I've noticed that as I age, I become colder more quickly on my dives. My friends recommended I start diving dry, but I want to learn more before I buy a drysuit. What should I know before I make that decision?

The most obvious benefit is that drysuits should keep you dry and, with the right mix of undergarments, can help you stay warmer. There are a few additional considerations to be aware of before you suit up.

Your Buoyancy Control Will Be Different
Your drysuit will provide additional buoyancy control. You can add gas to the suit using a manually operated autoinflate valve, and purge gas through a combination automatically and manually operated exhaust valve.

Drysuit diving is a skill that takes practice, particularly because gas can move a greater distance in a suit than in a buoyancy compensator. It's also important to be properly weighted to prevent unwanted inversion and loss of control.

For safety, you should still dive with a BC for emergency backup or for use at the surface for additional lift.

You Will Be Able To Adjust Your Level of Thermal Protection
Drysuits offer thermal protection that goes far beyond wetsuits. You will have three layers: a base layer, an insulating layer and a shell. You can easily adjust your level of warmth by carefully choosing the wight of your insulation layer.

You will also have to choose the right gloves for your dive; the greater the thermal protection they provide, the less dexterity you'll have, so make sure you find the right balance.

In the market for a drysuit? Check out these models.

Your Seals Are Important
Your neck and wrist seals must be watertight without restricting blood flow. Wrist seals that are too tight can produce numbness, tingling or loss of dexterity in your fingers or hands. Neck seals that are to tight can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. In extreme cases, it is possible to lose consciousness. Trimming and stretching latex seals appropriately before use will help prevent these problems.

Urinating Is More Complicated
Divers using drysuits for long dives might be interested in a P-valve system, which includes a sex-specific collection device and a tube that conducts urine out into the surrounding water. P-valves are compelling, but they can also cause complication, including passage of air into the bladder, urogenital infections or a condition known as genital squeeze. To minimize your risk, use a balanced P-valve system with one-way check valves and thoroughly clean it after each use. For shorter dives, many divers choose simply to hold it.

Your Skin Might Get Irritated
Seals (particularly those made of latex) can irritate your skin. Ill-fitting suits can cause chaffing and more infrequently, you might see bruising due to a problem called drysuit squeeze, which is caused by a failure to add air to your suit during descent. If you have sensitive skin, use seals made of silicone or neoprene or gel-type seals. The rashing, chafing or bruises that can occur after drysuit diving can sometimes be confused with skin bends. Be aware of this when evaluating yourself post-dive. If you experience any symptoms that you cannot clearly explain after a drysuit dive, seek prompt evaluation and call DAN at 919-684-9111.

For more dive training, dive safety and diver health recommendations and tips, visit the Training, Safety and Health section of our website.

For more information, visit Dan.org/health.