The Drysuit and the Wetsuit

[renpirate]

All but one of the women in our group dive in drysuits. I would recommend getting a drysuit for her and then getting her some training. The general rule of thumb is that people who are not comfortable while diving will dive less or stop. She may say she gets cold around 15 minutes, but my guess is she is colder sooner than that and just doesn't want to spoil your dive.

I have dove both wetsuits and drysuits along the California coast and I highly recommend drysuits to anyone who wishes to dive here often. Also, don't settle for a really low cost suit or a semi drysuit. Spend the money and get a good one, it will last you twenty or more years if you take care of it. There are reasons for a drysuit to leak or be uncomfortable, but all can be prevented with proper care and sizing. The key is training and yes it does take a few dives to get comfortable with them.

 

[Bobbin-along]

It was explained to us at the dive club meeting by our sports medicine guest speaker that it is more to do with metabolic activity and circulation.

 

[String]

A small leak in a drysuit is still a hell of a lot warmer than a dive in same temperature in a wetsuit.

My drysuits are far less bulky and MUCH warmer than the massive amount of neoprene id near to wear instead if wet.

 

[RS]

Just jumped in the pool a few weeks ago to test a new 7mm full-hooded wetsuit. Usually it's about 50 to 55 degress, but it was 46. I cannot believe how much colder 46 degrees feels than 55. It's extremely cold. It's actually almost painful on your face, but that cold water seeping in the suit really gets the old ticker going. I don't see how you northerners can use a wetsuit. :froze:

Now with a dry suit...

 

[mikerault]

Just got done with a dive in 43 degree water using a dry suit. I was toasty and enjoyed the dive. Even without dry gloves (I use reef gloves since I do a lot of photo work) when I got out I wasn't shivering, my hands wheren't shaking and I was dry. My buddy with probably 10mm Neoprene on core, was slightly shivering and his hands where frozen with 3 mm neoprene gloves. For less than mid-60 degree water you can't beat a good drysuit. I second that if the face is changing color, then the neck seal needs work. I had to trim one ring off of mine (latex).

Mike

 

[renpirate]

It was explained to us at the dive club meeting by our sports medicine guest speaker that it is more to do with metabolic activity and circulation.

That makes perfect sense, but anecdotaly I hear woman complain about being cold more often than men. I didn't mean to imply that it is exclusively a gender issue, just that it is a very common complaint among our female divers. What else did they speaker have to say on this issue?

 

[RS]

Just got done with a dive in 43 degree water.

For less than mid-60 degree water you can't beat a good drysuit.

Mike

Thanks Mike. I have a pinnacle drysuit on the way...

43 degrees is killer cold!! I'll be in central cal mostly, 50-55.

R

 

[Twiddles]

Okay so it sounds like she at least needs to try the dry. I have an associated question though. On my first 6 dives I used a bc with a full wrap-around inflate, when I bought one I went with the back-inflate as that was recommended. I spent a significant amount of time (well as in most of the time on my next ten dives) adjusting to not feeling the amount of air in my bc and adjusting for how air seemed to roll around in the wing if I was "playing" in the water.

I sometimes dont just want to be facedown, in fact completely inverted head down to check out rocks and bottom is much more comfortable to me as I dont have to worry about silting the area or hitting stuff with my fins. Its hard to do this with a back-inflate as the dam thing trys to keep me face down. I am learning to adapt though.

Problem is, in a dry-suit she cant swim head down she has to be either horizontal or head slightly up (more of a question than a statement). Or am I misunderstanding the air in the feet problem that requires you to ball up so you can re-stablize? Or am I learning bad habits (by inverting head down) that will affect us negatively in the future and should stop doing what I am doing? She swims currently slightly head down (her feet are ankle-weighted) but she is scared of wanting to look at something below her where she cant get to it horizontal and then ends up stuck feet up.

 

[The Kraken]

I second that if the face is changing color, then the neck seal needs work. I had to trim one ring off of mine (latex).

Mike

That's a FACT!!!!!!
When Mike the Looney Bird first tried on his D/S, it looked as if he was about to blow a "head gasket" . . . . . . .

. . . bad metaphor intended

the K

 

[String]

Problem is, in a dry-suit she cant swim head down she has to be either horizontal or head slightly up (more of a question than a statement).

If thats the problem then either the legs are too long, the boots are too big and/or there is too much air in the suit meaning the person is probably over weighted.

A properly weighted diver with a proper fitting suit shouldnt have issues going head down.