Dry suit diving - help

Bonnet Ray · Jun 29, 2003

I have just got back from my dry suit refresher. It was great to be back in the water, even if it was just a swimming pool (has it only been 3 months!). However I was totally confused by the instructions given to use my suit as the bouyancy aid. I thought this was old hat now and it was best to use your bcd.

I found it very difficult to get my bouyancy right with my suit, although I was over weighted to start with and that didn't help. I am going next week to try again, as the following week i start my rescue diver and don't feel at all ready after my performance tonight. I want to be happy with my diving so I can concentrate on doing my best during the course.

Would it be better to use my bcd rather than my dry suit? HELP

O-ring · Jun 29, 2003

...use the BCD and not the suit for buoyancy..

Dryglove · Jun 29, 2003

Bonnet Ray once bubbled...
Would it be better to use my bcd rather than my dry suit? HELP

IMO yes it is better to use your bc. Read this http://www.baue.org/faq/dynamic_instability.html

Bonnet Ray · Jun 29, 2003

Thanks guys. I guess this 'new thinking' hasn't reached staffordshire yet!!

Northeastwrecks · Jun 29, 2003

No question. Use the wing for buoyancy. Keep just enough gas to take the worst of the squeeze off. Set your dump so that it will vent easily.

Have fun.

diverbrian · Jun 29, 2003

You spent good money for a BC

, that is what it is there for. Granted if you inflate the suit to keep the squeeze off, it may keep you from adding gas to your bc quite so much. Still, you should be relying on your BC for Buoyancy Control. Just my opinion!

Bonnet Ray · Jun 30, 2003

Well I shall try again next Sunday, using my bcd. Thanks for all the postive responses.

Phoenix · Jun 30, 2003

We were told to primarily use our suit for bouyancy on our pool sessions, but we were told this was only to get us comfortable with the inflation and auto dump process and what positions were needed to be in for adequate dumping etc

we were told however this was not what to do in practice, the non MTM club drysuits are hard enough to manouver in anyway let alone when they are acting as giant underwater baloons!

good luck with it

Phish-phood · Jun 30, 2003

Actually I much prefer to use my drysuit for bouyancy while diving. I find I can place myself much better in the water and can move around much more easily than when I use my BC and I can hit that neutral bouyancy a lot better and with effort than with my BC.

I have just come back from a weeks diving and can honestly say the only time I used my BC was for bouyancy on the surface.

Phoenix · Jun 30, 2003

im a bit more half and half
i use a tad more air than just to eliminate the squeeze, but i still use my bc, it all depends on how comfortable your drysuit is and the ease of movement you have when its inflated

Dry suit diving - help

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