Drysuit convience zip?

[funkymonkey]

Hi,

Had a debate with a buddy of mine and this was it "do you need a convience zip or pea valve?" Me well I go with the pea valve what are your thoughts annd what is best?

Thanks

[Nigel Hewitt]

Had a debate with a buddy of mine and this was it "do you need a convience zip or pea valve?" Me well I go with the pea valve what are your thoughts annd what is best?
A 'convenience zip' is for divers that RIB dive and forget to go before starting out. Most of us are taught to remember that by our mothers before we were five.

A p-valve is for divers doing long dives where all that 'hydration' has time to work its way through the system.

Most people don't really need either. I do three of four dives a year where the p-valve saves my life :eek: but if the planned run time is less than an hour and a half I wouldn't bother hitching it up.

[Terry]

On the very rare occasion that I use a dry suit ( in name only) I fit incontinence pads. However Ive found that the pads keep that bit of my body much warmer and I have never even came close to needing them.
Terry

[Mark]

Pee-Valve....

One of the best things about my dry suit...


:)

[tony J]

Hi,

Had a debate with a buddy of mine and this was it "do you need a convience zip or pea valve?" Me well I go with the pea valve what are your thoughts annd what is best?

Thanks
I find it very hard to do without, when I get cold on dives (often) I get the classic blood shift and need a pee. I also try to keep hydrated. If you keep dives below 90 minutes, I don;t think a pee valve is much more useful.
One disadvantage of a convenience zip is when they do go, a damp crutch is a bit embarrassing after a dive

Also I get the hravy weight not light weight zip, as I have broken a lightweight one !

cheers

Tony

[Nick Argue]

A 'convenience zip' is for divers that RIB dive and forget to go before starting out. Most of us are taught to remember that by our mothers before we were five.



For me it's got nothing to do with how long you can hold it for, the clues in the name "convenience". If you're on the rib for anything more than a few hours and you want to stay hydrated then it saves stripping down to your waist and then trying to avoid hitting the neck seal :eek:

[Woz]

My Seaskin suit has the front-loading zip running much lower than most suits so getting "little Woz" out is no problem at all. For longer dives, Boots 800ml incontinence pads are just the ticket plus they "enhance" your packet somewhat. Ahem.

http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&productId=1807&callingViewName=&langId=-1&catalogId=11051

The trick is to go "little and often" rather than gushing it all out in one go and expecting it to soak it all up. Then take it out and throw it at the skipper.

[MikeTickle]

Hi,

Had a debate with a buddy of mine and this was it "do you need a convience zip or pea valve?" Me well I go with the pea valve what are your thoughts annd what is best?

Thanks

I went with a pee valve when I got my dry suit. Many a time I'd darted back to shore after a dive or has to strip down off the back of the rib when I had my old neoprene dry suit.
I drink a lot when diving to reduce the chance of DCI so I need to pee loads, and not being able to go makes me think about it more.

I've had a couple of near misses with it, then earlier in the season a complete failure which makes for a wiffy undersuit. I nearly regretted it and wished I'd got a zip, but I think I might have some badly stored conveens (condoms) with not very sticky glue.

Everyone in my club swears by the rochester wideband.

Mike

[STEVE MC]

Pee valve gets my vote, I initially had a pee zip but a 40 minute hang with crossed legs convinced me to change. I can now pee away to my hearts content :-)
Rochester widebands are the nodders of choice......I tried a number before discovering that one !!
Steve

[Nigel Hewitt]

Rochester widebands are the nodders of choice......I tried a number before discovering that one !!
You've clearly never used the Custard Divers HeeWee.
A bit more fuss to put on but you can do it before you get in the car let alone get on the boat and then leave it on all day.

No, I didn't believe the size of hole in the diaphram when I first saw it either. :eek:

[Mark]

You've clearly never used the Custard Divers HeeWee.
A bit more fuss to put on but you can do it before you get in the car let alone get on the boat and then leave it on all day.


To be honest, I find the normal sheaths comfortable for all day wear. I fit first thing in the morning at home, and only remove after the last dive (or back to shore).

:)