[Billy the Kangaroo]

Re "Novices" in dry suits

PADI are recently very keen ( after a number of incidents ) about people doing Open Water training in dry suits and now wont allow it without an previous orientation session - any PADI Instructor teaching the way I was taught would voilate PADI standards - which is a big NO-NO.
Officially PADI Open Water students must do an orientation in dry suit in pool-like conditions before they hit open water wearing one.
I agree it must be more risky to do your pool sessions in T-shirt etc, then go out in Capernwray or wherever in dry suit, hood, gloves etc and expect to be able to do the skills required - Much too much - too soon for today's blame culture - although that's the way I was taught.

PADI would encourage its instructor to do an Adventure Dive ( e.g. dry suit ) immediately after your Open Water course to encourage you to book an Advanced Course.

However,if you do have already a PADI Open Water Certificate, then you may well have the type of PADI log book in which you can log your "Adventure Dives" - including Dry Suit.  
I expect if you had a PADI Dry Suit Adventure dive logged in your log book and signed by an instructor ( which means you will have basic skills and knowledge ), then a cautious skipper would feel he has some protection if you do come a cropper. If anyone wants any help arranging this, then give me a call/ message.

To collect a full PADI Dry Suit Speciality ( ie card ) you would need additional dives which is where the cost does become a possible issue.


(Edited by Billy the Kangaroo at 2:25 pm on Dec. 2, 2002)