Dry Suit
The SDI Dry Suit Diver Course will open up a whole new world of diving to you. Many of the diving environments around the world are better experienced in a dry suit. Why? These areas have an abundance of marine life waiting to be seen and photographed – they just happen to be a little colder! Dry suits are also used in tropical water during the cooler months.This course allows the student to develop the knowledge and skills to properly use a dry suit. It will discuss the types of dry suits, accessories, maintenance and how to make basic repairs.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
- SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Diver, or equivalent
- Minimum age 18, 12 with parental consent
WHAT TO EXPECT
The SDI Dry Suit Diver course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:
- Types of dry suits
- Shell style
- Crushed neoprene
- Neoprene
- Types of seals
- Latex
- Neoprene
- Features
- Self don
- Rear entry
- Boots
- Zipper guard: protect waterproof zipper from chaffing
- Warm neck collar
- Suspenders
- Dive wear insulation (often times called undergarments)
- Cut to be close to the skin
- Compression resistant
- Components
- Dry suit valves
- Inflator and deflator considerations
- Buoyancy control
- Maintenance and care
- Cleaning
- Zipper care
- Minor repairs
- Dry suit emergencies
The required skills you will have to demonstrate include all of the following and more:
- Planning a dive
- Proper donning of a dry suit
- Review functions of the dry suit
- Buoyancy check and proper weighting
- Practice dry suit skills
- Inflate and deflate dry suit
- Roll out from an inverted position
- Buoyancy skills such as hovering in a fixed position
- Emergency procedures for dry suit malfunction
- Safety stop
- Ascend and exit
- Log dive