Yes, it is still drysuit season for a good majority of the USA diver population. And all drysuit divers know that a properly fitting dry suit can make the difference between a long, comfortable dive, or the coldest, wettest dive of your life! In our blog a couple of weeks ago we gave you 4 tips on how to choose the perfect drysuit. Now that you have the perfect drysuit, let us give you some tips on how to best prepare it for diving and maintain it for years to come.
Trim The Seals:
Initially, the most important thing to do before diving with your dry suit for the first time is to ensure that it fits your body properly and that all of the seals (wrist and neck) are trimmed specifically to you. Most drysuits come with many different seal sizing options, of which you can then trim to give a custom fit. We highly recommend doing this with a professional salesperson who knows drysuits well, like our team here at Underseas Scuba Center.
Prepare The Zipper:
Now that your drysuit is fitted specifically to you, the only other really important thing to prepare for your first dive is the zipper. Caring for your zipper is probably the single most important thing you can do to extend the life of your drysuit. A well maintained zipper will ensure a dry dive every time. We recommend lubricating your zipper teeth ONLY on the outside with zipper wax specifically made by your drysuit's manufacturer.
To ensure the longevity of your drysuit investment, take these easy 4 steps to caring for your zipper post dive:
- Rinse your zipper thoroughly with fresh water after every dive.
- Only use zipper wax specifically made by your drysuit's manufacturer for that drysuit.
- Scrub your zipper, gently, with a soft toothbrush using mild soapy water after every 25 dives. Lubricate the zipper after this cleaning.
- Store your drysuit with the zipper in the open position.
Storing Your Suit:
Once you've enjoyed diving warm and dry in your suit for the day, make sure you store your suit properly. Proper storage will extend the life of your drysuit by years. The best way to store it is to hang it on a large hanger, zipper open, in a cool, dry, dust free area. If you must fold your drysuit either for storage, because you don’t have the hanging space, or to transport it in your bag to your diving destination, please follow these specific folding instructions, rather than just shoving it into your bag:
How to properly store your drysuit:
- Lay the drysuit zipper open, facing down, on a clean surface with the arms out to the side.
- Fold the feet/boots inward toward each other.
- Roll the feet up in an equal manner and continue rolling the suit up to the shoulders.
- Tuck the wrist seals into the sleeves and then fold the sleeves across the entire rolled up suit, one over the other.
- Carefully place into a large storage bag.
- DO NOT stack anything on top of this bag.
By following these simple steps to prepare and care for your drysuit, you will protect your investment and make it last for many years to come.
