Dry suit dump valve: cuff or shoulder?

[Paddyfrog]

hello everybody,
I am just ordering my first dry suit. to complete the order one last question remains: do i want a cuff or a shoulder dump valve?
The guys from the shop i'm buying it from, here in Ireland, argue that a cuff dump valve is easier to use especially for a beginner to dry suit diving (well i have a few dives under my belt but, its true, i am completely new to dry suit diving)
Friends from the dive shop i used to go to in France strongly advise me to choose the shoulder adjustable dump valve.
I wonder if experienced dry suit divers could help me here please...thanks in advance
Paddyfrog

 

[glbirch]

Hi Paddyfrog, and welcome to the board.

If you use the search feature of the site (keywords 'cuff' and 'shoulder' for example) you'll find a dozen threads discussing the relative merits of cuff vs. shoulder dumps.

 

[IndigoBlue]

Mine is on the shoulder. But I wish it were on the cuff.

 

[Uncle Pug]

I have a couple of suits with upper arm exhaust valves and one suit with a forearm exhaust valve. All are adjustable. The only one I don't like is the DUI low profile Apeks exhaust valve that DUI thought belonged toward the bicep instead of toward the tricep.

Personal favorite is the SiTex adjustable on the forearm. Next in line is the SiTex upper arm locate on the outside of the arm.

 

[String]

Mine was on the shoulder but i hated it and fitted a cuff dump which IMHO cuffs me a lot more control.

 

[mempilot]

I like my shoulder dump for this reason. I can dump air without contorting to get air to the forarm. If I need to dump air while in a confined space, I can do it with no hassle. While coming up the ascent line, my shoulder is always higher than my wrists, the auto dump works perfectly in the horizontal position.

I know others like the cuff, just my two cents.

 

[String]

Opposite to me then. The 90 degree rolling and punching my shoulder to squeeze a trickle of air out i find far more irritating than lifting my forearm 2 inches so its the highest point. In a confined space simply moving my wrist 2" i find far easier than rolls and awkward positions.
Totally horizontal a shoulder dump wont work - The air moves to the back of the shoulder which is the highest point and all dumps ive seen are on the front and therefore bottom of the body.

When ascending again im usually horizontal these days so my shoulder isnt always high.

Personal preference though. Ive dived with both and made my mind up. I dont feel safe with a shoulder dump whereas i do with a cuff.

 

[mempilot]

Opposite to me then. The 90 degree rolling and punching my shoulder to squeeze a trickle of air out i find far more irritating than lifting my forearm 2 inches so its the highest point. In a confined space simply moving my wrist 2" i find far easier than rolls and awkward positions.
Totally horizontal a shoulder dump wont work - The air moves to the back of the shoulder which is the highest point and all dumps ive seen are on the front and therefore bottom of the body.

When ascending again im usually horizontal these days so my shoulder isnt always high.

Personal preference though. Ive dived with both and made my mind up. I dont feel safe with a shoulder dump whereas i do with a cuff.

All air flowing to the cuff has to pass the same space that the shoulder dump occupies. If your wrist is two inches higher than your shoulder and the suit vents more air than contained in the arm, then the shoulder dump will do the same. The only value I've seen in the cuff valve is getting in and out of the harness. Otherwise it blocks the space where a wrist compass, computer/bottom timer, or slate would be positioned. I'm not saying one is right or wrong, just a different opinion.

 

[Bob3]

I'm always poking around & cuff dumps get in the way & irritate the heck out of me, almost as bad as cuff rings.
Your mileage will no doubt vary, if possible try to borrow/rent & see which works the best for you.

 

[String]

Its the convenince for just lifting my arm as opposed to need to roll near 180 degrees in the water and do an odd salute to get a trickle of air out i like. Horizontally due to shoulder dump position although the air has to pass the point where the dump is to get to the cuff its not the issue - the shoulder dump is facing down so no air will be dumped from it. Unless i was face-up horizontal it wouldnt dump from there in that position. At the very least id need to 45 degree roll and go feet down.

Kitting up my cuff dump snags slightly on BC straps but equally so does the shoulder dump (which i havent got around to removing yet) - all dump valves seem to be a pain kitting up.

I have my dump fitted to the inside wrist and dont have problems sticking my hand into holes or under rocks looking for brass. Computer i wear on my right wrist and backup watch on the left wrist above the dump (over the latest seal). I dont wear a slate (its clipped to my BC lower down) but again that will fit if needed as no slate ive seen is a 360 degree cover.

My only real issue with cuff dumps is all seem to leak slightly but its not a major issue.

Im going to try a support bandage on my upper air just in case its the undersuit blocking the shoulder dump although im not convinced it is that. One uncontrolled ascent and dive holding onto rocks is more than enough

Cuff rings really irritate me though - thats why i havent switched to dry gloves. Kitting up and so on would be a total nightmare especially in the Do-it-yourself confines of a 5m RIB with 5 other divers.


Whatever choice of valve though its very easy to change your mind and fit the alternative if needed - very little work is involved in fitting a new or patching up the old one so if not happy its not a huge problem. It took me less than 15 minutes to fit a new valve.

The other choice although i dont like the idea myself is no dump. I dived with someone with such a "system" this week. It works although i couldnt do it due to the way i tuck my gloves in and do them up tightly.