Boogie711:
Not to hijack the thread, but Deb - would you care to explain for us why you only use the BC on the surface?
Personally, like many others on here, I believe a drysuit is for dryness, and a Bouyancy Compensator is to assist in compensating for bouyancy, but I'd like to hear from someone who doesn't do that as to their rationale why.
Hi Boogie711,
I am a recreational diver, ONLY. Ive stayed away from tech diving for a reason, because it does not interest me. Ive been diving a lot longer than the current tech fad/rise in popularity/what ever you want to call it. Im also not getting any younger and with two knee injuries, Im happy to still be doing shore entries in cold water at all!! Thats great for those that are into the new tech thing, great. Have fun!! Im always into hearing new stories. But Ill stick with recreational diving for myself.
I dive both wet and dry, and in both circumstances, I wear the same back-inflated BC. Im not buying another tank/wing whatever set up for just my dry suit. Unless I see a huge improvement, which I have not, Im very happy and comfortable with the gear Ive got.
UNDERWATER:
If you are putting any air into your dry suit, while underwater, that air is still contributing to your buoyancy; even if its just a little to get rid of the squeeze. I chose to make it simple and JUST use my dry suit for buoyancy underwater. Its easier. I may or may not wear ankle weights, doesnt matter, Ive still got my buoyancy down; Ive been diving dry so long, its second nature to use ONLY the suit underwater for buoyancy. (If its not broke, why fix it?)
I have dove with other recreational divers that will use both their BC and dry suit for buoyancy underwater. It seemed to me, they were just not accustomed to their dry suits yet and most likely never will be unless they let go of using the BC underwater. They also seemed more awkward to me. Not sure if the awkward was the diver or the gear, but Im comfortable with what I do, and Im not about to TRY to mimic those awkward guys. (why?)
Ive also been diving with a recreational diver that wore some tech thing of which I cannot describe or remember what he called it. All I know is, I remember thinking I was happy with what gear I had and was not compelled to look into what the heck he was doing.
ON THE SURFACE:
Have you ever had your dry suit inflated while on the surface? Uncomfortable at best, a DRAG and/or pass out hazard at worst. I choose to use my BC.
OLD SCHOOL DIVERS:
Well, they have every right to dive with out a BC if they chose. Great for them. Im not impressed with doing some thing JUST BECAUSE its old school. If there is a logical reason, great, Ill listen to their reason. But just to say some thing is old school isnt enough for me. For that matter, if the old school wanted to get out their old BCs with those cute exploding CO2 cartridges, those things to help them surface, just let the rest of us know, so we can keep our distances. My brother has been diving since 1970. I get the old school #$%& from him on occasion. And you know what, I was FINALLY able to get him into some new gear about 5 or 6 years ago. (one piece back zip 7mm and back inflated BC.) He could not BELIEVE how much better he liked his new gear. He still has his 1970 ScubaPro regulator!! That thing is almost as old as I am, and it still works like a CHARM, so Im not arguing that with him. But thats a whole other thread.
