I don't get dry hoods

[Mo2vation]

Seriously.

I'm a pretty bright guy - but I don't understand how a latex balaclava fastened to my suit is supposed to keep me dry.

I've dived with, I think 4 divers over the years that have had Dry Hoods.

They weren't.

And I can't imagine how they could be.

A wrist seal is tight on your wrist. The water stays out.

A neck seal is tight on your neck. The water stays out.


If a dry hood was as tight as a wrist seal, it might work. But the one's I've seen, aren't.

Someone enlighten me. I don't get them.


Thanks

-Ken

[Valéry]

I've done a research on the subject a few weeks ago since I wanted to get rid of the neck seal.

To my knowledge there are 2 types of dry hood: one that is fixed on the suit and still have a neck seal, in this case the objective is to minimize water exchange. The other one is entirely in latex and is used to keep contaminated water away and should be used in cold water since it will make you very toasty.

That's what I understood.

[Mo2vation]

Yea

All of the ones I've seen are the Latex ones, attached. Replete with skull cap insulation.

All leaked. Terribly.

I don't get em


-K

[renoun]

Might be slightly more useful when mated with a full face mask. There's one rec. diver in Seattle that I see using one, otherwise I've only seen them on public safety divers useing Aga masks.

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[b1gcountry]

I've never seen them on anyone in the Great Lakes either, and there isn't much colder.

[deadbilly]

I've seen them used in the Antarctic. There's a neck seal at the base of the hood (a la the zip gloves with the wrist seal inside), and the diver wears insulation under the hood itself. I expect the hood may leak a bit but I haven't heard any complaints.

[TomC]

Add a full face mask like an Interspiro or Guardian and they do seal up quite well.

We use them for the hazmat protection, not the warmth.

[airsix]

My first suit was a Viking with dry hood (1986). I did around 150-200 dives on that suit before switching to a wet hood. Don't ask me to explain the physics, but it worked quite well 80% of the time. The other 20% it still worked reasonably well. Downsides included exhaust bubbles inflating it, restricted neck movement, and looking like a human condom. On the plus side it was very warm. 80% of the time.

Ben

[Mo2vation]

My first suit was a Viking with dry hood (1986). I did around 150-200 dives on that suit before switching to a wet hood. Don't ask me to explain the physics, but it worked quite well 80% of the time. The other 20% it still worked reasonably well. Downsides included exhaust bubbles inflating it, restricted neck movement, and looking like a human condom. On the plus side it was very warm. 80% of the time.

Ben

How much of the time is your wet hood warm?

Just askin....

:-)

Its the physics of the thing that I don't understand.

-K

[airsix]

My wet hood is NOT as warm as my dry hood, but it IS consistent.

[rogerbly]

No personal experience, but word is they are warmer than a wet hood even when wet/damp. Mostly used for hazmat to avoid ear infections.