Wetsuit Advice

[SchoolOfHardRocks]

I'm interested in getting in the water and doing some sniping this spring. My work offers us points with which we can buy items offered on a rewards site. I found a wetsuit but it is short legged and short sleeved and states because of the short legs and sleeves you will have an increased range of motion. Would this work for sniping? Or without the full leg or arm sleeves will i get too cold?

 

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[SchoolOfHardRocks]

We spend roughly 1000 - 1500 hours a year underwater, and do so throughout the year and varying temps.
Yes... it is sometimes snowing a bit and sometimes in the 90's.
We generally rely on 7mm full wetsuits.

Helpful Points.......
- It's MUCH better to complain about being too warm. Buy one that is over rated for the task at hand.
- If you get too warm in the summer, just open it up and let water cool you down.
- Wetsuits should fit you fairly snug. If you have AIR GAPS... in your suit they will turn into WATER gaps and the EXCHANGE of cool water
for body heated water makes you cold.
- Never dive without knee pads. it's a killer on suits and you can buy them at Lowes or Home Depot cheap.
- Buy fairly cheap wetsuits, you're WORKING underwater and you will wear them out 10 times faster than a recreational scuba diver.
- Buy a wetsuit hanger / dryer. They need to air dry quickly or they will stink and build up bacteria quickly.
- Always wear a warm hood. Your head needs the warmth more than just about anything and will make you come out of the water quickly.
- Always wear some form of undergarment under your suit. We usually wear slip suits made for this, but cold gear products for athletes work well.
Easier to remove and put on the suit and keeps nasty rashes away.
- ALWAYS shower well after diving with hot soapy water. Bacteria is a huge problem if not handled correctly.
- RESEARCH treatments and daily care for EAR ISSUES. it's a rather long and in-depth issue you need to read about.
We found that earplugs are not the solution.

Hope that helps.
Doc

Great advice, thanks! I just went back out to the river yesterday. Regardless of my eagerness to snipe, I made the decision to sluice yesterday using the logic that I'll wait for the river levels to drop a little more and meanwhile get to sluicing for a couple weeks. Well, when i arrived to my diggings i found that my sluice has been taken , I guess that's the reality of stashing things on the river. Lesson learned!
I spent the rest of the day locating some potential sniping locations and will be hopping in the water on Sunday!

 

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[hey_ad_man]

Received via usps my wetsuit (7mm) and gear (socks, hood, gloves). First time wearing a suit and BOY! I don't know which is more tough, putting on or taking off?! Haha! Losing 10/15 lbs would probably help!

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Received via usps my wetsuit (7mm) and gear (socks, hood, gloves). First time wearing a suit and BOY! I don't know which is more tough, putting on or taking off?! Haha! Losing 10/15 lbs would probably help!

If you use a little talc powder it is easier to put on.....

 

[hey_ad_man]

Somebody mention about earring plugs not the solution... do you get water in your ear or is it the sound? Sorry, don't understand.

 

[Asmbandits]

It's a good idea to get some ear drops and apply when your done at the end of the day. The issue is that the bacteria and micro organisms in the water will cause painful ear infections. Even in some really clear moving water you still run the risk and the ear drops will help prevent this.

 

[goldhog]

Somebody mention about earring plugs not the solution... do you get water in your ear or is it the sound? Sorry, don't understand.

They can actually cause inflammation and irritation.
Just Google "preventing divers ear" and there are some good articles.
We use drops every day.

 

[goldhog]

Received via usps my wetsuit (7mm) and gear (socks, hood, gloves). First time wearing a suit and BOY! I don't know which is more tough, putting on or taking off?! Haha! Losing 10/15 lbs would probably help!

It should have come with a Jane Fonda work out DVD. If not email them and ask why not.

 

[kayakpat]

good one , I think my wetsuit shrunk from last summer ha ha especially around the waist

 

[Hoser John]

Commercial ear drops contain glycerine that perevent ears from drying out and maintaining their proper ph. Ear/nose /throat doc said over 30 years ago 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 rubbing alcohol kills creek crud,dries ear out and maintains ph. 1,000s use it,full time miners especially,and good to go as no infections nevermore ever-John