P-Valves for women - advice please
- Thread starter FebePoet
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I'd be really suspicious of any device that doesn't depend on a solid seal. Diving is an active thing -- you are constantly moving, and your clothing and exposure protection is moving, too. I can't imagine any way that device could be made reliable on a moving body, without making it so tight it would be very uncomfortable. But then again, I haven't tried it and don't know anyone who has. It would be very interesting to hear a review. In the meantime, I'll stick with my She-P. (Literally.)
OPINION FROM A MALE
Although a better seal for women is harder to achieve, I believe that the principals are the same. Watertight against back-pressure.
The OP is asking about the difference between the 2 so it is obvious that a diaper is not a wanted option. That may come with an increased risk of UTI anyway.
I personally dive with a p-valve and use the Halcyon system. I dive with guys that use other systems and catheters. Here is what we find:
*Adhesive is the way to go. No one likes to glue something to a sensitive area then have to pull it off but simply put, there is no other option that works as well.
*Many guys that use other types of catheters without adhesive have frequent failure. This happened yesterday to a dive buddy who was trying a different brand and style of catheter without adhesive. His boots were full of urine at the end of the dive. He thought he had a drysuit leak.
*I can't see how a soft flexible seal will work as well as the adhesive of a the She-Pee. Sometimes you feel some back-pressure for whatever reason and the adhesive for men seems to hold well.
*We have to manscape, you have to landscape in order to make it work right but it is certainly worth it.
*Having the ability to properly hydrate and always feel comfortable in the water is invaluable when drysuit diving and I think safer since there is less stress and preoccupation with your urge to pee.
I think you are doing the right thing by asking around to those who use both systems in question and getting direct opinions. Good luck.
Although a better seal for women is harder to achieve, I believe that the principals are the same. Watertight against back-pressure.
The OP is asking about the difference between the 2 so it is obvious that a diaper is not a wanted option. That may come with an increased risk of UTI anyway.
I personally dive with a p-valve and use the Halcyon system. I dive with guys that use other systems and catheters. Here is what we find:
*Adhesive is the way to go. No one likes to glue something to a sensitive area then have to pull it off but simply put, there is no other option that works as well.
*Many guys that use other types of catheters without adhesive have frequent failure. This happened yesterday to a dive buddy who was trying a different brand and style of catheter without adhesive. His boots were full of urine at the end of the dive. He thought he had a drysuit leak.
*I can't see how a soft flexible seal will work as well as the adhesive of a the She-Pee. Sometimes you feel some back-pressure for whatever reason and the adhesive for men seems to hold well.
*We have to manscape, you have to landscape in order to make it work right but it is certainly worth it.
*Having the ability to properly hydrate and always feel comfortable in the water is invaluable when drysuit diving and I think safer since there is less stress and preoccupation with your urge to pee.
I think you are doing the right thing by asking around to those who use both systems in question and getting direct opinions. Good luck.
FebePoet- My only experience is with the She-P so will not comment on the She-Wee. The two threads Marci linked earlier in this thread helped me tremendously along with the many PMs I received filled with advice from the generous SB's She-P pioneers.
My current dives are not long but I will eventually get into deco dives so wanted to start now because of my dive locales. Some of the Florida cave sites I dive are rather "rustic" and have no indoor toilet facilities. Removing a drysuit to squat and pee in the woods is not an option when it's pouring rain. Removing a drysuit in an enclosed Porta-Pottie to squat has my drysuit and me touching areas of the Porta-Pottie I'd rather it and I not touch.
On a boat, undressing in the marine head to pee can be dangerous when rough sea conditions causes the boat to pitch like a mechanical bull ride. The She-P and P-valve solves all those issues and allows me to stay hydrated throughout the day.
There is a learning curve but that is true for any piece of scuba gear. At first, I found the shaving and the gluing inconvenient but have gotten better and faster each time. I've glued my butt cheeks together on two separate occasions during the learning curve period :blush: and had my first leak two weeks ago. Luckily I had a Poise pad so did not soil my wicking layer or drysuit undergarment.
