Sounds familiar - I used to "dry" cave in a wetsuit with coveralls over it. That's when I learned to wear panty hose (Tracy's are way too small - I had to buy my own) to prevent the near-fatal case of wet suit chafing that can result from 10 hours in a mud-saturated wetsuit!
Mike
caught bare-handed, or covered in bare
you had to remind me! brrrrrrr......Originally Posted by FW
Aw come on Skip, I personally saw you spend about 10 hours in a TN cave in a wetsuit.
I have spent more that 15 hours in a cave, wearing a wetsuit. It was even farther north than TN too (52 degrees)
hey, now that you mentioned it, when do you want to go again?
-skip
"Learning the techniques of others does not interfere with the discovery of techniques of one's own." B.F. Skinner, 1970.
Looking at the weather report, how about this weekend?
Interesting read. I'm fairly new to this type of diving, only cavern certified at the moment. I have only ever dove a 3mil, besides a 7mil during cavern class. It was really a non-issue for ocean diving when talking about temp; South Florida ocean temps are very forgiving. But once I started primarily diving springs it was a whole different can of worms. I'm only like 175lbs so I get cold easily, 2nd dives for me are usually not as enjoyable because I do start getting cold fast. Not to mention that I am a native Floridian and I have no tolerance for cold water... I have been bit by the bug, I enjoy this type of diving and I know this is the type of diving I want to do and continue on with. I bought a drysuit a few weeks ago and can't wait to get in it.
On my last dive I went deep (270') in a wet suit and all of the deco was in 75-78 degree water. I started to shiver the last 5 minutes of the 50 minute deco. I wore a .5 mil skin a 2.5 mil hooded vest and a 7 mil Everflex Suit over all.
I think I could go back to wet for single dive days in 72 deg water, but I sometimes get cold even in my drysuit. My suit fits pretty close and I haven't tried my thicker undergarments because of some leaks. I was having the suit repaired during the above-referenced dive and I'm glad to have it back. I'm really looking forward to trying the thicker garments.
That last dive was the first dive in almost a year since going dry.
Mark
When I dove backmount I always dove in a Sea Elite 7mm semi dry. I love diving in a wetsuit. I feel more streamlined and I like the cooler feel of being wet during the dive. Its also nice to not have to worry about a pee valve, inflater hose, carrying around drysuit underwear and all the maintance that comes with the drysuit, oh and not to mention the horror of your pee valve not working and peeing on yourself during the dive and not finding it out until you unzip yourself.
I would still be diving a wetsuit on all dives except since i went to sidemount I found that the armadillo (which is what i dive) does not have enough lift to float me with just a set of 108s. add a 40cu for 02 and your in trouble. Also on deep dives 200+ where the bottom is much deeper I also contemplate the catastrophe of a wing failure and having to try and swim upwards from a deep depth. I think its fair to say that wetsuit diving in great in some situations and other situations is much better in a drysuit. I always look for an excuse to dive in a wetsuit and on trips to cave country I still bring my wetsuit and tuck it under my drysuit just incase.
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... as opposed to peeing on yourself in a wetsuit. I don't get it. Real men hold it.
Whoever said money can't buy love never bought a puppy.
When diving wet I hold it till I get to the end of the line and then let it loose. Then I try to stay in the warm spot for the trip back...
Martin.
condom blows
i've blown the condom and pee'd myself and believe me weezel wear stinks to high heaven when pee'd in! But it's better than holding it. I can always take a shower and do the laundry. Getting human waste on your person is highly over-rated. No big deal. Par for the course. Do the crime, do the time. no reason to be uncomfortable, let er rip! Whether in a wetsuit or drysuit. of course it's always better when the pee valve works!
-skip
"Learning the techniques of others does not interfere with the discovery of techniques of one's own." B.F. Skinner, 1970.
Sucks when the duct tape lets go !!
'I assure you, it is not jealousy'
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