Lost Yooper-
"Yet another possibility, maybe the outside temp was very cold? Most of your cold may have been from getting undressed if it was cold outside. "
Air was mid 40's, damp and dizzly... practialy raining by the time I warmed up enough to go take care of my gear (need I say it got left on the dock). The quarry has a shack with a nice wood stove that I changed in, and shack not the stove, ... and sat by for quite awhile.
Lost Yooper-
"Been there done that -- paid my dues -- ain't happenin' again! "
There is NO way I repeat NO freakin way I am doing anything near that cold wet. Dry suits are a good thing. I'm hugging my dry suit and never letting go, just like a teddy bear! no touchie touchie...
----------------------------------------
ScubaScott-
" Kaffphine - thats doesn't sound like a very enjoyable coldwater diving experience, but its one you'll never forget eh? "
I went knowing this wasn't a *real* dive, I was there to practice boyance control and get use to the cold. On such a dive, if anyone gets out and is like 'WOW, that was just soooo awesome!!' I think they have issues, did see some cool fish though. I went there knowing that, learned a lot from it, and have a goal (NJ wrecks by summer). Except for fin removal to the point I was warm and could activily partake in converstation enjoyed the experiance.. and no I'm not a masochist, just a diver.
-----------------------------------------
Aquamore-
"I personally don't use my suit for bouyancy control I only put a little air in to eliminate 'Suit-Squeeze' then I use my Bouyancy device (jacket, wings, whatever) to make the real bouyancy adjustments. "
This is how I was taugh to use the drysuit, bouyancy control with the BC (I use a jacket style, single tank) and just add a bit if the suit squeezes. This also lets you keep the same air (same, warm) in the suit. When we got a few feet above bottom 45ft, I added just a touch which created a long list of bouyancy problems that took me awhile to get back to neutral... well neutral and not on the surface.
-----------------------------------------
Rick Murchison-
"Whew! I *knew* I was wise to stay South! "
I did warm water, it's where I started. Actually don't miss it too much, there's more wrecks up here. I just need to get use to a *few* things first.
------------------------------------------
Uncle Pug-
"What type of undergarment were you using... you were using an undergarment weren't you????
Tips for comfort in cold water:
1. no cotton anywhere...
2. dry-gloves keep your feet warm...
3. argon can be used to pre-purge your suit... "
The shell and fleece OS underware with the suit and a pair of long johns (50% cotton woops). Uncle Pug #2.... dry GLOVES to keep FEET warm. My dry boots don't keep my hands warm!
As to a red face, I can't say. There isn't a mirror anywhere in the dive shack. But when I got back home, my face did have a blue tint.
And even though Argon does sound like something I'd like, I think solveing the manual dextitry is my first prioty. To add to the joys of my exit, my tank had slipped out. So I was getting out with my tank on my shoulder. To get my BC quick release I had to bend my thumbs at the knucle and use both thumbs to push on each side of the 'quick' release.
------------------------------------------
rcohn-
"One friend (diving solo) had to crawl to her car in full gear and get assistance from a passerby because her hands were too cold to remove her fins or use the car key. End the dive while you still have sufficient manual dexteriety. "
When I called the dive I DID have dexteriety in my hands. On the way back when I went to use my compass, and that's when I realized I was loosing it ...feeling went downhill rapidly from there.
The way we did our diving down on island, there was almost no concept of buddy diving. Something else for new to get use to, especally other people helping out with getting gear on. And no, I'm not going solo up here anywhere in the forseeable future. Thursday night resolved any questions about that.
------------------------------------
Lost Yooper-
" Make sure you have food in your tummy prior to diving. Food will keep you warm. "
For me having a dive follow food too closely isn't a really great idea... or was it just Frenchtown Deli? Although up here, I am doing pasta starting with the night before and some more for lunch. I'll add a banna to the mix and also take some *real* food for afterwards.
----------------------------------
WHeew, a lot of info in the those to respond to. Thanks! I am definetly working out the problem with my hands/gloves. Probably won't be in the water for the next week, new unstreched wrist seals being put on... better than the temp patch the previous owner has on the left. She only had like 4-5 dive on it and put a finger through the seal. Oh well at least she's replacing them.