The She-P and P-Valve are the best pieces of scuba gear I've purchased since my drysuit and can light. I envy the dudes who get to pee standing up 24/7.
The She-P community on SB has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. Please don't hesitate to PM me if you have a question you're not comfortable posting online.
My current dives are not long but I will eventually get into deco dives so wanted to start now because of my dive locales. Some of the Florida cave sites I dive are rather "rustic" and have no indoor toilet facilities. Removing a drysuit to squat and pee in the woods is not an option when it's pouring rain. Removing a drysuit in an enclosed Porta-Pottie to squat has my drysuit and me touching areas of the Porta-Pottie I'd rather it and I not touch.
On a boat, undressing in the marine head to pee can be dangerous when rough sea conditions causes the boat to pitch like a mechanical bull ride. The She-P and P-valve solves all those issues and allows me to stay hydrated throughout the day.
There is a learning curve but that is true for any piece of scuba gear. At first, I found the shaving and the gluing inconvenient but have gotten better and faster each time. I've glued my butt cheeks together on two separate occasions during the learning curve period :blush: and had my first leak two weeks ago. Luckily I had a Poise pad so did not soil my wicking layer or drysuit undergarment.
The She-P and P-Valve are the best pieces of scuba gear I've purchased since my drysuit and can light. I envy the dudes who get to pee standing up 24/7.
The She-P community on SB has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. Please don't hesitate to PM me if you have a question you're not comfortable posting online.
FebePoet- My only experience is with the She-P so will not comment on the She-Wee. The two threads Marci linked earlier in this thread helped me tremendously along with the many PMs I received filled with advice from the generous SB's She-P pioneers.
My current dives are not long but I will eventually get into deco dives so wanted to start now because of my dive locales. Some of the Florida cave sites I dive are rather "rustic" and have no indoor toilet facilities. Removing a drysuit to squat and pee in the woods is not an option when it's pouring rain. Removing a drysuit in an enclosed Porta-Pottie to squat has my drysuit and me touching areas of the Porta-Pottie I'd rather it and I not touch.
On a boat, undressing in the marine head to pee can be dangerous when rough sea conditions causes the boat to pitch like a mechanical bull ride. The She-P and P-valve solves all those issues and allows me to stay hydrated throughout the day.
There is a learning curve but that is true for any piece of scuba gear. At first, I found the shaving and the gluing inconvenient but have gotten better and faster each time. I've glued my butt cheeks together on two separate occasions during the learning curve period :blush: and had my first leak two weeks ago. Luckily I had a Poise pad so did not soil my wicking layer or drysuit undergarment.
The She-P and P-Valve are the best pieces of scuba gear I've purchased since my drysuit and can light. I envy the dudes who get to pee standing up 24/7.
The She-P community on SB has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. Please don't hesitate to PM me if you have a question you're not comfortable posting online.
ScubaSam,
Thank you for that. It all seems to make sense and I will act on this. I am just trying to pace myself with new gear, not adding too many variables at once. I wholeheartedly agree about yucky 'porta-potties' and other unpleasant locations to relieve the pressure!!
Once I get the glue out, if I have any questions I will definitely post or PM. Thank you for the offer.
Febe
I also have the She-P. I would say I have about 85% success rate with it. Most of the time it works like a charm & once in a while, I'll not get something right (have yet to put my finger on it) & it will leak. I usually also use a Poise urinary pad, so that helps keep the mess of a leak minimal. The only real problem (besides the occaisional leak) I have is I can only wear the She-P for about 3 days straight (sometimes I will do cave diving trips for 7- 10 days), before giving it a rest for a day or 2, as my skin in that area starts to get very irritated. Afterwards I can wear it again for another 2- 3 days. I will say it is a godsend for those days when I'm teaching & in my drysuit pretty much all day.
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