This, too, may sound stupid...

[Paddles]

but I'm diving with my son in Monterey this weekend and his dad wants to join us (that's not the stupid part...wait maybe it is )

Anyway, "Dad" is a die-hard warm water diver...been in Jakarta and Manila for the last 9 years and wants to dry dive with us...

Question: He wants to know if one needs to have a special class or cert for dry diving...or does one just buy a suit and ???

I don't know and thought the quickest response would be to post the question here...

If I've missed a post already addressing this, sorry...I'll search again!

Paddles

 

[MechDiver]

Question: He wants to know if one needs to have a special class or cert for dry diving...or does one just buy a suit and ???

I don't know and thought the quickest response would be to post the question here...

If I've missed a post already addressing this, sorry...I'll search again!

Paddles

He doesn't need a "cert", but will not be able to rent a suit from anywhere without some sort of experience. He could buy a suit outright and dive it, but that would be less than smart, and some shops may not sell it.

Either way, he should get some experience with a knowledgable person before attempting dives on his own.

MD

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

A drysuit orientation is highly recommended ... most shops will require it as a minimum requirement before renting a dry suit ... and some shops will provide one as part of the rental package.

Even if he can manage to find a drysuit rental without one, I would not recommend diving in the open water without it. Without even that minimal amount of training, it's not likely he'll know what to do if he gets into a buoyant ascent situation ... especially if it's a "boots up" ascent. I would not take that kind of risk.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Paddles]

Thanks for the info...

Sent your comments to him and his return email stated he has used a (rented) dry suit in other parts of the world...he just didn't know what US rules were...

I'm curious about something here...is dry diving different in warm water as opposed to cold water?

 

[louisianadiver]

Thanks for the info...

Sent your comments to him and his return email stated he has used a (rented) dry suit in other parts of the world...he just didn't know what US rules were...

I'm curious about something here...is dry diving different in warm water as opposed to cold water?

Dry diving in warm water usually involves a shell with minimal undergarments. The addition of warm undergarments will certainly affect buoyancy (he'll need significantly more lead), which could complicate buoyand ascents if he's not very familiar with dry suit diving.

 

[Paddles]

God I just love this board...I learn something new everytime I'm here!

Thank you!

 

[miketsp]

I'm curious about something here...is dry diving different in warm water as opposed to cold water?

Depends what you call warm..
Warm in the tropics is 29+C / 85+F. You'd only use a dry suit if you were in training for a sauna. :redhot:

 

[Paddles]

Hit "submit" too soon...

Just wanted to thank you for your input and for answering my questions, which may seem elementary to some, without making me feel silly for not knowing stuff...

I'm a newbie and am sucking up all the knowledge I can thanks to this board!

Paddles

 

[Paddles]

Depends what you call warm..
Warm in the tropics is 29+C / 85+F. You'd only use a dry suit if you were in training for a sauna. :redhot:

Interesting you said that...I was thinking the same...If all his diving has been in warm water, where the hell did he get his dry suit experience...

Actually, now that I think about it, I don't think I want to know...after all, he is my ex! :11: ahhhh!

 

[pipedope]

I have used a dry suit in very warm water, with a shell over top of it and cold water pumped into the shell to keep me cool.

The dry suit was needed for protection as it was a contaminated water dive.