Is a marine head a "must" for you?

[gcarter]

No so much of a stretch: Leonard looks quite a bit like Linus, and Linus does dive. A kernel OOPS in a drysuit for lack of preparation, diet discipline or foresight, that, on the other hand is a stretch. Even Laurent Ballesta with his marathon dive in Polynesia did not bring diapers. BTW, what are the specifications of a DIR diaper ?

The truth be told, my wife did have a memorable "ocean handwash event" once, and it was only her 3rd open water dive. She had to drop the tank and BCD, secure the belt, attach all to a lifeline with help from her DM, strip off 5mm onepiece+5mm overvest+polarfleece undergarment (yes, I know) and then wash off all the bits while floating in her swimsuit in a 13 Celsius early spring meditteranean water, before coming closer to the RIB. That was caused by a bout of lactose intolerance combined with a bit of stress and a rough seas... But she handled it like a boss and earned the respect and everlasting jokes from those who witnessed her OW cert outing.

THERE's a story

 

[Marie13]

The boats I've dived off do have heads, but I've never used one. Dive wet, pee in wetsuit. The boat I use the most goes out of a marina with nice floating bathrooms on the docks amongst all the slips. I'll pee there (and once #2 before getting on the boat).

As for #2, well, that's why I usually take Immodium as a preventive measure before I leave for the boat. My insides can get churny even without being on a boat. Just stop it up before I have issues.

 

[Neilwood]

Have to say I am fortunate in that I have a relatively strong constitution so "performing" while diving or on a day boat is not generally needed. I can time my daily routine to within a few minutes unless I have changed my diet for any reason (which I am pretty careful not to do when diving is on the cards).

I have to say I am also fortunate to have a strong bladder and seem to be unaffected by immersion diuresis - unless I am wildly overhydrating I generally only need to go a couple of times a day. Prior planning prevents p**s poor performance - go before I get in the water (or even on the boat) and I am normally good for a few hours never mind the 1 hr of a normal dive). I have not "christened" any of my wetsuits (3mm, 5mm or 7mm).

Having said that I would prefer a boat with a head if everything else was equal.

 

[Kimela]

@fnog - MUCH respect to your wife!! Wow!

 

[ScubaSteve85]

Jealous of everyone here who has never needed one, but I was very grateful to have a marine head present on a boat out of pompano about a year ago! Crohn's sucks!