<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSome agencies teach inexperienced divers to use only the drysuit for buoyancy control during drysuit courses. This is to reduce task loading because the diver only has to control gas in one piece of equipment. In turn, there is less risk of an uncontrolled ascent if the diver forgets or cannot control their drysuit and BCD simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the diver loses all buoyancy if their drysuit fails and floods. There is also more gas in the drysuit, which can migrate and interfere with trim. Drysuits are not primarily intended for primary buoyancy control, and they cannot comfortably hold as much gas as a BCD. Drysuits are also more difficult to vent than a BCD, and the gas has to be moved to the dump valve on the right shoulder or forearm. A drysuit cannot be vented if the diver is inverted or even slightly feet upwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Advantages of using a drysuit for buoyancy control:<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n- Reduces task loading because the diver only has to control gas in one piece of equipment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Less risk of uncontrolled ascent if the diver forgets or cannot control buoyancy in a drysuit and BCD simultaneously.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Disadvantages of using a drysuit for buoyancy control:<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n- The diver loses all buoyancy control if the drysuit fails and floods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- More gas in the drysuit which migrates and interferes with trim.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drysuits are not primarily intended for primary buoyancy control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drysuits cannot comfortably hold as much gas as a BCD.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drysuits are more difficult to vent than a BCD. The gas has to be moved to the dump valve on the right shoulder or forearm.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A drysuit cannot be vented if the diver is inverted or even slightly feet upwards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>3. Using both the BCD and drysuit for buoyancy control<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nUsing both the BCD and drysuit for buoyancy control duplicates the function. As such it creates a lot of task loading and potential for confusion. For that reason, I do not recommend it. Additionally, both pieces of equipment cannot be vented simultaneously in an uncontrolled ascent emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n