Drysuit Training

[Bugs]

Ok, never used a drysuit before but these icy cold conditions mean that it's the only way of getting in the water (without getting on a first!)

What sort of training does everyone suggest?

Is it worth doing the PADI course or is it a waste of time/money ? My local shop does it's own dry suit 'orientation' for £25 which seems like a bargain and I won't be dashing off to the deep dark depths just yet - mostly shallow dives in the next few months.

I've been diving for about 5 years but most of them have been in warmer climes (although I did all my training in the UK - up to PADI Rescue)....so it is an attempt to get in some more UK diving. (My Rescue diver was done a few years ago at Swanage in December in a semi-dry, water = 6 degrees C - almost a real rescue...time for a change !)

[longtall]

Hi, I should be receiving my first drysuit within the next week and I was also looking for training, I've opted to do the PADI Drysuit speciality through my local dive shop/club as it seems quite a thorough course and its another speciality to add to the list. Hope this helps.

Clive

[thehappychappy]

Your only going to need a drysuit ticket should you want to A: Rent a drysuit or B: Go for a MSD Badge.

If you want to learn to use a drysuit you could join a local BSAC / SCOTSAC / SAA Club and get some old school training done in various loan , rental suits.


If youve never owned or dived a drysuit there are lots of choices and you will have to consider, Type, material shape, fit, seals, boots, dump valves, inflators.

An Ill fitting drysuit can be a danger and not knowing what to do when things go wrong can be even more dangerous.


Get some training from a reputable Instructor and do your research into the pro's cons of each option.

What you want may not be what others recommend.


Davie

[Scuttler]

There really isn't a lot to drysuit diving and so if your LDS is offering a £25 speciality and you have faith in their instructors then sure it's a good deal.

The course should cover the main points such as:

- neoprene vs membrane
- inflation
- deflation
- cuff dumping/auto dumping
- BCD vs Suit for Bouyancy
- Problems and how to preven/recover from
. - inversion
. - jammed inflator
. - leaks
- Drysuit Care


I think I've covered most of it but no doubt someone will correct me!

[BigG]

I did the PADI course and it covered everything you needed to know and i found it very useful - Expecially getting used to the drysuit in a shallow pool. However, if you have someone who can teach you for free , then do that.

Note that if someone shows you how to do it, make sure that they cover the basics like:

1. Inversion (do it) and how to get out of it
2. stuck inflator hose (dump should vent just as fast)
3. how to dump air including emergancies

Don't do as some muppet I know did. Bought a second hand drysuit and dove to 20 meters. His training consisted of "You'll be fine, mate" .

G

[edit] see above - do some work Scuttler!

[Arfie]

I did no training

I had a quick read of the PADI manual and I'd dived with people in drysuits and spoken to them quite a bit, so I just bought mine and got in.

My first dives were in Blue Lagoon at 6m depth, with 2 buddies watching out for me, I did a few inversions on purpose, then a few more that just happened, but I coped with the forward rolls. I eventually went deeper at Capernwray and had to deal with the expanding gas in the suit.

Do I wish I'd done a £100 PADI drysuit course? No

Would I recommend others do it the same way as me? No, it was right for me and as I was doing it slowly with buddies I trust.

If there had been a £25 option I would have done it just to have the extra security of an instructor there just in case, but I'm not sure there is much more they could have taught me that my buddies haven't.

Arfie

[Houseplant]

i did the same as arfie, at a sheltered site (in the med) and kept the first half dozen dives shallower than 10 metres or so.

[Bugs]

I have a brand new spangly O'Three so I am all sorted for fit etc and I used to work in a dive shop so luckily I got to talk to quite a few people about the pros and cons of each type.

I feel ok about just doing the £25 jobber. I'm not really into collecting specialities.

It's great to get some feedback from others who have had a bit more experience - here are some greens...

I will let you know how it goes!

[baldeagle]

Recently acquired an O3 MSF500...didnt do a course but picked the brains of and closely watched several of the most competent divers in our club and then asked if i could buddy them when i got my suit...basically had in the water instruction provided by club members...worked for me as it was more one to one than many courses can be...and it also helps that your suit is the dogs bollocks!!!! So i reckon if you have good buddies in your club thats the way id go

[Arfie]

I feel ok about just doing the £25 jobber. I'm not really into collecting specialities.

Well most PADI centres will do an orientation to allow OW students to do the OW in a drysuit. So IMO if that is good enough to get a novice in the water whilst actually learning to do everything else on the OW course, it should be good enough for someone who can already dive.

Arfie