First duh moment

[maddhadder]

Well I had what I'm sure will be the first of many duh moments last night. Went to the LDS to sign up for OW course. Was getting fitted for gear and had to try on a wet suit. It was a farmer john (I think), had a bib and a shorty. I put the bib on first, over my head and fastened the velcro. Grabbed the jacket to put on, and saw that it had leg holes. NOw I start to wonder which is supposed to be first, so I take the bib off. It a 7mm suit by the way and its about 88 degrees and high humidity outside, so I'm starting to cook as it is. Looking at the jacket and bib it looks like the bib wont fit over the jacket so I put the bib back on, not an easy task as you guys know, especially for only you second time putting one on. Si I decide I'll ask before I go any further, so I open the dressing room door, which is right by the office door where an employee was when I went in. Only to find 2 employees and a couple of customers right there. Yup, first duh moment, "Which goes on first?" I asked. Very politely, but with a chuckle, "bib first, good luck puttin the bib on over a jacket." I can laugh at myself, which I did, and I figure they all did once the door closed, so I figured I'd share, and give a chuckle to you guys too.

[tonka97]

Originally Posted by maddhadder

Well I had what I'm sure will be the first of many duh moments last night. Went to the LDS to sign up for OW course. Was getting fitted for gear and had to try on a wet suit. It was a farmer john (I think), had a bib and a shorty. I put the bib on first, over my head and fastened the velcro. Grabbed the jacket to put on, and saw that it had leg holes. NOw I start to wonder which is supposed to be first, so I take the bib off. It a 7mm suit by the way and its about 88 degrees and high humidity outside, so I'm starting to cook as it is. Looking at the jacket and bib it looks like the bib wont fit over the jacket so I put the bib back on, not an easy task as you guys know, especially for only you second time putting one on. Si I decide I'll ask before I go any further, so I open the dressing room door, which is right by the office door where an employee was when I went in. Only to find 2 employees and a couple of customers right there. Yup, first duh moment, "Which goes on first?" I asked. Very politely, but with a chuckle, "bib first, good luck puttin the bib on over a jacket." I can laugh at myself, which I did, and I figure they all did once the door closed, so I figured I'd share, and give a chuckle to you guys too.

You're in good company. I think most divers have had the same 'duh' moment. In fact as I was reading your post, I had another 'duh' moment about what goes on first....I'm so used to 1 piece, tropical dive skin, 3 ml neoprene, and dry suit, that the farmer jon seems confusing!

[Zenagirl]

Yup, this won't be your first, but treating it with humor is the first sign that you'll be just fine!

Congrats on signing up for OW and taking the first step into the amazing world that is scuba diving. Let us know how your class goes and what you think as you go along.

[Rileybri]

Shoot that’s nothing I have read accounts of people almost killing themselves (literally) trying on wetsuits w/o help! This was your first time, second time no third....Wait how many attempts did you make to figure out which came first?? lol At least you had the where with all to ask for help! You are well on your way to being a safe and competent diver! Now to figure out how this back pack thing with the tank and dangly hissing lines fits on me!!!! lol

[navyhmc]

We've all been there... I don't think I was, of course "back then" all we had was a simple pants and jacket-farmer johns and one piece wetsuits weren't around yet. What was fun is when someone didn't strap their tank into the back pack tight enough and once they got it on, youl'd here thie unmistakable "Thunk" as the tank slid down and hit the ground. The resounding "OOPS!" from the rest of the divers made you hope you never did it.

[sravin1]

everybody has such moments. when I tried on the first time, I thought the farmer john goes on top of the jacket...

[Skred]

Congrats on the decision to take the OW course!

I'm betting that the question about the farmer john gets asked more often than you might think and by asking you avoided the really bad duh moment which would have been doing it incorrectly and then proudly modeling for all in the shop to see!

Saw that very thing on a cruise ship several years back. The wife and I were strolling the upper deck on first morning at sea. As we walked past and looked down on the pool, there was an OW class preparing for a pool session. We stopped to watch for a moment and noticed a student who appeared really unsure of how to don his 1 pc. wetsuit. Rather than ask, he tried a couple of different ways. He started to put it on inside out and quickly realized that wasn't right. 2nd attempt he was doing fine but stopped for some reason and pulled it back off. He finally put it on backwards with the zipper in the front and then proceeded with getting into his BC.

There were several passengers around the pool that morning and it was obvious that some were aware of what was going on as we heard several muffled laughs. When the instructor noticed, we watched as he had to turn away and bite his lip to keep from laughing as well. I really felt bad for the guy and felt like I wanted to help him but we were standing 2 decks above the pool so that wasn't an option.

I hope that he didn't let that stop him from learning to dive.

[SlvrDragon50]

Heh.. I'll stick to my one piece suits.

[maddhadder]

Thanks for the encouragement. Yup, gotta be able to laugh. I think it was in a Warren Miller ski movie, the first time I heard "Don't take life seriously, cause you can't get out of it alive." Makes sense to me.
As far as the OW, I cannot wait to get started. Got bit by the bug on a vacation dive in Hawaii years ago, finally doing something about it. I look forward to telling some success stories in the future...

[NeveSSL]

Well... if it makes you feel any better, the first time I tried a farmer john on, I didn't realize the top part had legs!!!! I was like "HOLY COW! This thing isn't going to wrap around! The zippers are a foot apart!" LOL I laughed a lot once I realized it had legs.

Brandon