm fat and live in Florida. I don't dive dry because I am almost always hot. I've dove caves in just a t-shirt and swim trunks in the middle of February. When you're built like a manatee, you can dive like one! That being said, I always include a caveat about my cold tolerance. I'm the exception for the most part and not the rule. Of course I figured out I needed to lose weight when the save the manatee people kept pushing me back in the water. Life's a beach!

 

[Kevrumbo]

Right, so what you meant to post earlier is "I wouldn't dive dry in warm water because I am susceptible to miliaria with Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema under that begin with. So bad in fact . . .I have to use oral corticosteroids (30 to 60mg of Prednisone a day as needed) at times during the trip to reduce the inflammation. A drysuit, even here in temperate SoCal homewaters doesn't help, so it's a trade-off between staying warm in the water or having a torturous itchy/scratchy fit during the dive."

That's a bit different - and far more limited in scope - than the reactionary suggestion that no-one should dive dry because they will "baste in their own juices."

:d

Dang Kev,

no wonder why you avoid dry suits. I sweat a lot, but that's because I'm fat and live in Florida. I don't dive dry because I am almost always hot. I've dove caves in just a t-shirt and swim trunks in the middle of February. When you're built like a manatee, you can dive like one! That being said, I always include a caveat about my cold tolerance. I'm the exception for the most part and not the rule. Of course I figured out I needed to lose weight when the save the manatee people kept pushing me back in the water. Life's a beach!

That's okay people --I just don't like having to use the "health adversity" card as an excuse or to justify a particular point or opinion for obvious personal reasons.

But yeah that's why I prefer thin full skinsuit diving in tropical waters --I don't get as bad a reactionary/allergic rash with exposure to warm seawater (and with reasonable non-skin burning sun exposure) as I do when wearing a drysuit and "stewing" in my own sweat. . .

 

[The Chairman]

That's okay people --I just don't like having to use the "health adversity" card as an excuse or to justify a particular point or opinion for obvious personal reasons.

Take a deep breath, Kev. When you tell us why you do something, especially if it's a medical condition, then people can better decide if your methodology works for them. It's why I always point out that I'm built like a manatee whenever I share how little protection I wear while diving. I try to keep it upbeat and funny, but I don't want a skinny waif of a diver shivering because they think that my situation is normal. Don't think of it as a health adversity card as much as a caveat.

 

[victorzamora]

Kev, the thread is discussing buoyancy control measures used for redundancy. Making a blanket statement that drysuits are useless because of a medical condition you have makes no sense. Others without that condition are not limited and don't face the drawbacks you do. I sweat a lot (partially due to genetics as I'm arabic, and partially due to my natural insulation) but I can get along just fine diving my drysuit in hot weather (FL during the summer, MX during the summer, the Caribbean, etc). When I'm in 80F water, I dive a shorty. Anything besides that, I'm considering diving dry. Like Lynne said, getting out and being warm and dry is nicer than everyone else freezing their tushies off. After a dry dive, I'm ready to do stuff.....after a wet dive, I need a shower.

 

[randy88k5]

I used my White's Fusion drysuit ocean diving in South Florida in the springtime. I was wearing a light fleece undergarment, and I was not overheated. However, I am very hot/cold tolerant and I do not sweat a lot.

I enjoy diving in the drysuit, and I do use it for redundant buoyancy.

 

[PfcAJ]

So grumpy