Re: [Paddlewise] Diving Drysuits

From: Michael Neverdosky <mikenever_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 21:56:02 -0400
Evan Dallas wrote:
> 
> Since the club I recently joined requires wet or dry suits for their
> outings, I'm thinking of investing in a drysuit.  I've seen a bunch of these
> advertised on Ebay, but they are mostly "diving" drysuits.  Should I assume
> a diving drysuit would be too warm or otherwise inappropriate for kayaking?
> I typically kayak off the coast of Vancouver island or Puget Sound, where
> it's cold water but not frigid.

I kayak and dive so I will bring out a few points.

Divers and kayakers have different needs, use different postures and
different motions.

Kayakers need to paddle and twist.
Divers are mostly flat, imagine laying on your belly on the floor with
your feet raised up at the knees and your hands under your chin. Mostly
you move your legs. Diver's suits also have valves to add air to the
suit
as you descend and let air out as you ascend. These are in the way for
a kayaker.

Kayakers usually like the breath ability of goretex but this is
completely
useless for a diver.

Most diving suits have attached boots but this is a personal choice item
for kayakers.

All in all, it is better to buy a kayaking suit for kayaking and a
diving
suit for diving.

michael (recreational and commercial diver and sometimes kayaker)
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Received on Mon Apr 26 2004 - 18:58:07 PDT

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