BC or Suit

[turtle_guy]

I just wanted to know how many of you used your bc or drysuit for buoyancy

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by turtle_guy

I just wanted to know how many of you used your bc or drysuit for buoyancy

If you put air in the dry suit as you decend, just enough air so the internal volume remains the same then you should never have to adjust your BC. The main thing here is that you are keeping the air bubble inside the drysuit the same size buoyancy is then a side effect.

The other side of this is the if you need to put air in your BC as you decend, why would that be? It must be because your suit is compressing

[BusDiver]

The main thing here is that you are keeping the air bubble inside the drysuit the same size buoyancy is then a side effect.

I am confused. Isn't air still compressing in the drysuit requiring you to add more air at greater depth, similiar to a BCD?

I use both. I use enough air to keep the squeeze at bay and a little in the BCD. If I had to put a percent on it, I would say 70/30 suit/BCD. It is a little bit of a juggling act but I am used to it.

[Theepdinker]

At the beginning of a dive the BCD holds extra air for surface swims.
Release air from the BC to descend.
I keep just enough air in my suit to avoid uncomfortable squeeze.
Add air at depth to adjust for air compression in the BCD.
As I consume air from my tank I become buoyant.
Release air from the BCD to compensate & remain neutral.
Release air from both as I ascend to control ascent rate.

Short answer I use my BCD for buoyancy control.

If you aren't,
releasing to descend,
Adding to establish neutral at depth,
releasing as you consume gas,
and releasing as you ascend.
I want to know how you're beating the laws of physics.


Theep

[BusDiver]

I want to know how you're beating the laws of physics.


I use special powers granted to me from my true birth parents.

[DivingCRNA]

I use the BC for Buoyancy control and the drysuit for exposure protection.

But don't tell PADI or they will take away my drysuit card!

My drysuit is compressed neoprene and it compresses more at depth. On a 130 foot dive I put a lot of air in the BC because I am weighted for the safety stop with 1000 lb in the tank, not for 130 feet with a full tank!

[thesmoothdome]

I only use my BC for the surface. I use my drysuit for any bouyancy adjustments at depth. I only want to deal with 1 air source upon ascent, not two.

[cummings66]

I can do either method and practice with both. However I will hasten to add that normally I use the BC for it's intended purpose and the drysuit for it's.

My old Viking drysuit manual said to use the drysuit as a BC. My newer Viking drysuit manual says to use the BC as a BC so you can see that even drysuit manufacturers change their minds. The old drysuit is a Viking Sport and the new one is a Viking Extreme.