■ Wearing a Dry Suit

Remove rings, watches, hairpins, and other accessories before putting on the dry suit. Take care to prevent dust, sand, or hair from becoming trapped in the neck or wrist seals.

Avoid pulling forcefully on latex seals or damaging them with fingernails. Use manufacturer-recommended lubricant or powder to help don the suit smoothly.

If your suit has a back zipper, ask your buddy to assist you.

Ask your buddy for assistance

After putting on the dry suit, release excess air by pressing the exhaust valve. You may crouch slightly and gently lift the neck seal to allow trapped air to escape before entering the water.

Release excess air

■ Confirming Neutral Buoyancy at the Surface

Wear your undergarment and dry suit. Press the exhaust valve to remove excess air from the suit.

Put on all weights and equipment. With your BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) inflated, float at the surface.

Gradually release air from the BCD.

If air remains in the BCD but your eyes are below the water surface, reduce the amount of weight.

If the BCD is completely deflated and your eyes remain above the surface, add more weight.

Proper surface buoyancy is achieved when, at normal breathing, your eyes are at water level with the BCD fully deflated.

Adjust weight so your eyes are at water level