chrisch
Contributor
PADI Drysuit was the second course I took. To replace the BC at the surface you inflate it just enough to be positive then sit on the base of it and let the arms slide into the side openings. It is not difficult and certainly doesn't require physical strength. It makes you think (a lot) about having only enough weight to neutralise the suit.
For me it is such a long time ago I cannot honestly tell you if it is worthwhile. For me - at the time - it was. However, I have subsequently learned that using the suit for buoyancy is wrong (particularly for a membrane suit) and had to relearn that skill later on. (This will start a fight I am sorry to say). I think some training is a good idea and a formal course is one way to obtain this. I think the course will be as good/bad as the instructor. Some places (I am told) will not rent you a suit if you don't have the idiotic plastic card. But that's scuba - full of made up rules I got the course for free as I bought the suit from the centre that ran the training. I have always owned a drysuit and never needed to rent one.
I don't know whether the course offers good or bad value for money, or worthwhile experience, under the specific circumstances, but I would be concerned that a skill required by a training organisation is seen as a reason not to undertake the training. This suggests that the student thinks they are unable to complete that skill and trying to dodge doing it. Would you make the same "excuse" for not being able to clear a mask?
For me it is such a long time ago I cannot honestly tell you if it is worthwhile. For me - at the time - it was. However, I have subsequently learned that using the suit for buoyancy is wrong (particularly for a membrane suit) and had to relearn that skill later on. (This will start a fight I am sorry to say). I think some training is a good idea and a formal course is one way to obtain this. I think the course will be as good/bad as the instructor. Some places (I am told) will not rent you a suit if you don't have the idiotic plastic card. But that's scuba - full of made up rules I got the course for free as I bought the suit from the centre that ran the training. I have always owned a drysuit and never needed to rent one.
I don't know whether the course offers good or bad value for money, or worthwhile experience, under the specific circumstances, but I would be concerned that a skill required by a training organisation is seen as a reason not to undertake the training. This suggests that the student thinks they are unable to complete that skill and trying to dodge doing it. Would you make the same "excuse" for not being able to clear a mask?