Vent: Had to pick between a drysuit leak and a frozen regulator today

Got sent down on a bridge pier inspection in the Columbia River last week. Water was 38 degrees and I had a choice: swap out my leaky drysuit for a backup that fit tighter than a sausage casing, or keep the leaky one and deal with cold water trickling down my back. I went with the backup suit. By the end of the 2 hour dive my shoulders were screaming from the restricted movement, but at least I stayed dry. Anyone else ever had to pick between a bad fit and a bad seal?

2 comments

2 Comments

adam_thompson5322d ago

Damn man that's rough. Did the restricted movement in the backup suit mess with your bottom time or were you able to still get the job done? I'd rather be dry and sore than wet and freezing but that tight fit sounds brutal for a full inspection.

the_evan22d ago

Buddy of mine, @adam_thompson53, had this exact problem up in Puget Sound a few years back. He picked the leaky suit figuring a little cold water was better than not being able to move. Halfway through the dive, the leak got worse and his chest was soaked by the time he surfaced. Spent the whole ride back shivering so bad he could barely hold his coffee. Said his neck seal was basically a straw for the river.