Drysuit class worth it or not?

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

My opinion is that its a useful class but not an essential class. I did the class when I bought the suit. My wife didn't do the class but learned via the mentor process. In some respects - I think she got better training because I only had a couple formal dives to learn the suit. She had many dives to glean information and ask questions and generally tweak her rig.

In the end - I tell people to do 10 dives before they make any judgements about diving dry. The first dives generally suck. You feel out of place, your buoyancy is usually crap and its just not 'right'. With time an expierence, things tend to work themselves out.

I had a good mentor too

[tfd86]

I own so I don't plan on renting . After the valuble input here I think I will give the mentors a try as we have pool time available. If after 5 or so shallow dives if it isn't going smooth it will be time to spend the bucks.

[in_cavediver]

Originally Posted by Scuba Pete

I had a good mentor too

Who - if you mean me - I think of myself more as a cautionary tale!

[rednose83]

Originally Posted by tfd86

I own so I don't plan on renting . After the valuble input here I think I will give the mentors a try as we have pool time available. If after 5 or so shallow dives if it isn't going smooth it will be time to spend the bucks.

Sounds like a good compromise.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by tfd86

I own so I don't plan on renting . After the valuble input here I think I will give the mentors a try as we have pool time available. If after 5 or so shallow dives if it isn't going smooth it will be time to spend the bucks.

Pick up PADI's course book. I'm a bit surprised to say there's quite a bit of good info in there. Between that and your mentors, you should be just fine.

One reason to have the card, btw, is renting a suit. I know you own (I did, too), but sometimes you have to send your suit in for service, and having a card lets you rent a replacement so you don't freeze in the meantime.

I took the class after diving dry for a good 9 months. I learned a few tips in the class that made it NOT a waste of time, but they weren't things that would have killed me, they just made life a little easier. I'm glad I took the class, although I had to take it as part of my DM course, else I'm not sure I would have spent the money.

[tfd86]

Thanks compudude now I should be able to apply that money towards Rescue in the spring.