Folks, this has most likely been beat to death in other dive forums, but as an instructor, I feel this is an important event to introduce new and experienced divers to the world of Dry Suit diving.

Each year, Diving Unlimited International hosts a dry suit rally known as DUI DOG (Drysuit Owners Grou) Days Rally. It is held at several locations around the nation. For a very minimal price of $8 per day pre-event ticket sales, you can enjoy the company of several divers, be fitted for a dry suit, take a test dive in a dry suit, have lunch, earn a test diver hat, and be entered in the raffle. They even offer a public safety diver seminar as well as other dry suit seminars. Of course, you would need your own air, regulator, and bcd (though they have other control options).

Here is the link to the general info page on DUIs website. Be sure to check out the video in the upper left portion of the page. http://www.dui-online.com/dog_main.html

Here are the 2007 dates and locations:

PADI Americas, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, March 10

Alabama Blue Water Adventures, Pelham, AL, *Mar 31-Apr 1

Beaver Lake, Eureka Springs, AR, April 14-15

Windy Point, Austin, TX, April 21-22

Stage Fort Park, Gloucester, MA, *May 5-6

Dutch Springs, Bethlehem, PA, *May 19-20

Gilboa Quarry, Findlay, OH, *June 1-3

Haigh Quarry, Kankakee, IL, *June 9-10

Ironton Mines, Cuyuna Country Mines Lake, Ironton, MN, June 16

Owen Beach, Seattle, WA, Aug 18-19

Oakledge Park, Burlington, VT, *Sept 15-16

Brownstone Quarry, Portland, CT, *Sept 29-30

Mermet Springs, Metropolis, IL, *Oct 6-7

Lake Rawlings, Rawlings, VA, *Oct 20-21

Manatee Springs, Chiefland, FL, *Nov 10-11

Clear Springs Scuba Park, Terrell, TX, *Nov 17-18

Also, for those who don`t already know, Mermet Springs in Illinois is the site where the aircraft from the movie U.S. Marshalls is located.

Comments

Saturn5 - 4/18/2007 12:00 AM I brought along a couple of wetsuits, but didn`t have the gumption to try one after being nice and toasty warm in the dry suit. I had forgotten to mention which suit I had tried. For that weekend I was using the TLS350 with the polartech powerstretch 300 insulation. My last dive on Sunday I tried out the dry gloves. They were really nice in the water, but very cumbersome for getting gear set up on shore. Definitely a buddy check opportunity with them. The buddy is who has to hook up most things when you have those gloves attached.

Dorkfish - 4/16/2007 12:00 AM Ok folks, went to the Beaver Lake event this weekend. Weather was lousy on Saturday, but people still went. Sunday was 60 and sunny. If you have ever been interested in a Dry Suit, but can not afford to rent one, buy one, or take the class, then this is the perfect opportunity to try one hassle free! I spoke with a few of the DUI folks and they have informed me that they are not allowed to talk sales at these events. It is simply learn, dive, enjoy. The DUI staff will install a lp hose on your reg (on site), then be fitted for proper seal, undergarment, and suit sizes. That`s right, they provide almost everything, to include weight systems if needed. I dove in the CLx450 on Sunday and loved the suit. Just wish I had dry gloves, the 5mm wetsuit gloves were tough to get on w/ the dry suit. Trust me, at 70 feet in 43 degree water, it was actually quite comfortable. Especially since I followed with a wetsuit dive in the exact same conditions and temps.