This is a voluntary course for any diver unfamiliar with his/her drysuit. No certification is offered.

BRIEFING

• Correct weighting
• Buoyancy considerations
• Buoyancy changes/inversion problems

The following may take place in the pool or sheltered water:

1. Don drysuit, squat and vent

2. Enter shallow end, fit mask, snorkel, fins

3. Fin two lengths of the pool to get the feel of the drysuit on the surface

4. Fit weightbelt plus usual scuba equipment

5. Put just enough air in the drysuit to achieve comfort

6. Inflate B.C. to achieve neutral buoyancy

7. Dump B.C. and sink; re-inflate

8. Adjust weighting until above is achieved

9. Proceed to deep end on surface scuba

10. Dump B.C. for feet-first descent. On bottom add air to drysuit to regain comfort factor. Use B.C. to

regain neutral buoyancy

11. On bottom, disconnect drysuit whip; reconnect, repeat

12. Short swim across pool

13. Slowly ascend, dumping both B.C. and suit to control ascent rate; inflate B.C. on surface

Repeat steps 10 through 13 until Instructor is satisfied.

When the student has completed all of the above to the satisfaction of the attending Instructor, they

may then proceed to the inversion exercise.

INVERSION EXERCISE

Over-inflate suit on the surface. Regain control and vent by

squat - roll - upright - dump.

Inflate suit to achieve head-down position on

Again, squat - roll - upright - dump.

Repeat.surface.
Use B.C. to achieve neutral buoyancy.

Care must be taken that this exercise be performed on the

surface only.
Repeat until satisfactory.

Drysuit Divers Course - Practical

DDC/1

Page 1 of 2
September 2002

FLOODED DRYSUIT

This exercise to be performed on snorkel, and under careful supervision.

Deliberately flood drysuit by opening zip. The student can see what it is like to fin with their suit

flooded.

Snorkel to bottom of pool and ascend.This exercise will increase overall confidence.

OPEN WATER

Following pool/sheltered water training, an open water dive to a maximum of 10 m, under supervision

and led by an Instructor may take place. Remember to adjust weightbelt for saltwater.

On the surface, before the dive, repeat the inversion exercise.

Descent -

Air in suit for comfort;

Air in B.C. for buoyancy control.

controlled, meaning:
The Dive -

Dive should be well within safety limits of tables to minimise nitrogen uptake before ascent is

commenced.

buoyancy control, adjustments.
Ascent -

Ensure buoyancy correct for safety stop.

controlled. Dump excess air from suit and B.C.
DDC/2

Drysuit Divers Course - Practical

The student, who should be competent with scuba in the pool, should have attended the Drysuit

lecture before undertaking the practical. An instructor should brief, supervise and debrief the student.

A full set of equipment is needed plus the student's own drysuit