Posted by lobster on August 27, 2002 at 09:37:27:
In Reply to: you'd be better off in a drysuit than a wetsuit if diving like that posted by TDI_2 on August 26, 2002 at 10:45:28:
"So if youre going to dive without a B/C then I would consider wearing a drysuit instead of a wetsuit. That way its easier to get down, and its easier to get back up as well."
The diver would need to carry more lead and add air to the suit which will have more drag and have additional failure points. A wetsuit/backpack diver uses the natural buoyancy of the wetsuit lets say 22 pounds of positive buoyancy and ditchable lead for ballast so that they can surface in an emergency. The system is streamline , low number of failure points, very simple straight forward inexpensive way to go. Have you every tried diving without putting air in the BC? Are there any instructors today still available to teach this system today so that beginners who want to try it get the proper low down?