Dry Diving in Arizona – is a dry heat

At the end of the summer to an end throughout the country, the Phoenix area is still scoring 100 degree days. Unlike most cities around the United States, summer is not coming to an end the weekend of Labor Day. In fact, it is common to have 100 degree days to well into the month of October. And when the coldest days, it's a relief for most residents in the valley of the sun.

However, for us divers, Labor Day is a signal to start thinking about the water cooler here soon. diving in the Phoenix area is a year-round activity. In fact, most divers prefer the winter months when the water is clearer, more dive sites are available (due to lake conditions) and there are fewer boats on the water. The exchange: water temperature gets significantly colder in the winter months.

While water temperatures West Coast can push 50 low and 40 high, even in winter, the lakes near Phoenix Arizona in the range of 50 to mid 60's low. This leaves a lot Phoenix shivering divers in warmer waters. However, for many divers cordial, are meeting with heavy 7mm wet suit with hood and gloves or some divers, who wish to stay longer and head to colder realms of local lakes may be in a dry suit.

Jeff Varner, owner of the A Several AZ on 40th Street & Bell, says that "many of his divers have switched to dry diving because it is simply more comfortable in cold water. Varner continued, "that this is the time of year, before the water cools, when divers go in and start asking about the kinds of dry suit and purchases .

Dry suits work on the premise of his body sealed off the cold water, using an air-tight suit. neoprene gaskets or latex in the neck the diver and wrist, keep the water out of demand. Below demand, a diver has a heat shield to keep warm. Of course, this airspace must be managed. When a diver gets into the water, the pressure is applied to the exterior of the demand and starts to collapse in the diver. At some depth, this may be a restriction paralyzing. Divers have a valve in his suit, usually mounted on the chest, which has a low pressure hose inflation linked to it from your scuba tank. To maintain the restriction to a minimum, a diver can add air (1) reduce the compression of demand, and (2) air source acts as an insulator.

The air is a better insulator than water. A body in a wetsuit conducts heat 20 times faster than a body in a dry suit. Such heat loss can cause discomfort diver causing a premature end of a dive, or worse, may be a cause of hypothermia. Of course, as the lungs, skin, ears and BCD, it becomes a dry suit in an additional airspace to handle.

As a diver, the management of the air spaces is critical. Management of the ear and airspace the mask is as easy as blowing into the mask or even their ears. Manage the air space in the lungs is done according to rule number one dive — Never hold your breath. Managing your BCD and dry suit is essential for proper buoyancy. Proper buoyancy means you are in complete control of himself same underwater. You generally remain neutral buoyancy increases without control and prevention of rebound in the background which can cause damage or deterioration of the visibility of aquatic life.

"Simply put, the greatest benefit for dry suit divers is to stay longer in the warmer water," says Tim Moore, a local Phoenix instructor. "While the benefits are significant and obvious, you have to weigh the cost benefits and training," Moore continued.

There are two types of dry suits. The most common dry suit is a tri-laminate shell with latex seals. Known as "I am tri", this type dry suit has incredible flexibility and applications that range from tropical caves of ice diving. The tri Shell has little insulation laminated to it. However, comfortably allows you to put insulation barrier under it. The thickness varies depending on water temperature. The other type of dry suit is dry wetsuits. Sizes vary from 1mm to 7mm. These tend to be less flexible. However, the neoprene acts as insulation. Therefore, the multiple barriers are not necessary. In some cases, as with a 7mm dry suit, a bathing suit and shirt is all that is needed below. Costs can vary widely from a dry suit. A low-end neoprene wetsuit drysuit can cost as little as a high-end. However, a tri-laminate high-end dry suit can run a couple thousand dollars.

While the materials are predominant factor in determining price, drysuit options can certainly peak the cost of the new suit. Wetsuits Options include a variety of accessories include postage, the location of the zipper, the location of the valve pockets of the thigh, constructed in the shoes, braces, and of course, the colors of the suit. Options at the time of ordering, they seem expensive. However, dry suits tend to last much longer than wetsuits. So no options are the place to skimp. Buy what you want, and you should only have to buy a dry suit once.

Shelf or Custom Fit?

While many shops around the city have "off the shelf" dry suits available for sale. Fit is the absolutely most important factor for buying a suit dry. A little adjustment drysuit can cause a loss of flexibility, air management issues, and discomfort. Not many of us are a perfect fit off the rack. A bit tight in one area and a bit too loose in another is very significant, while diving.

I recommend you choose a custom fit option of diving suit. Your local dive shop that can measure and determine exactly what you need to order your drysuit.

Training Considerations

Unlike a wetsuit, you can not just jump in the lake and dive a dry suit. Even an experienced diver will find its first of several awkward dives and uncomfortable. It is essential at this early stage that the new dry suit diving obtain appropriate training. Most dive shops in Phoenix, offer classes drysuit. Prices range from $ 100 to $ 150 includes a certification card upon completion successfully. A dry suit class usually has a bit of self study and work in the classroom. This is where you will learn the characteristics of a dry suit. Classroom lectures is followed by a group of 1 to 2 hours session or a session shallow water so you can "mark" in mechanics and special skills needed to dive a dry suit. After a session of swimming, diving suit Dry drawn in the open water dives and conduct two training with a qualified instructor specialty.

Once certified as a diver's dry suit specialty, practice is essential. It is generally recommended that new drysuit divers spend considerable time with a qualified partner, the practice of skills learned in their course drysuit. Attention should be placed in special slow ascent and safety shutdowns. After a couple dozen dives, it is common to hear divers say they prefer dry diving. It is also common to hear new drysuit divers asked why they did in the first place. When you are in that position, keep practicing.

Dry diving is a financier, long time and educational commitment. This offer the commitment of numerous awards and allows divers to maximize diving season. It's not a diver restricted to warm waters or being cold and uncomfortable in cold water. Whether it's an accident deep penetration long cave or in need of mid-winter for blowing bubbles, scuba dry suit is a sure way to keep warm.

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About the Author

John C. Flanders, Jr., a seasoned and well traveled diver for over 20 years, is a recognized leader in both the dive and business communities.

Mr. Flanders is an SDI/TDI Instructor Trainer, NAUI Instructor Trainer and a PADI Master Instructor. Mr. Flanders is a SeaSigns Instructor Examiner and the Director of International Training. Mr. Flanders is also trains divers in over 50 different specialties, technical diving and public safety diving. As an Instructor Trainer for both Emergency First Response and Divers Alert Network Courses, he assists in training instructors to teach these valuable safety courses.

John has published numerous articles and manuals for the dive industry and is a frequent contributor to Diverwire, an industry leading portal for Scuba Divers.

In over 20 years of diving John has explored almost every ocean and/or sea in the world off the coasts of 6 continents. He is an avid cave and wreck diver. He also enjoys hiking, kayaking, rock climbing,camping, golfing, sky diving, reading and writing.

Water in my ear

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