First Shore (Cold Water) Dive tips?

[Litefoot]

Meeting up with other divers from a shop in SLC to dive Flaming Gorge. They're bringing out two tanks for me and I'll be diving a 5 mil wetsuit over a 5/3 hooded vest. I'm guessing there will be a rocky 100 meter plus hike to the entry pont. Any tips on donning/doffing the wetsuit/gear without getting sand in everything. Transporting tanks/gear to the entry point. Should I suit up before the hike? Never done it before. Only other wetsuit experience is boat diving a 3 mil shorty in FL.

The 5/3 hooded vest really squeezes my head and face. Will that squeeze get better in the water...or worse?

 

[happy-diver]

This sand in everything thing
Do you don like a schnitzel slathered in egg dragged through breadcrumbs or rolled

Opinion - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Cthippo]

I prefer to suit up at the car. I put on everything but mask, fins and gloves for the hike in.

Put a large ball or something in the hood and start stretching it now. A really tight hood will impinge on your throat and make breathing very difficult. I would try hard to dive the gear before people are waiting for you, if possible.

 

[MB NZ]

I hate sand with a passion. Depending on air temperature and driving distances, I might suit up at home. Otherwise, a changing mat of some kind can be useful.

 

[Doc]

All these years… they don’t teach the use of these in Frogman School no more?

Have a seat.

Buy a hand-truck dolly for your lead collection!

 

[James79]

Rather than a tarp, I have a small (6x8?) Moving blanket from harbor freight that I use as a gearing up mat as needed.

 

[Litefoot]

I prefer to suit up at the car. I put on everything but mask, fins and gloves for the hike in.

Put a large ball or something in the hood and start stretching it now. A really tight hood will impinge on your throat and make breathing very difficult. I would try hard to dive the gear before people are waiting for you, if possible.

Thanks for the ball tip. Got a basketball in there to stretch it a bit. Yes, I’m a fathead.

 

[Cthippo]

Rather than a tarp, I have a small (6x8?) Moving blanket from harbor freight that I use as a gearing up mat as needed.

I use the lid off a Rubbermaid tote. About 2x3 feet of rigid plastic keeps my feet away from pokey things while changing.

The closest I came to failing my OW was the first OW dive which was also the first time wearing my 7mm and hood. The set me up "properly" with the hood tucked into the wetsuit, but it pressed on my neck so hard I felt like I was asphyxiating. I got out of the water PDQ and pulled the hood out of the wetsuit and got through. The hood stayed on a large form for 6 months after that and is now pretty comfortable.