Triathlon - Wetsuit and safety

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james herbst
09-26-07, 08:01 AM
To what extent can one rely on a wetsuit to increase safety in open water swimming? is the boyancy comparable to a life vest?

Flak
09-26-07, 08:07 AM
No. It will help you conserve energy though.

If you're not equipped to swim open water without a wetty, then i don't think you're equipped to swim open water with one.
cyclezealot
09-26-07, 08:13 AM
As a scuba diver, I find it impossible to sink without tons of weight. Is their a difference between scuba wet suits and tri suits in terms of buoyancy. That does not mean you shouldn't be a decent swimmer when in open water.

^*^BATMAN^*^
09-26-07, 09:25 AM
As a scuba diver, I find it impossible to sink without tons of weight. Is their a difference between scuba wet suits and tri suits in terms of buoyancy. That does not mean you shouldn't be a decent swimmer when in open water.


Tri wetsuits tend to be 3/2/1 suits. Whereas say a 3mm dive suit, will me just that, only 3mil. That is the smallest dive suit I have seen. So the thicker the suit, the more bouyancy.

Though like was said, if you are relying on your suit for bouyancy, get out of the water.
cyclezealot
09-26-07, 09:29 AM
Those heavier wet suits are sure welcome though after 40 minutes under the water and you are pretty exhausted. That is if your navigation is right and you come up near the boat.
james herbst
09-26-07, 01:31 PM
If you're not equipped to swim open water without a wetty, then i don't think you're equipped to swim open water with one.

Point taken. Since that's the case, I'll be looking to find a partner or a lifeguard (fat chance) before I try swimming in the Corinthian gulf this winter. Anyone here live in the northeastern Peloponnesos?

Thanks for the quick responses,
James
TysonB
09-26-07, 07:04 PM
If you panic, you still COULD drown, but you'd have to work at it. BUT, I guarantee your family wouldn't have to wait long for them to find the body, because it definitely would be floating on the surface.

Tyson
Dalai
09-26-07, 09:40 PM
Point taken. Since that's the case, I'll be looking to find a partner or a lifeguard (fat chance) before I try swimming in the Corinthian gulf this winter. Anyone here live in the northeastern Peloponnesos?

Thanks for the quick responses,
James

If you are unassisted and if the area allows, try swimming parallel to shore. If it's a long beach and shallow bay you should be able to swim for a distance staying within standing depth...
andygates
09-27-07, 07:05 AM
+1 to that Dalai, it's sound advice - plus, if you get caught in a rip, you're not far from shore. My wettie definitely gives me more confidence in the water. It's damn near impossible for me to submerge, which means I can pause or goof around without any sinking-stress.

I've tried swimming front-crawl in a 7mm dive suit. It was a joke - so buoyant that I was lying on top of the water!