When should you consider getting dry suit?

[PaulB]

I've done some great dives in waters that were in the high to mid 50's. When I did them, I used a 7mm 1 piece wet suit. On a few occasion I got cold to the point of hyp. I still enjoyed the dives but it took a while to get to the point where I was either warm, or too numb to notice the cold.
What I'm wondering is, when do you start to use a dry suit? Is it just personal preference or is there a line drawn somewhere?

 

[Dryglove]

For me a drysuit allows me to dive year round. I dont know what was worse in a wetsuit, freezing my butt off in the water or freezing my butt of on the boat or on shore during my surface interval.

I dive a trilam drysuit and it does add more drag in the water compared to my wetsuit but its well worth it not feeling that cold a$$ water seep down the back of my wetsuit everytime i moved my neck. You can laugh at everyone else during your surface interval as they all strip down and shiver cause they are wet till they dry off and put on a warm overshirt.

I would say you are the perfect candidate for a drysuit. The nice thing is there are some decent entry level drysuits for about the same price as some of the upper priced wetsuits.

 

[PaulB]

I've been seriously considering getting one so that like you, I can dive year round. Here in Florida, there are places where I can go to dive all year long in a wetsuit, but if I wanted to go to the Grotto, I don't want to freeze my shanaynays off.

 

[nickjb]

As soon as possible.

You wont regret it... not once.

Your diving will be more enjoyable and safer.

 

[Stone]

A 7 mil (with hooded vest) in our mid-50s winter water works pretty well; however, a 10 knot wind and 45 degree air temp is really cold in a wetsuit.

I am considering diving dry next winter just to be comfortable on the surface interval.

 

[Wendy]

I don't own a dry suit because I simply can't afford the one I want (or any for that matter). I still dive comfortably here in Florida year round wearing my wetsuit. Even in the caves I can do 2 hours of diving before I start to get a chill.

Take your time, if you want to buy one, get it, but its not going to be the end of diving if you don't get one right away. A good idea would be to go to one of the DUI diving demo days next time they are in Florida. Usually they show up at Manatee springs and let you try out the drysuits and answer questions, etc. I'll keep you posted to when the next one is.

 

[Diversauras]

Afford it that is. Dry diving, besides being much more comfortable when the air and water cool off, also gives you some reserve warmth that can help keep an minor problem from becoming a real emergency. You think better when your teeth aren't chattering.

 

[PaulB]

I'll keep you posted to when the next one is.

Thanks hun

 

[Wendy]

DUI has the schedule up for their Demo Days. Its only $5! I think that this has been posted before, but I wanted to post it again.

Paul maybe we can go to the one in November together.

http://www.dui-online.com/newsite/dog_events_03.htm

 

[PaulB]

I'd love to Wendy. I look forward to it!