Drysuit dilemma

Mick L

There was a very good article in last months Diver Magazine about the diuretic effects of diving.

Basically, the combination of a weightless environment and cold water causes more blood to pool in the body's core and move away from the extremities which causes the kidneys to respond by removing this excess fluid, hence the need to take a piss.

This is of course a big problem for drysuit divers. Diving a drysuit implies cold water diving so the problem is compounded. Also the deeper you go the colder it gets and the longer you're in the water. In the water with NO WAY to relieve yourself and 40+Kg of gear strapped to you on a rib that's pounding on waves 30 minutes from the shore and any hope of relief!!!

Just to throw a spanner in the works, rather than cut back on water before a dive, we're should do the opposite, it's important to stay well hydrated to ward off DCS.

Warm water diving, well that's a different story, it's warm so the effect is reduced and anyway, you're wearing a wetsuit so just let it go..ahhhhh

So is there a solution? Anyone use Pee valves? Nappies?

Anemone

I've seen a few dry suits with a short dry zip in the crotch area. Of course if you're not a bloke this is probably no use to you. It's also not much use while you are diving! Maybe you could do what the astronauts do...

(Scroll down to Step 2)

NordicDiver

1. skip coffee, tea, cola and chocolate all contain caffeine.
2. alcohol makes you pee the day after.
3. have enough warm clothes(weezle under suit ) under the drysuit.
4. pee before the dive.
5. Don`t start to pee in your wetsuit on holidays, now your brain thinks it`s ok to pee underwater, and uuuuu it stinks of the wetsuit and you later.

Funny story from when i was working in Thailand, had to pee really really bad and i was out with a group of divers with another inst. i had to swim away from the group and found a nice reef to hide behind to pee,,you have to types of divers the one that pee in the suit and those who dont,,i belong to the dont group. The only thing was that my wetsuit did not have a front entry soo..off with bcd and start undressing i looked funny behind the reef doing this, saw a lot off bubbles closing up and had to hurry, just finished before another group of divers (japs i think) was swimming by...so the lesson is: Buy a front-entry wetsuit.

Mick L

Originally posted by NordicDiver
you have to types of divers the one that pee in the suit and those who dont,,i belong to the dont group.

Interesting, I've always heard it said that there are 2 types of divers, those that pee in their suit and those that lie about it :eek:

Evil Phil

I'm interested to hear what commercial divers do. Can't they be in the water for a period of hours?

Personally I find it very difficult to pee in a wetsuit, I think I have a psycological block about wetting myself.

Pataman

Originally posted by Anemone
I've seen a few dry suits with a short dry zip in the crotch area. Of course if you're not a bloke this is probably no use to you. It's also not much use while you are diving! Maybe you could do what the astronauts do...

(Scroll down to Step 2)

And they want to see the effects of sex in space. Fair play to a bloke who can get it on with a girl with bicycle shorts full of piss!

Brings a new meaning to PIGS IN SPACE

NordicDiver

I'm interested to hear what commercial divers do. Can't they be in the water for a period of hours?

Often in a warmwatersuit when diving for hrs. with front zip

Evil Phil

From what little research I've done into hyrdration (its an on going project), the average adult male can absorb a maximum of about 1.4l of water in an hour but can loose up to 2 litres + when exercising. I believe its about 300ml less for women. Thats a 600ml difference or about 0.6kg in body weight which is quite significant. This is something I can testify to through my own observations when running and climbing.

Dehydration is a major factor in injuries and also leeds to very poor judgement; however the guidelines in Mick's article should keep you well hydrated and safe. Thirst is often one of the later signs of dehydration I find slugishness (both physical and mental) irritation and headaches are the initial warning signs. Strangely at altitude it feels like I'm getting the flu.

Peace

Originally posted by Evil Phil
I think I have a psycological block about wetting myself.

Hmmm, underlying issues anyone?

dublinbay

Originally posted by NordicDiver
1. skip coffee, tea, cola and chocolate all contain caffeine.
2. alcohol makes you pee the day after.
3. have enough warm clothes(weezle under suit ) under the drysuit.
4. pee before the dive.


Nappies or Incontinent wear are useful. Follow the above rec. The day before a big dive, cut right back on all the above fluids, drink plenty of water and avoid spicy foods that will dehydrate as well. This is of course for a serious dive. For all dives, try to hydrate properly and after a big deco spend 5 mins on surface breathing the highest 02 mix u got, de kit in water and climb aboard light.
Pee valves;
when using pee valves NEVER close the valve before ascent. It can be very painful if you do Extreme Exposure make IMHO the best balanced valve, used by DUI, OTTER et al. The crotch zip is useful but another unecessary zip. Get a pee valve instead and you can pee on anyones leg you want to while chatting on the boat