The Science of Staying Dry: Is the SSI Dry Suit Specialty Right for Diving in Arizona Lakes?

The Science of Staying Dry: Is the SSI Dry Suit Specialty Right for Diving in Arizona Lakes?

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By JonRowe
In Blog, Training

The Science of Staying Dry: Is the SSI Dry Suit Specialty Right for Diving in Arizona Lakes?

We’ve all been there: a fantastic dive is cut short because of a shiver that just won’t go away. When your body gets cold, your air consumption goes up, your dexterity goes down, and the fun factor disappears. While a thick wetsuit helps, there is a limit to what neoprene can do.

Here in Tucson, we might enjoy mild winters on land, but underwater at Lake Pleasant, the temperature can drop significantly. If you want to dive comfortably in January, or explore the kelp forests of California without turning blue, it’s time to look into a dry suit.

The Physics of Warmth: Air vs. Water

Why is a dry suit so much warmer than a wetsuit? It comes down to basic physics.

Water conducts heat away from your body about 20 times faster than air. A wetsuit works by trapping a thin layer of water against your skin, which your body has to heat up. Eventually, that heat is lost to the surrounding ocean or lake.

A dry suit changes the game completely. By using waterproof seals at the neck and wrists, it keeps the water out entirely. You are surrounded by a layer of air. Because air is a fantastic insulator (and a poor conductor of heat), you retain your body warmth much longer.

Customizable Insulation

The best part about a dry suit is that it’s a “modular” system. You can change your warmth by changing what you wear underneath the suit.

  • Early Fall: Wear a light base layer.

  • Deep Winter: Wear a heavy-duty fleece undergarment.

This versatility makes a dry suit a 4-season solution, unlike a wetsuit which is stuck at one thickness.

Why Do I Need a Course?

Diving in a dry suit is incredible, but it requires a new set of skills. Because you are surrounded by air, the suit itself becomes a second buoyancy device. If you don’t know how to manage that air, you can end up with “floaty feet” (where air rushes to your boots, flipping you upside down).

In the SSI Dry Suit Specialty, we teach you:

  • Buoyancy Control: How to manage the air bubble inside your suit for perfect trim.

  • Emergency Procedures: How to safely recover from an inverted position and handle valve issues.

  • Suit Care: How to maintain your waterproof zipper and latex seals so your investment lasts for years.

Start Your Year-Round Adventure This Week!

There is no better time to learn than right now. The water is crisp, the visibility is often at its peak, and we have a course ready for you.

We have an SSI Dry Suit Specialty course starting this Friday, January 23rd, 2026.

This is your chance to get certified just in time for the prime winter diving season. Stop by 72 Aquatics or call us immediately to grab one of the remaining spots. Don’t let the winter keep you dry on land—get dry underwater instead!