wet and dry suits?

[Lord Northern]

Hello.
So, another newb question I had:
It looks like dry and wet suits are mentioned too often. What's the difference between them?

[The Kraken]

Wet suits allow a bit of water to enter the suit. The suit is designed to minimize the amount of water transfer in the suit through the wrists, ankles and neck. The neoprene is the insulating mechanism. As the diver descends, the wet suit will lose some of its inherent buoyancy capability because of the compression of the material by the water. Wet suits, in comparison to dry suits, are relatively inexpensive - anywhere from $50 to $450 or so.

A dry suit incorporates attached boots of some sort. There are seals at the neck and wrists to prevent entry of water into the suit. A waterproof zipper allows the diver to don and doff the garment. Insulation is provided through the use of different types and layers of undergarments. The diver stays dry, with the exception of the moisture generated by the divers own perspiration (given that the neck and wrist seals aren't leaking!!!).

Some dry suits are made of thick neoprene which adds to the insulating capabilities of the dry suit. Others are made of laminated materials, while being very flexible, offer very little, if any, insulation.

Dry suits are also attached to a gas supply that adds internal gas into the suit to prevent "squeeze". The material of the suit collapses about the divers body as s/he descends. This squeeze can become problematic if not negated through the induction of gas, be it air from the divers tank or from an alternate supply, such as argon which some d/s divers use.

Dry suits have valves that allow for the addition and venting of the internal gas as its volume decreases or increases as the diver descends or ascends.

Dry suits are, in comparison to wet suits, pretty expensive. The price for a dry suit will start somewhere around $500 and get up to the $3500 range, if not more.

Most people, but don't quote me on this, will move from a wet suit to a dry suit when the water temperatures in which they dive drop below 50 degrees F or so.

the K

[spectrum]

I so like the words of The Kraken that I shall take them as my own. Great answer!

Hey it works in Congress!

Pete

[Lord Northern]

Hehe, ok. It kind of scared me, the prices on dry suit so I was wonedering if they're any important.

Thanks.

[The Kraken]

When the water gets COLD !!!! Ooooohhhhh you beccha !!!

Even though I live in the deep south of the United States, even in the summer time some of our dives at our local mud hole can get down into the mid 40's F.

I like warm.

the K

[DivingCRNA]

When the water gets COLD !!!! Ooooohhhhh you beccha !!!

Even though I live in the deep south of the United States, even in the summer time some of our dives at our local mud hole can get down into the mid 40's F.

I like warm.

the K

AND.... even though the drysuit gets hot on the surface when donningin warm weather, like a 7 mm wetsuit, it is so much easier to get the drysuit on that it is a more pleasant experience in warm weather. One is not on the surface struggling with the neoprene.

Also-in cool weather it is nice to leave the water and not need a towel, except for hair. The drysuit is also MUCH warmer on surface intervals in cool weather than a wetsuit is.

[Lord Northern]

But, don't you feel weird in dry suit? Isn't getting wet and feeling the water part of the fun? I might be wrong here, though.

[The Kraken]

Personally, I don't particularly think the feel of 42 degree water on my skin is part of the fun of diving.

Hypothermia is an insidious enemy and can sneak up on you very quickly.

I've made 60+ minute dives in those 42 degree temps with no discomfort in my dry suit.

Do I feel "weird"? No, I feel warm!

It matters not how others may perceive me in my dive rig. What matters is the safety of my dive, and thermal comfort is a very important part of a diver's safety.

A cold diver has difficulty concentrating on tasks at hand. Couple cold with a potentially dangerous situation and the diver has increased, exponentially, his probability of making a poor judgement call.

Stay warm.

Safe dives . . . . . .
. . . safer ascents !

the K-old Water Hater

[Lord Northern]

hehe, I see.
Well, I'll just count on the Israeli hot weather, then

[spectrum]

But, don't you feel weird in dry suit? Isn't getting wet and feeling the water part of the fun? I might be wrong here, though.

I would say I and most divers feel weirder the first time they are out in public in a wetsuit. It grows on you.

Getting wet is part of the fun for me but when drysuit season comes it's a wonderful trade-off. To be able to makes repetetive full length dives without undue thermal risks at times when wetsuited divers are limited or out of the sport entirely is nice.



Pete