13 - Dry Suit Diver Specialty

SDI Instructor Manual Date: 10/27/2006
Part 3 – Standards and Revision: 7.0

Outlines for Specialties
13. SDI – Dry Suit Diver Specialty

13.1 Introduction
This course allows the student to develop knowledge and skills to properly use a dry suit. It will discuss
the types of dry suits, accessories, maintenance and how to make basic repairs.
13.2 Who May Teach

Who may teach this course?
1. An active SDI Instructor that has been certified to teach this specialty.
13.3 Student – Instructor Ratio

Academic:
1. Unlimited, so long as adequate facility, supplies and time are provided to insure comprehensive
and complete training.
Confined Water (Swimming pool-like conditions):
1. A maximum of six (6) students per active instructor.
Open Water (Ocean, lake, quarry, spring, river or estuary):
1. A maximum of four (4) students per Instructor. However, it is the instructor’s discretion to reduce
this number as conditions dictate.
2. The Instructor has the option of adding two (2) more students with the assistance of an active
Assistant Instructor or Divemaster.
3. The total number of students an instructor may have in the water is eight (8) with the assistance of
two (2) Assistant Instructors or Divemasters.
13.4 Student Pre-Requisites

1. Open Water Diver.
2. Be a minimum age of eighteen (18).
3. Be a minimum age of fifteen (15) with parental consent.
SDI Instructor Manual - Part Page 38 of 38

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13.5 Course Structure And Duration

Open Water execution:
1. Two (2) dives are required with complete briefs and debriefs by the Instructor.
2. Dive plan must include Surface interval, Max no-deco time, etc. to be figured out and logged.
Course Structure:
1. SDI allows instructors to structure courses according to the number of students participating and
their skill level.
13.6 Administrative Requirements

Administrative Tasks:
1. Collect the course fees from all the students.
2. Ensure that the students have the required equipment.
3. Communicate the schedule to the students.
4. Have the students complete the Liability Release and Medical history forms.
5. The Instructor must review the Liability Release and Medical Forms before starting on the course.
Upon successful completion of this specialty the instructor must issue the SDI Dry Suit Diver specialty
experience card. The Instructor must:
1. Issue the following card:
A. Use either a SDI diver registration form or a Pre-paid Diver certification form to file for
the specialty certification card if a SDI certification card is requested.
2. Award card.
13.7 Training Material

Required Material:
1. SDI Dry Suit instructor guide
2. SDI Dry Suit Manual
13.8 Required Equipment

1. Basic SDI Open Water SCUBA equipment as prescribed earlier in this manual.
2. Dry suit with inflator hose.
13.9 Approved Outline

Instructors may use any additional text or materials that they feel help present these topics. The following
topics must be covered:
1. Types of dry suits
A. Shell style.
B. Crushed neoprene.
C. Neoprene.

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D. Types of seals
I. Latex.
II. Neoprene.
2. Features
A. Self don.
B. Muster or rear entry.
C. Boots.
D. Zipper guard - protect waterproof zipper from chaffing.
E. Warm Neck Collar.
F. Suspenders.
3. Dive wear Insulation
A. Cut to be close to skin.
B. Compression-resistant.
C. Dive wear is primarily made of polyester fibers or polypropylene.
4. Dry suit Valves
A. Inflator
I. Push to inflate.
II. To maintain the air space created by the Dry suit.
B. Deflator
I. Push to dump an adjustable.
II. Simple open and close system.
5. Buoyancy Control
A. Proper Weighting
I. Tanks Weights.
II. Weight Integrated BCD.
III. Harness System.
B. Maintaining neutral buoyancy underwater.
C. Dry Suit is not substitute for proper BCD.
6. Maintenance and care
A. Flush with fresh water.
B. Dry inside first.
C. Avoid heat, chemicals and oils.
D. Zipper care
I. Clean inside and out (toothbrush).
II. Use only Paraffin wax never Silicon Spray.
E. Minor Repairing
I. Repair from inside out.
II. 50/50 mix Cotol-240 and Aquaseal.
F. The use of water-soluble lubricants inside wrist seals to ease wear and tear on wrist seals
while donning the suit.
7. Dry suit Emergencies
A. Excessive air in suit.
B. Inflator valve stuck open or leaking air.
C. Exhaust valve stuck closed.
D. Accidentally dropped weights.
E. Excessive air in feet.
F. Dry suit flooded.

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13.10 Required Skill Performance And Graduation Requirements

Confined Water Training is not required but highly recommended. It would consist of:
1. Pool session one (1)
A. Plan Dive.
B. Proper donning of Dry suit.
C. Review functions and features of Dry suit.
D. Enter water.
E. Buoyancy Check.
F. Get comfortable.
G. Descend.
H. Practice Dry suit skills.
I. Inflating and Deflating suit.
J. Roll from Inverted position.
K. Buoyancy Skills / Hovering.
L. Ascend and exit.
Students are required to successfully complete the following in Open Water:
1. Open Water – Dive one (1)
A. SDI recommends that the first dive be no deeper than six (6) msw / twenty (20) fsw.
B. Plan Dive.
C. Proper donning of Dry suit.
D. Review functions and features of Dry suit.
E. Enter water from back of boat or shore entry.
F. Buoyancy Check.
G. Get comfortable.
H. Descend.
I. Practice Dry suit skills
I. Inflating and Deflating suit.
II. Roll from Inverted position.
J. Ascent with Safety Stop.
K. Ascend and exit.
L. Log Dive.
2. Open Water – Dive two (2)
A. Plan Dive.
B. Enter and descend.
C. Practice Dry suit skills.
D. Inflating and Deflating suit.
E. Roll from Inverted position.
F. Emergency procedures for Dry suit malfunctions.
G. Enjoy the sites.
H. Ascend w/ safety stop.
I. Exit Log Dive.

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What are some important features of dry suits?

SDI Instructor Manual Date: 10/27/2006

Part 3 – Standards and Revision: 7.0

13. SDI – Dry Suit Diver Specialty

13.2 Who May Teach

13.3 Student – Instructor Ratio

13.4 Student Pre-Requisites

SDI Instructor Manual - Part Page 38 of 38

13.5 Course Structure And Duration

13.6 Administrative Requirements

13.7 Training Material

13.8 Required Equipment

13.9 Approved Outline

SDI Instructor Manual - Part Page 39 of 39

SDI Instructor Manual - Part Page 40 of 40

13.10 Required Skill Performance And Graduation Requirements

SDI Instructor Manual - Part Page 41 of 41

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