Re: [Paddlewise] What to wear wet suit, dry suit

From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_interlog.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 19:49:14 -0500
Darian Dunn wrote:

> I need some help here and please correct me if any of my assumptions
> are wrong.
> [...]

> Either can be used for SCUBA diving and paddling

If you take a good look at SCUBA drysuits you'll find they're
a bit different than paddling drysuits.  Diving drysuits have a
couple of fiddly bits on them that you won't see in paddling
gear.  One is an inflator coupling on the chest.  You use a
drysuit for bouyancy control instead of a bouyancy compensator
(the BC is worn as a backup and tank harness - note that there
are those that disagree with the use of drysuits as BCs).  The other
is an air relief valve to bleed air from the suit on ascent.

I looked at getting a dual purpose dry suit, but didn't want the
inflator coupling being driven into my chest when paddling.
I also didn't want to pay to repair the air relief valve if I broke
it in whitewater.  So I didn't get the SCUBA suit.  (I also wanted
Gore-Tex for paddling which isn't available for diving.)

Comments made by others about the weight etc of SCUBA
dry suits are appropriate as well.

Mike


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Received on Mon Feb 15 1999 - 07:56:50 PST

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