In this weeks Scuba Basics, Mark Newman from @Safe Diving talks about the benefits of scuba diving in a drysuit. Whether you're a seasons pro, or you've just passed your open water course and never even seen a drysuit, then this video will help to explain the benefits of why you should dive in a drysuit. So ditch that wetsuit, sit back, relax, why Mark covers the drysuit diving basics for warm and cold water diving.
0:00 Intro to drysuit diving
2:47 Comfort
5:29 Warmth
9:34 Redundancy
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Scuba Basics: Why You Should Go #ScubaDiving In A Drysuit
#ScubaDiving #ScubaGear #DrysuitDiving
***** THANK YOU FOR WATCHING *****
We have answered many of your questions in this video here https://youtu.be/__Irj4kI7EM
Have a drysuit but I’m not a big fan of it. Mostly when out the water it feels like a sauna suit, specially when its 25 to 30 degrees. When I’m in the water I’m already wet inside of sweat.
I have 4 suits to choose from but my dry suit gets used more often than. n my shortie, semi-dry 7mm & 5mm wetsuits regardless of water temperature. In fact, I reckon I wasted hard-earned cash when buying the aforementioned (3) wetsuits. I like the concept of running separate gas to a BCD & a drysuit when using twins. #ASKMARK This may be a silly or naive question. Do you also run separate connections to your BCD & drysuit when using nitrox on twins?
I don’t myself but some divers do carry a small cylinder just for their drysuit. Unless you’re planning some serious diving it shouldn’t be an issue. If you’re diving Trimix it can be expensive to inflate your drysuit & BCD with helium and it’s not the best insulator
Thanks for your reply which answered my question and I can appreciate the expense v benefit of not using tri-mix into a BCD and drysuit.🤿🇦🇺👍@Scuba Diver Magazine
My first buoyancy compensator was a Fenzy back in the 70s using a sharkskin wetsuit with no zippers and hooded vest diving in 39 degree water on shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. I worked at a dive shop, and was able to get my hands on Poseidon Unisuits for our group, which meant we could start diving in May instead of June without freezing while decomming, although June on the Great Lakes was still not what you call “warm”.
I still don’t mind wearing a wet suit or a shorty in warmer climates, and using a bladder compensator when I’m sissy diving 🙂, but there is no replacement for being dry on shipwrecks or decomming on the Great Lakes, anytime.
When I started diving with the Unisuit , we abandoned all other forms of buoyancy compensation as we considered them to be an unnecessary redundancy. In all my shipwreck diving days, no one in our group had any problems with compensation using just our suits. However, we did have the occasional bladder diver showoff how he was able to get out of his tanks on the surface without having anyone holding on to them and not worrying about the tanks being dropped . We solved that problem by keeping our tanks on, and by putting a bigger ladder on the back of the boat. 🙂
I have a seaskin custom made membrane drysuit (really good value and British) which I wear in the med even in summer.
It can be absolutely unbearably hot until you get into the water. What I’ve learnt is that if you soak the drysuit it’s far better on the boat before the dive.
Dry gloves are also nice.
The negatives are that sometimes I get cold cos I don’t wear much underneath in summer, that I need a lot of lead when wearing an undersuit.
It can also be a bit difficult to purge air when wearing a puffy undersuit.
What’s you advice for women regarding needing to pee while wearing a drysuit? Diapers or Pee valve?
The techie guru women I know all swear by she-pees/pee-valves over diapers.
I find the main advantage of a dry suit is not getting wind chill during surface interval before a second dive. Means I start the second dive warm unlike any wet suited buddies.
Instructor friend also went dry after a particularly busy summer where he was getting wet every single day for months. Ended up with the worst case of tinea known to medicine from spending hours each day in wet wet-suite booties. Now he is dry with no itchy toes.
Treated myself to a custom DUI Flex Extreme. Love it!
+Billy Lindberg nice 👍
I need a dry suit because: I’m from Florida and any water under 80f/26c is too dang cold. But I’m also from Florida, so there is no better feeling than getting in the water and actually feeling the water.
Hehe
Nice … Thank’s mate …
My pleasure!
