I recently purchased a 6.5mm neoprene dry suit (not compressed/crushed neo). I need over 30 lbs of weight on average (as I expected when I purchased the suit). I also purchased a new backplate, harness and STA. I have not been able to buy a wing yet. Is it ok to do recreational dives with the dry suit and harness without the wings (using the suit for BC)? I have lots of weights in individual pockets that I can drop in the event the suit floods. I plan on getting wings in the future when I can find the cash. I was told that it used to be acceptable to dive a neoprene drysuit with only a backpack/harness at one time. I am looking for the reality of diving this configuration (I have already read the PADI lawyers CYA policy stated in the course book). Thanks for your opinions.
A question about using A BP/wo wings on a drysuit
- Thread starter wmspdi
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scubahorse
Guest
Sea Quest, SCUBAPRO, ZEAGLE, Qceanic, ... everyone makes drysuit but they don't make backplate. neoprene and a back inflation BC is not as good as a bp/w but still good combo. I used my ranger and a trilam drysuit before, alot of fun dives.
mossym
Contributor
scubahorse:
did you even read his question?
ClevelandDiver
Contributor
wmspdi:
The main concern is if you have an inflator hose/valve problem or a suit tear when you are diving deep and the neoprene is compressed to the point of losing it bouyancy. In theory it could make the ascent very difficult. 1) ditch the weights and go up to fast when suit regains buoyancy at shallower depth or 2) swim up some/most of the weight at high effort and hope it is enough to keep you from ascending to fast at shallower depth.
Ever thought about a horse collar BC? My LDS has a couple laying around for $25.
mossym
Contributor
wings are pretty cheap if you don't mind buying second hand...look on ebay, or in the classifieds here, i picked one up for $100...that'd fix the problem right away...
ClevelandDiver
Contributor
Just noticed you were from NE Ohio.
As Mossym pointed out, you can definitely find an affordable wing online, but if you want that horse collar BC for $25, it is at Aquaspecialist in Cleveland Ohio. BTW.... which LDS do you use?
As Mossym pointed out, you can definitely find an affordable wing online, but if you want that horse collar BC for $25, it is at Aquaspecialist in Cleveland Ohio. BTW.... which LDS do you use?
Be aware that if you break a seal or otherwise lose suit buoyancy at depth, and you have to ditch weights to ascend, you may become uncontrollably buoyant as you near the surface.
Daryl Morse
Contributor
That sounds like a really bad idea. A drysuit can be considered as a backup to a wing, but I wouldn't want to use it as a primary buoyancy device. I find that when I'm on the surface, the pressure differential tends to force excess air out of the neck seal. Without air in the wing, I would sink. Isn't that the idea? Also, what would happen if your suit was punctured at depth? I think you'd be negative even after you ditched your weights.wmspdi:
A wing isn't that expensive that you should dive without it for financial reasons. Your life is worth more than a couple hundred bucks, isn't it? I'm wondering who told you this was okay.
The Kraken
He Who Glows in the Dark Waters (ADVISOR)
ScubaBoard Supporter
Scuba Instructor
Divemaster
. . . and, what would happen to your rig if for some unforeseen reason you had to remove it???
Down, down, down into that deep,deep well of water . . .
(My apologies to the late Johnny Cash)
Down, down, down into that deep,deep well of water . . .
(My apologies to the late Johnny Cash)
A lot of people use their drysuit as their primary buoyancy.
It may be tough keeping all the air necessary to offset a lot of neoprene compressed by depth in the drysuit though.... I wouldn't try it if it were me, especially if I were new to drysuits. It's possible that you may get to 100 feet, realize you can't get enough air to stay in the suit to float you, then have to ditch weight and rocket to the surface. Of course, it may go fine.
It may be tough keeping all the air necessary to offset a lot of neoprene compressed by depth in the drysuit though.... I wouldn't try it if it were me, especially if I were new to drysuits. It's possible that you may get to 100 feet, realize you can't get enough air to stay in the suit to float you, then have to ditch weight and rocket to the surface. Of course, it may go fine.
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