Anywhere, Anytime

Learn not to let cold water restrict where and when you dive. As the leaves on the trees begin to fall, so does the water temperature of places we dive.

Like ducks migrating, my buddy and I often plan to leave these sites, packing up our dive gear to head to warmer climates.  It needn’t be like that.

 “If you get cold, get out of the water, dry off and stay warm,” my open water instructor once said.  There’s an alternative, though, and it’s diving with a dry suit – which will let you stay dry, stay warm and remain in the water when other wetsuit clad divers spend more money traveling to warmer climates during peak tourist season. My buddy and I now dive in winter with undisturbed visibility and experiences like no other - like seals and their pups performing an underwater ballet dance! All because we’re wearing dry suits. 

As usual when dealing with new types of equipment and techniques, it’s wise to be supervised by your friendly, local PADI Instructor.  You could for instance, complete the Dry Suit Elective Dive from the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver programme or enrol in a PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty Course.  Both courses begin by letting you use the dry suit in a swimming pool or confined water area.  This gives you an opportunity to learn how to put on and remove the suit as well as learn how to maintain buoyancy control while swimming around underwater.  As the suit is used for buoyancy control it does take a little  time and effort to get used to it and this is best done under supervision and in a safe environment.

Once the confined water session is completed, you can then move on to an open water site and apply what you previously learnt while simply enjoying the underwater life.  The PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty Course also teaches you how to care for the suit, which makes it an ideal course to complete if you are considering buying your own dry suit. 

Ever
since opening our window of opportunities with dry suit diving knowledge and skills, my buddy and I now dive in cooler seasons, where and when we want rather than allow the cooler temperature to limit our diving.  Besides the fact that there are fewer divers around, the visibility is usually better, not just due to fewer fins kicking up the silt, but less algae and plankton being present in the water.  Give dry suit diving a go! At least now you can dive 365 days of the year and choose from a wider list of destinations to experience different sea life. 

How it benefits you
Learning to be a dry suit diver increases your diving skills and gives you opportunities to dive in cool or colder water while staying warm and comfortable. You’ll also learn what to consider when choosing your exposure suit. Most importantly, Dry Suit diving is fun - experience different sea creatures and mammals you wouldn’t usually see in warm water! 

What you learn
The course is supported by a PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty Manual and DVD. You will complete a confined water dry suit training session if you have never used a dry suit before enrolling in the PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty Course. You will be required to do two open water training dives with a maximum depth range of 18 - 30 metres. 

Special skills
Dry Suit diver training develops your knowledge of dry suits – when to use dry suits, types of dry suits available, dry suit accessories, their maintenance and how to make minor repairs. You’ll learn to master your “new” buoyancy control, ascent and descent technique training while properly using your dry suit when diving.  Learning to dive in a dry suit provides you with another diver tool that when used correctly opens up your diving opportunities and allows you to explore more dive sites more often.  Signed up yet? Use the information below to find out what’s involved and help you plan for your next diving adventure. Don’t forget the PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty Course counts towards your PADI Master Scuba Diver rating! 

Pre-requisites
PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open Water Diver or equivalent. Minimum age requirement: 10 years. 

Dive requirements
Two open water training dives. The Elective Dry Suit Dive from the PADI Adventures in Diving program may be counted toward the certification requirements for this specialty. Completion of a confined water dry suit training session is required if you’ve never used a dry suit prior to enrolling in the PADI Dry Suit Specialty Course. 

By Sharon Loh, PADI Diving Society Marketing Executive, PADI Asia Pacific