It was almost 6 months in the making but last week on my 61st birthday Eric and I finally had our first opportunity to dive our Aqualung Fusion drysuits. Eric took to it immediately but me, not so much. I use the excuse that I was underweighted but truth was I looked like it was my first ever dive. Flipping, twisting and flapping my arms like a bird in flight. Pretty if you are a bird but not as a diver.
Suiting up actually went rather well. We had already changed some seals and trimmed others so they felt about right. We had also watched the video for donning the Fusions and did several dry runs at home. Despite our thermal gear (a hodge podge of things we already owned), getting into that 53 degree water was a shock, especially when my face hit the water. Cold too where I felt water around my neck but it was just getting under my hood not my seal. I don’t remember this happening my one week diving dry several years ago.
My only prior drysuit experience was in a crushed neoprene suit diving sidemount. That week I fell in love with diving dry and felt very comfortable in the water. This week in the Fusion couldn’t have been more different. I fought the suit and the air bubble constantly. I truly was underweighted (we need to buy more lead) but I doubt that was the only source for my problems. And I probably need new fins. I was using my Mares. Is there a fin somewhere between my light Mares and the very heavy traditional drysuit fins? I don’t need a large foot pocket.
Next dive I hope to add at least 4 pounds and move the camband weights to the bottom band. Maybe try a pound of lead on each ankle. More thermal layers too since I was pretty chilled the entire dive and I know this means even more lead. I really don’t want to wrap my legs/use some form of gaiter. Call me vain but I would like to think I can do this with skill alone. But yes, I will take some ace wraps just in case then if needed diy a pair of gaiters.
Good thing I have 8 more months to learn how to dive this thing before my California trip. I hope to meet up with some SBers then and really hope to not make a complete fool of myself.
Suiting up actually went rather well. We had already changed some seals and trimmed others so they felt about right. We had also watched the video for donning the Fusions and did several dry runs at home. Despite our thermal gear (a hodge podge of things we already owned), getting into that 53 degree water was a shock, especially when my face hit the water. Cold too where I felt water around my neck but it was just getting under my hood not my seal. I don’t remember this happening my one week diving dry several years ago.
My only prior drysuit experience was in a crushed neoprene suit diving sidemount. That week I fell in love with diving dry and felt very comfortable in the water. This week in the Fusion couldn’t have been more different. I fought the suit and the air bubble constantly. I truly was underweighted (we need to buy more lead) but I doubt that was the only source for my problems. And I probably need new fins. I was using my Mares. Is there a fin somewhere between my light Mares and the very heavy traditional drysuit fins? I don’t need a large foot pocket.
Next dive I hope to add at least 4 pounds and move the camband weights to the bottom band. Maybe try a pound of lead on each ankle. More thermal layers too since I was pretty chilled the entire dive and I know this means even more lead. I really don’t want to wrap my legs/use some form of gaiter. Call me vain but I would like to think I can do this with skill alone. But yes, I will take some ace wraps just in case then if needed diy a pair of gaiters.
Good thing I have 8 more months to learn how to dive this thing before my California trip. I hope to meet up with some SBers then and really hope to not make a complete fool of myself.