PADI Dry Suit Class

[D_B]

Yes, DUI warm collar, and yes we were told that wrist seal works too.

All my training is with the same instructor, up to Rescue and DAN O2 .. he knows me
(Gee, look at all those cert's ... I'm a card collector

What I mean is that the pressure change is much greater going up from 8ft than going up the same 8ft from 80ft, thereby exaggerating any mishandling of air in suit .. still, I understand you wouldn't take just the average Joe Blow there.

No weight checks, In pool I wore 6 lbs more than I use for a 7mm suit in the ocean, as instructed (way heavy) ... For the drysuit ocean dive, I added 2 lbs more to that, as instructed (heavy)
... the weight checks can and will be done on future dives, and I suspect that maybe 18, 19lbs will be good for the ocean

I've dived many times at La Jolla (mostly training) and that surface swim is a long (long) one, and that's just to get to 20ft

Thanks for the offer, I have plans though .. maybe some other time

 

[Bubbletrubble]

No weight checks, In pool I wore 6 lbs more than I use for a 7mm suit in the ocean, as instructed (way heavy) ... For the drysuit ocean dive, I added 2 lbs more to that, as instructed (heavy)
... the weight checks can and will be done on future dives, and I suspect that maybe 18, 19lbs will be good for the ocean

You'll find that there can be substantial weighting differences with various undergarments.

I've dived many times at La Jolla (mostly training) and that surface swim is a long (long) one, and that's just to get to 20ft

You're going to be one of those guys that only does local boat dives, aren't you?
By "many times," you must mean 10...maybe 20 times, eh? There really is some cool stuff to see out there...you just have to know how to look for it.

Thanks for the offer, I have plans though .. maybe some other time

OK. Some other time.

 

[D_B]

Yes, what's surprising to me is how little I suspect that's going to be for most dives

Boat diver .. now thats funny right there .. I have a friend and used to call her a "wimpy drysuit boat diver" and She would respond "this coming from a wimpy, wet, sand incrusted shore diver" :laughing:

Yes, I'd love to see more than sand and part of the canyon edge, for a change

 

[ShakaZulu]

PM me your instructor info please....my DS instruction leaves a lot to be desired. I only now realize the oopsies that can happen if that inflator gets stuck ON. I've had that happen on my BC. By the time I figured out what happened, I was at the surface.....(insert eyes popping out smiley here)

 

[NudeDiver]

My instructor told me that if my inflater on the drysuit sticks and I have a runaway ascent, to immediately open the drysuit zipper so the drysuit doesn't fill up full of air and take me to the surface.

 

[NudeDiver]

Just kidding

 

[String]

Undersuits can make a massive difference to weighting requirement. And even something simple like adding a thin base layer can have a surprising effect so really the weight check needs to be done with every combination you're likely to use.

For example my SubXero requires 3.5kg (7.7lbs) more lead to sink than my Weezle Extreme with nothing else changed.

As for dumping from the seals i wonder how many people can realistically do that these days? I certainly cant with dry gloves on and my hood snugly fitting over my neck seal to keep me warm.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Yes, I'd love to see more than sand and part of the canyon edge, for a change

@D_B: Let me know when you want a tour of the Main Wall.

PM me your instructor info please....my DS instruction leaves a lot to be desired. I only now realize the oopsies that can happen if that inflator gets stuck ON. I've had that happen on my BC. By the time I figured out what happened, I was at the surface.....(insert eyes popping out smiley here)

@ShakaZulu: D_B already named his drysuit instructor in the original post. The instructor's name is Ian Martin. He works at OE.

 

[D_B]

Bubble ...
1 ... I believe that he does two, but at the very least, enough pool sessions that you can repeatedly do the hose disconnect/neck seal pull/hose reconnect/return hovering without reaching the surface (starting from about 8 ft deep)

I've found out that 3 pool sessions is standard with him

2 ... I believe it's not his standard practice to take any newbie divers to the Yukon, for any reason ... I think he took me because .. he is confident in my skills, as demonstrated .. in the pool, and on my previous dives with him, and my training, all of which has been with Ian .. plus, I have dived the Yukon twice before.

In adition to all of the above, he only trains students with at least AOW

 

[rongoodman]

I'm still struggling with my dry suit, so I think the thing for me to do is to start over. My (semi)local GUE instructor is listed as an instructor for their new drysuit class, so I think I'll watch for a class at Scuba Shack. I see in the materials I downloaded that GUE teaches using the wing for primary buoyancy control from the start.