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Dry suit course

  • 12-02-2008 12:49am
    #1
    TheEx
    Registered Users Posts: 35 ✭


    Just wondering if any of ye have any experience in Dry Suit diving? How 'different' does it feel? I'm thinking about doing a course in April, in Ireland. Haven't dived in Ireland either so I'm a bit worried about that as I'm not experienced in cold water. Thanks!


Comments

  • #2
    Oilrig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 727 ✭✭✭Oilrig


    Just about all regular divers in Ireland use dry suits... for obvious reasons :D

    As for "converting", buoyancy is the main issue, you need to get used to bleeding air into the suit to prevent squeeze on descent and dumping this air on ascent. Automatic dump valves are a great help, you do need to get used to them though, like everything, practice makes perfect.

    Don't use your suit as buoyancy, it is far less controllable than a BCD.

    The other issue with drysuits is that if you go head down, the air in your suit will head to your feet, this could leave you with no fins asap.

    Its a big step to come from warm water to Irish conditions (not only the cold) and a dry suit.

    Good luck with the course


  • #3
    Ginger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,931 ✭✭✭Ginger


    I will be doing mine in Norway.

    I have done about 50 dives in most warm water the coldest been 17C in New Zealand.

    Looking forward to seeing what its like and getting to dive some of the places further up north


  • #4
    Lobster
    Closed Accounts Posts: 302 ✭✭Lobster


    Definetly worth having a dry suit here in Irish waters if you dive frequently, but there is plenty that can go wrong with them that you need to be prepared for as Oilrig pointed out.
    I used a semi dry for years and found them pretty good for diving all year round, its an idea if you're not sure about the dry suit.


  • #5
    TheEx
    Registered Users Posts: 35 ✭TheEx


    'The other issue with drysuits is that if you go head down, the air in your suit will head to your feet, this could leave you with no fins asap'

    Sounds pretty unpleasant! Thanks for the tips oilrig. I have booked the course in April... I'll do the course, then see how I will feel about joining a club & buying a drysuit & actually diving in Ireland more often!


  • #6
    Oilrig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 727 ✭✭✭Oilrig


    Ginger wrote: »
    I will be doing mine in Norway.

    I have done about 50 dives in most warm water the coldest been 17C in New Zealand.

    Looking forward to seeing what its like and getting to dive some of the places further up north

    The warmest I've recorded here was 18C in a thermocline off the west coast a few years ago... :eek: The coldest I've recorded was 4C in Portroe although I do remember breaking the surface ice on a certain lake many pre computer years ago... in a semi-dry too...

    TheEx:

    Drysuit diving is no big deal, get trained, go for it and you'll never look back. Good luck.


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