Started my drysuit class today

[SCUBANON]

Captain Sulu

 

[enigmata]

fnfalman in a DRYSUIT? I thought I would never see the day. What happened to gear up and be in the water faster than anyone else could? :-D

 

[Bubbletrubble]

With all due respect, you haven't dove with me. You have no idea how slow or fast I dive. Apropos of nothing, my photographer buddies never had to complain.

You raise a good point. Do you move a lot underwater...or do you tend to stay in one place? Either way, I think you'll be surprised how much your diving changes once you own a drysuit. Repetitive dives at night, repetitive multi-day dive trips in the winter...no problem. I'll be the first to admit, though, that drysuit diving isn't without compromise (more drag, need to pay attention to trim more, worry about punctures, worry about damaging zipper, tight seals, etc.).

Besides, there is good chow waiting topside after every dive; and as lovely as the dives are, nothing beats fresh ocean breeze and island vistas.

That's cool. We all have our own priorities. I like good food, too, so I can see your point. Perhaps living in San Diego has spoiled me a bit. The ocean breeze thing I kinda take for granted now.

Have fun with the class...

 

[fnfalman]

fnfalman in a DRYSUIT? I thought I would never see the day. What happened to gear up and be in the water faster than anyone else could? :-D

I'm just taking the class. I am not convinced yet that I need a drysuit. At least not for SoCal diving anyway.

I want to do some ice diving while stuck in Idaho as well and methinks that's where the drysuit would come in handy but I can rent it from the same shop that's teaching the drysuit course.

 

[CaboJim]

What?!
Does that mean you're changing out that great hood of yours too?
How will I recognize you with out the hood, underwater?....LOL

 

[leabre]

I dreaded getting a drysuit, it was about a year ago and I was pressed for time for an upcoming class and thought I'd need 30 dives to get proficient in it, didn't want to use a wetsuit at 100' for two dives in 52* temperatures at catalina island.

But on my first dive I had it nailed. I also use a Fusion and I think in part my previous DIR style of training, and the design of the Fusion combined to give me a very nice experience.

After about 30 dives or so in the Fusion I used a buddies' TLS 350 and I could not not easily control it -- the bubble had me all over the place. I very quickly returned to my Fusion the next dive

Enjoy your warm, dry diving. Even for someone who preferred a Wetsuit and never got cold in one (except when they delaminate and become useless) the Fusion has me sold, I won't be going wet again if I can avoid it.

 

[Teamcasa]

HT, You are going to love it. Trust me.

 

[fnfalman]

What?!
Does that mean you're changing out that great hood of yours too?
How will I recognize you with out the hood, underwater?....LOL

I'll be sportin' my hoods. Actually, I'm going to get Terrapin Wetsuits to make me another custom hood and it's going to be based on the Spanish Shawl. New year = new hood.

After about 30 dives or so in the Fusion I used a buddies' TLS 350 and I could not not easily control it -- the bubble had me all over the place. I very quickly returned to my Fusion the next dive

I think that's just typical with unfamiliar gears. I feel discombobulated whenever I use a BC different than mine, or a different set of regulators.

I do like the way the Fusion work out for me even in just the single pool dive. Anyway, I'm hittin' the road to Nevada's Blue Lake. It's going to be a 6-hrs drive to and from.

 

[merxlin]

HT, You are going to love it. Trust me.

+1---doing dives in less than 55F water is no longer an issue. Now its just about air & NDL limits.

 

[fnfalman]

Well, the Blue Lake is...better than Eagle Peak Reservoir outside of Boise, but that's about it. At 67-F, it was toasty warm though. My left foot got a cramp that I think because the excess foot cover (whatever you call it) is too much to stuff into my poor booties.

I did two dives and just played with buoyancy control and ascension rate. Did some more stuck inflator drills/overbuoyant ascends. I must say that I do like the Fusion and the ease I have in establishing trim & buoyancy with it. So, knock on wood, if I were to decide to go with a drysuit, I'd go with the Fusion. I think that next time the shop goes to the Blue Lake (Feb time), I'd go again and rent the suit to play with it some more.

However, for now, when I go to Casino Point this January 20th, I'll go with my wetsuit and simply enjoy my dives without thinking about manipulating the drysuit.