Just got my bare trilam myself. Have tried everything up to a semi dry. What base layer do you use when your warmer water diving?
Something thin and lightweight. Check out the Fourth Element range.
Aside from the comfort factor, getting cold underwater can lead to vasoconstriction which will put a diver at increased risk of DCS so a dry suit is well worth it.
As for dry gloves, they are a worthwhile investment will make for a much happier dive. Mohair glove liners are good because they will keep your hands warm even if they’re wet.
Thanks for sharing.
Only ever dived in a Dry Suit. Dive center Tri-lam for my OW and then bought my own O’Three for my AOW. Glad to see your back doing helpful videos as well.
Good stuff!
Completely agree with the author. Diving in dry suit will take you to another level. Very worth to invest. Just be very careful with it, proper training is a must. Also, if you spend time and learn about dry suit maintenance, it will last you for a long time. In July of this year, I purchased Evertech from Scubapro, pretty good suit for its cost. Already have about 30 dives in it, in Ontario Canada. Safe Diving everybody!
We’re going to be doing some drysuit maintenance videos soon as well.
How has your dry suit held up? I’m looking at getting the same one. Thx
My DUI drysuit order was submitted by LDS last week. Can’t wait for this to arrive. Ice diving in home state of Wisconsin this winter.
Sounds like fun!
I started diving locally (Netherlands) this year after two decades of tropical diving. Buying and learning my drysuit has been a challenge, but after a dozen dives I’m starting to love it. Nice and warm, easy to adjust trim, all that you mentioned is true. Not a fan of the integrated boots because the air bubble had me bobbing to the surface a few times during ascent. Getting better at that but still considering replacing them with socks and rock boots.
Get a p-valve installed. Also, dry gloves are way nicer than thick wet gloves.
100% agree.
Great video Mark. I dive in So Cal USA. We have “seasonal seas” ( temps changing) the dry suit I dive is my “all season” suit like you explained.
Sounds great!
Love my drysuit. Great talk Mark
Thanks 👍
@Scuba Diver Magazine anytime
I dive in tropical weather, but you just convinced me to try my husbands dry suit. Thanks
You should!
HiMark great video just looking to buy a dry suit which is better option neoprene or try lam for recreational diving
Each have their own qualities and we’ll be doing a video on that soon.
Thanks Mark. We just did a dry suit course and enjoyed it. Question what are your tips on keeping your legs down?
Video on that coming soon.
A well fitted dry suit keeps the volume in the legs relatively low, if you use the bcd for buoyancy control and put only enough air into the suit to prevent squeezing your problem should already be solved. I find a strap at my ankles helps to prevent air getting into the boots.
@Markus Knörr yes I now have the exact weights proportioned to my buoyancy 😜
Dry suit diving is an amazing too for buoyancy and trim management. Easy to add or vent air with very minimal movements and it allows very small adjustments to be made Easily.
Totally agree!
My 7mm wetsuit has hung in my dive locker since 1998. Dove dry from Rimouski, Quebec to High Springs, Florida.
Getting wet, doesn’t mean you need to get wet :D
Just did my 3rd and 4th OW dives, TODAY and I have been in a drysuit since my 2nd pool dive. Diving at the south end of Vancouver Island, so cold water. I went with a Bare Trilam, front entry. Happy happy happy.
We love a front entry, saves trying to struggle pre and post dive.
I normally dive a 5/4 wetsuit…Hawaii, Indonesia, Thailand. Dry suit??? My local has DUI at 20% off. Hope is diving Oman and Red Sea this February/March. Should I be thinking dry suit? I am 5’8”, 130 lbs. 65 year old woman. Advice please.
It can be quite cold in the Red Sea at that time of year, especially if you’re used to warmer waters. A travel drysuit would be perfect for such conditions. We recommend going to a reputable dealering and trying something to your budget and style before committing.
Mark, diving the Galapagos in early September, would you use the dry suit?
Buuurrrrr! 100% you want a good travel drysuit for those temps. You can get away with a wetsuit, but you’ll start to feel the cold more as the week goes on.
Great Info man. I keep getting so close to pulling the trigger not he dry suit. but I so love Ice diving in a dry suit. LOL
You can do it!