severe reactions may involve respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy
eyes, scratchy throat and asthma (difficult breathing, coughing spells, and wheezing). Rarely,
shock may occur; however, a life-threatening reaction is seldom the first sign of latex allergy.
! WARNING
DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE LATEX ALLERGY, AND TO WHAT EXTENT BEFORE
PURCHASING OR USING A DRYSUIT WITH LATEX SEALS.
5.
FITTING OF A DRYSUIT
• First remove your watch as it could tear wrist seals.
• Drysuits in general and Trilaminate models in particular are designed to fit less snugly
than neoprene wetsuits. However, a good fit is still required. You should be able to reach
both hands over your head, and be able to squat on your knees without restriction,
while wearing the drysuit and the heaviest undergarments you intend to wear.
• The suit should not be tight in the crotch, or too long.
• If the legs are too long, air volume in the suit can dislodge the boots off your feet.
To ensure a good fit:
• Wear the bulkiest undergarment you are likely to wear under the suit.
• Make sure the suit is not restrictive in any area.
• Make sure you can raise both hands above your head, touch your toes, and squat to
your knees without restriction.
• Make sure the crotch (with suspenders properly adjusted) is not more than 10 cm
(4 inches) below your crotch.
• Make sure you can easily reach both valves.
NOTE: You will be considerably more bulky in a drysuit than with a wetsuit and the boots
are bigger. If you already own a BC, make sure that it will properly fit over the drysuit. Also
make sure that your feet in the drysuit boots fit all the way into your fins, or else purchase
larger fins. Having fins that are too small to wear properly will result in foot cramps and lost
fins, both potentially dangerous situations.
5.1
Donning the drysuit
• First remove all jewelry and watch as it could tear wrist seals.
• Lay the suit out flat and do a quick overall inspection to insure it is in good order.
• Dust the inside of the latex seals with talc.
• Lubricate the zipper with the wax stick provided in the repair kit.
• Fold the torso of the suit inside out over the legs to about waist level, so the suspenders
are exposed.
• Make sure the suspenders are correctly attached, and are not tangled or twisted
• Sit down if possible and insert foot first into the suit, making sure you do not tangle foot
in suspender.
• Grasp suit material at calf level and gently ease foot into boot. Pull up on leg.
• Repeat with other leg.
• Grasp torso and ease suit up so that the crotch of the suit is correctly positioned.
• Raise suspenders over shoulders and adjust so they support the weight of the suit.
• When present, fold the neoprene outer cuffs back away from the seals.
• Insert first arm all the way, taking care with the seal when pushing hand through.
• Repeat with second arm. Try to make sure the inside zipper flap is not curled under
during this process. Make sure that if the drysuit undergarment is equipped with thump
loops, they are fully retracted, and not caught between the seal and your wrist. This will
cause a leak.
7