Latitude 59
Contributor
They say use LDS....Signed up 2 years ago for Drysuit class, drove 4 hours to LDS, get there and instructor sick but they neglected to notify me (out cost of 2 hotel nights). OK, tried again this weekend, signed up for class, had confirmed in writing in advance proper size drysuit, undergarments, yes, they had drygloves, etc etc. Got a call 5 minutes before driving 4 hours again class was cancelled as they had "lost the pool". (How you lose pool time when about 10 in area you can use is beyond me). I had already paid hotel online again and informed them of this. They said "Oh, well....call so and so, or so and so instructors and see if they can do it". I told them it would be better if THEY called their instructors, figured it out and then let me know. Get a call back 15 minutes later, yup, class is on again.
Arrived at shop to grab tanks, try on gear and they "didn't have gear" I had requested and reserved in writing in advance. Some newbie instructor handed me a 3mm hood and 3mm wet gloves for diving 35-40 degree water. I informed him Alaska is not the same as Hawaii but he missed connotation. Wrong size undergarment. Had to "ask" for weights. Red flags going off all over the place but trying to stay congenial and not bite someone. Neck seal strangulating, they didn't want to trim neck seal. I finally got them to try (took off a trillionith of a nanometer), still tight but thought I had better jump in the pool and try it out before pushing issue.
Met "my" instructor at pool (different guy), no class stuff first which I thought was weird, although I know not much to it. Threw on gear, jumped in and still felt strangulated, like a boa was closing in fast. Told this instructor seal too tight but never offered to resize. Did all the skills stuff no problem but got sick, face red as a beet, felt like I strangling even though reg breathing fine. Jumped out of suit before I passed out. So much for that.
Told this instructor I had reserved equipment and it was not provided, had requested dry gloves, told him about hood. Weight belt they had provided did not fit (no harness available). Also about them telling me day before pool wasn't available and then 15 minutes later it was. He said that I had been given a line of BS because they had pool all the time as he also had an OW class in shallow end (At the same time of his drysuit class in the deep end). Hmmm...anyone getting a drift here. He also said he knew shop had right size undergarment and didn't know why it wasn't provided to me. (Now I am really getting ticked).
I stripped out of my gear, said I would not be risking my life doing open water dives with ill fitting gerry rigged gear with neck seal that didn't fit properly. It was so tight I was close to throwing up. I know they didn't want to trim it as then "might" not fit next rental customer. Was thinking of buying full drysuit package if I liked gear. Going to have little "chat" with dive shop owner as someone with less experience is going to get killed going along with this ------!
Heading down to Florida later and will go talk to some cave divers who know all about drysuits and can hopefully help me get me drysuit certified without trying to give me a line of BS and kill me off with ill fitting gear. Third time the charm hopefully. There are no DUI dog days or other drysuit try out days here, unfortunately.
Don't even talk to me about using LDS......Cost me a whole bunch of money and nothing to show for it!
Arrived at shop to grab tanks, try on gear and they "didn't have gear" I had requested and reserved in writing in advance. Some newbie instructor handed me a 3mm hood and 3mm wet gloves for diving 35-40 degree water. I informed him Alaska is not the same as Hawaii but he missed connotation. Wrong size undergarment. Had to "ask" for weights. Red flags going off all over the place but trying to stay congenial and not bite someone. Neck seal strangulating, they didn't want to trim neck seal. I finally got them to try (took off a trillionith of a nanometer), still tight but thought I had better jump in the pool and try it out before pushing issue.
Met "my" instructor at pool (different guy), no class stuff first which I thought was weird, although I know not much to it. Threw on gear, jumped in and still felt strangulated, like a boa was closing in fast. Told this instructor seal too tight but never offered to resize. Did all the skills stuff no problem but got sick, face red as a beet, felt like I strangling even though reg breathing fine. Jumped out of suit before I passed out. So much for that.
Told this instructor I had reserved equipment and it was not provided, had requested dry gloves, told him about hood. Weight belt they had provided did not fit (no harness available). Also about them telling me day before pool wasn't available and then 15 minutes later it was. He said that I had been given a line of BS because they had pool all the time as he also had an OW class in shallow end (At the same time of his drysuit class in the deep end). Hmmm...anyone getting a drift here. He also said he knew shop had right size undergarment and didn't know why it wasn't provided to me. (Now I am really getting ticked).
I stripped out of my gear, said I would not be risking my life doing open water dives with ill fitting gerry rigged gear with neck seal that didn't fit properly. It was so tight I was close to throwing up. I know they didn't want to trim it as then "might" not fit next rental customer. Was thinking of buying full drysuit package if I liked gear. Going to have little "chat" with dive shop owner as someone with less experience is going to get killed going along with this ------!
Heading down to Florida later and will go talk to some cave divers who know all about drysuits and can hopefully help me get me drysuit certified without trying to give me a line of BS and kill me off with ill fitting gear. Third time the charm hopefully. There are no DUI dog days or other drysuit try out days here, unfortunately.
Don't even talk to me about using LDS......Cost me a whole bunch of money and nothing to show for it!
