Diving suit?

[Know friends]

Hi, I am completly new to all this, but will be looking for a suit to use in quarries for training purposes. I know that I will need training etc., but do I go for a Dry-suit or start with a Wet-suit.? I ask this because I have had a mixed feeling from other people that I know. They say a Wet-suit will be easier to learn in.
Thanks
Sally

[zepp]

Personally, i believe a dry suit would be better, esp. if you plan on diving alot in UK. I cant see the point of training using certain equipement, then having to learn again with something else. also I think that you may find Uk waters a bit cold in a wet suit, so that may be enough to put you off before you get going.

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by zepp

Personally, i believe a dry suit would be better, esp. if you plan on diving alot in UK. I cant see the point of training using certain equipement, then having to learn again with something else. also I think that you may find Uk waters a bit cold in a wet suit, so that may be enough to put you off before you get going.

Yep I am with zepp on this one, if you plan on being mainly a UK diver then a drybag is the best, there are a million and one posts on drysuits and choices on here have a good read.

You dont say what agency you are training with if BSAC dont know much about the training there, with PADI you will get trained using a wetsuit then get offered the dry suit specialty, something to do with task loading a trainee I believe.

The big downside is the expense of a dry suit but if you are a 'standard size' then hiring one to try is an option but you will need a dry suit cert to hire from most places.

What you need to bare in mind, is the expense of a dry suit. You may find after a few lessons that diving is not for you, and then you've gone to all that expense for nothing.

Corinne

[divingniknaks]

Hi Sally and welcome

Dive dry ! You will not regret it.

Nuff said really

Cheers

[zepp]

Yeh, I should of mentioned that, It would be a good idea to borrow/beg one first.

[onthetrain]

Originally Posted by Know friends

Hi, I am completly new to all this, but will be looking for a suit to use in quarries for training purposes. I know that I will need training etc., but do I go for a Dry-suit or start with a Wet-suit.? I ask this because I have had a mixed feeling from other people that I know. They say a Wet-suit will be easier to learn in.
Thanks
Sally

Best advice is not to rush into buying kit. Your best to do some diving and build a bit of experience, get a feel for the diving you want to do. Once you decide this take your time (unless your loaded) and buy the best you can afford. (not always the most expensive).

Some will say diving in a wet suit in the early days is your best bet. I had over 100 dives before I bought a dry suit. I then had to relearn. I now have a pretty expensive semi dry hanging in my garage which never gets used.

cash wasted.

Why don't you join a club that has it's own kit and try out a range of things before you decide.

Must say though if your determined to spend, go dry once you get used to it you won't regret it.
Alan

[recurve]

Beg steal or borrow to find out what 'suits' you, dry or wet, but don't discount using a wet suit completely. I carry plenty of natures insulation (go ask a whale) and am happy in a wet suit. Thus savings are potentially large (which you can then spend on lots of shiny stuff).

Liked your intro post BTW, where in the uk are you?

[Devon Diver]

[quote= with PADI you will get trained using a wetsuit then get offered the dry suit specialty, something to do with task loading a trainee I believe.[/QUOTE]


Not always true. We train all Open Water divers in dry suits rather than risk hypothermia in cooler months.

Roy

[Rookie]

I have done most of my Ocean diver (BSAC) in a borrowed 7mm semi (2 piece). Its old, a little short, and far from fetching, but once your in, and you've got over the initial "My nuts " cold water shock, and get moving, its really quite comfortable. We started the outdoor dives in 9 degree water (Stoney in early May), and were warm enough then). One guy in our club did start off with an old dry suit that he got off of ebay for about £100. It leaks like a seive, and needs a new zip (another £150?), so imo not a great buy, but he is happy with it, and does find it warm still, being neoprene. He even wears a thin wet suit under it! Anyway, if you are going BSAC, you just have to do a little extra in Dive 2, iirc, and carry on in a dry suit.

My advise, though, is wait. Rent or borrow, until you are sure you will get the value out of a dry suit. Semi's are fine down to lower than you would expect, and although they don't look as good, are pretty comfortable, if you get a well fitting one.

Having said that, I will be looking for a good drysuit deal at Birmingham dive show, in time for the cold season

Phil

PS, have only done 5 dives, so this is an opinion based on little experience.