ArcticDiver
Contributor
Been thinking about It. Been planning It. Tried to do It. last November but we couldn't get our dates together. Then a disease got in the way and we decided to postpone It.
Finally we got together in Anchorage, 370 miles south of here, last Friday and then drove to beautiful, metropolitan Whittier on Saturday to finally consumate the long anticipated plans.
Air temperature was just below freezing. Water temp varied from +34 shallow to +37 at 70'. But the new Diving Concepts Dry Suit worked just fine. Got in the water. Stood on my head. Moved the air bubble back where it belonged. Went up and down. Then down and up. Disconnected hose. Reconnected hose. Manually purged. Automatically purged.
Oh yes, had to relearn how to put on and take off fins while standing. These were my first shore dives since original certification.
Went back in the water for a second dive. Sure was nicer than my semi-dry/wet suit. But a LOT more expensive. But I'd never dive these temps in that suit.
Then back to Anchorage and the motel for the night.
Next morning met Snowbear. She had just met up with another diver, Mark and his Dad. We all went to Whittier. More good diving and getting a handle on the different but the same things. Don't tell PADI, but I tried using the BC for buoyancy and using the DS just to keep warm. Blame it on Snowbear. I had already been planning on trying it but had been resisting the temptation. After all BC for buoyancy and DS for warmth seemed to make sense to me. But I was pushed over the edge when she suggested I give using the BC for buoyancy and my dry suit for warmth. So, it is all her fault
Oh yes, that is the way I'll do it from now on. That way I'm doing things the same way whether in a wet suit or a dry suit. Keeps the thought pattern straight when things get busy. (Disclaimer: Yes I know the DS has buoyancy. Yes, it was in the water and should only be attempted by....you know the blurb)
So, all in all a great weekend. A much smaller bank account. But a much larger range of dives that are now possible. And I have another card to keep track of.
Finally we got together in Anchorage, 370 miles south of here, last Friday and then drove to beautiful, metropolitan Whittier on Saturday to finally consumate the long anticipated plans.
Air temperature was just below freezing. Water temp varied from +34 shallow to +37 at 70'. But the new Diving Concepts Dry Suit worked just fine. Got in the water. Stood on my head. Moved the air bubble back where it belonged. Went up and down. Then down and up. Disconnected hose. Reconnected hose. Manually purged. Automatically purged.
Oh yes, had to relearn how to put on and take off fins while standing. These were my first shore dives since original certification.
Went back in the water for a second dive. Sure was nicer than my semi-dry/wet suit. But a LOT more expensive. But I'd never dive these temps in that suit.
Then back to Anchorage and the motel for the night.
Next morning met Snowbear. She had just met up with another diver, Mark and his Dad. We all went to Whittier. More good diving and getting a handle on the different but the same things. Don't tell PADI, but I tried using the BC for buoyancy and using the DS just to keep warm. Blame it on Snowbear. I had already been planning on trying it but had been resisting the temptation. After all BC for buoyancy and DS for warmth seemed to make sense to me. But I was pushed over the edge when she suggested I give using the BC for buoyancy and my dry suit for warmth. So, it is all her fault
Oh yes, that is the way I'll do it from now on. That way I'm doing things the same way whether in a wet suit or a dry suit. Keeps the thought pattern straight when things get busy. (Disclaimer: Yes I know the DS has buoyancy. Yes, it was in the water and should only be attempted by....you know the blurb)
So, all in all a great weekend. A much smaller bank account. But a much larger range of dives that are now possible. And I have another card to keep track of.
