To Pee or Not to Pee

[nagel]

Okay, I have to apologize up front for this one, but being a newby sometimes you have to ask the very basic of questions. Last weekend I went diving on a very rainy cold day. In the middle of each dive, I developed a strong urge to (what's the best way to say this) - urinate. After the dive, I quickly unloaded my gear and struggled to get out of the wet suit while going to the bathrooms. The strange thing is that I seemed to be the only one in the dive party partaking in this ritual. The others seemed to calmly take their gear off and mingle at camp until the next dive.

So, I have to ask. Is it acceptable (normal) to urinate in your wet suit. I have to believe that's what others were doing.

Again, I apologize, but a simple mind wants to know.

S. Nagel

 

[Maule]

in the ocean yes, in the pool no

There are 2 kinds of divers, those that pee in their wetsuits and those that lie about not peeing in their wetsuits.

 

[Packhorse]

Its OK to pee in your wetsuit. Its not OK to pee in someone elses.

if you have a front zip it may help to "flush"

Also its best to pee at the start as opposed to the end of a dive if possible.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

And those who believe it rinses out in the ocean. I worked in a dive shop for eight years and washed a lot of rental suits. It does NOT rinse out. I made 800+ dives in wetsuits without peeing. Try not to drink anything, especially coffee or sodas before diving.
You can read a more detailed article about the "urge" here.
http://diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=165

 

[merxlin]

Okay, I have to apologize up front for this one, but being a newby sometimes you have to ask the very basic of questions. >>>>>> So, I have to ask. Is it acceptable (normal) to urinate in your wet suit. I have to believe that's what others were doing.

Again, I apologize, but a simple mind wants to know.

S. Nagel

Agreed- Ocean yes, lake yes, Pool no, although I have a personal streak now of 47 boat dives without having to use the neoprene outhouse. So I need to add-

rental suit- yes, your own suit - up to you

Just make sure you give yourself enough time to flush it out a bit (you can pull open the neck opening and let water flow through on your swim back to the boat, or during your safety stop) before getting on the boat and taking the suit off. :klo:

 

[TheRedHead]

If it is your wetsuit, there is no harm. It can be quite warm on a cold dive. I always take my wetsuits and rinse them well in the shower after diving because they smell funky otherwise - even if you don't pee in them. Urine is sterile when it comes out of your body. The wetsuit is full of funky bacteria that doesn't come from your body.

 

[Tjack]

If you have to pee and you are diving wet let it rip. Your body has to expend energy to keep to contents of your bladder at body temp so when you hit the cold it is a natural reaction to feel the urge. This is one big advantage to diving in a wetsuit as opposed to drysuit diving.

 

[erparamedic]

Yup.... it's perfectly fine IF you are in the quarry, river, ocean, etc. I would NOT pee in my wetsuit in the pool... it's not polite... (and I've got this irrational fear that someone would be able to tell! LOL).

Anyway.... I'll admit it... I pee in my wetsuit on about every dive! It's a great way to keep warm in cold water! "Flushing" is polite also... especially if you will be taking the wetsuit off on a boat.

The RedHead is right.... urine is sterile when I comes from the body.... UNLESS you have a current UTI or MRSA in your urine (most people don't have to worry about this).

 

[friscuba]

Do make sure you pee in the middle of the dive, not the end of the dive, or you'll be bringing it back with you.

 

[Packhorse]

Try not to drink anything, especially coffee or sodas before diving.

I would give the opposite advise. Drink as much as you can before diving. Its important to keep hydrated.