Wet vs Dry @ 50F

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by GruPoo

I enjoy my Bare 7mm with 7mm vest/hood and can handle a 50F dive for about an hour. Afterward I get sort of peacful, but I never feel uncomfortable nor do I shiver.

If only conducting two dives a day at 50F how much estimated value does one get with a dry suit? Does the use of the dry suit, for lack of better words, deeply cut the phsyical intergration of the diver to the environment?

So you're comfortable doing what you're doing, you're not uncomfortable in any way, and you're not expecting to expand beyond what you're currently doing?

Unless you have the money to burn or are dying of curiosity, I'm not clear on why you would want to change anything, since everything is working so well for you right now.

I wouldn't want to be without my drysuit in 50 degree water. But then, two dives is just a warm up for me. I consider 3 dives the bare minimum for a proper outing. On a boat, at least... sometimes two suffices on shore dives. If it's warm out, and the water is 60 or better, I'm fine in my 7mm suit, too, and I'll leave the drysuit at home.

[przeor]

The physical intergration of the diver to the environment is pretty subjective- I prefer to dive a hog harness and a swimsuit as much as possible to achieve what you're talking about. In my opinion, once a suit comes on you lose some of the connection with the environment.

As CompuDude mentioned, if things are working for you, I'd save the money and put it towards a nice warm water trip! The value of the suit is in the eye of the beholder, I have drysuit and I'm glad I do. As we usually do multiple cold water dives when we go out. For your situation though, it doesn't seem like the cost benefit is there.

[cummings66]

I'd rent a drysuit or do a demo day and see if you like it. I used to dive a wetsuit all the time, did many low 40's dives in my 7mm. Then I started diving dry and now I don't dive wet anymore.

The P-Valve is easy to deal with, the bad part is removing the catheter. It can sometimes stick very well.

[GruPoo]

Dry will be a possiblity for me. Just trying to figure out where and how it fits in my path. One of my goals, 5-6 years, is to dive along the Arctic or Antarctic regions. For that I totally get the dry thing.

Thanks for helping me out.

[Charles R]

I dive Dry anything below 70F. With what I paid for my drysuit I get the use out of it. I am much more comfortable and like said the p-valve is not the issue its removing the Cath.

[GruPoo]

Originally Posted by Charles R

I dive Dry anything below 70F. With what I paid for my drysuit I get the use out of it. I am much more comfortable and like said the p-valve is not the issue its removing the Cath.

I am blessed with a magical bladder. Even under goodly amounts of pressure I can hold and ignore. Unfortunately my super ability is always over ridden within a movie theater. The AMC sign is pure Kryptonite.

[beperkins]

I agree, I used to say that dry suits are for weenies, but they are just for people who are looking to get as much diving time in as possible.