DRY SUIT DIVING

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DRY SUIT DIVER INFORMATION

     A diver wishing to do the Advanced Dry Suit Dive, or the Dry Suit Diver Specialty Course must bring the following items to Deep-Six on the day of the dive:

1. Garments for the upper body: The more air the better. You will need at least 3 long-sleeved sweatshirts, or 1 long-sleeved sweatshirt and a thick wool sweater. A cotton tee shirt would be good to wear under the others to absorb sweat.

2. Garments for the lower body: Sweatpants and long pants. If you have long underwear that is a thermal-type that would help. Cotton socks and wool socks.

3. If you own your own: A wet suit hood, wet suit gloves, mask, ankle weights, and a large pair of fins.

4. Food for between dives including a hot drink. A PBJ sandwich or 2 is ideal.

5. A Thermos filled with hot water for pouring into your gloves to warm the hands.

6. Warm clothes for post dive in case the diving clothes get wet.

7. Your up-to-date LOG BOOK!

PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty Course Requirements:

• Open Water Diver or Jr. Open Water Diver
• Minimum age is 12 years
• 2-hour classroom attendance
• At least 1 dry suit dive in confined water such as a pool if diving in a dry suit is a new skill
• 2 open water scuba dives with a maximum depth of 60 feet
• Cost: $150 ($110 if you have your own dry suit)
• Purchase and completion of PADI Certification Envelope
• Log book completion and stamping

The Dry Suit vs. The Wet Suit

Superior thermal protection - Argon

Weather is less of a factor with dry suits

Fit is not as important

Compression with depth - thermal loss vs. squeeze and blowing up

Cost

Maintenance

Bulk and moving through the water

Water getting inside

Finding and repairing leaks

Weights needed - distribution

Zippers - types and lubrication (no silicone spray)

Hoods - attached and unattached

Care of boots

Care of rubber cuffs and neck seal, repair and fit

Undergarments

Storage

Types of Dry Suits

Neoprene foam

Coated fabric (polyurethane)

Crushed neoprene

Trilaminate

Controlling Buoyancy

Valves and their operation (Manual vs. automatic)

Excess air or dropped weight belt - emergency dump - flare

Leg air

Ankle weights

Flooding - chilling and loss of buoyancy

BCD is still essential

Making sure the buddy is familiar with the suit

The Dive

Make up the weight system

Buoyancy

Prevention of suit squeeze

Fin pivot

Hovering

Neutrally buoyant ascent

Disconnect and reconnect the inflator hose

Leg air turn over

Dive

Safety stop

Remove and replace the weight belt on the surface

Remove and replace the scuba on the surface

LOG THE DIVE

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