Drysuit Diving Part 4 The "P" Valve

[@morganames8142]

Very informative video, Bryan! In addition, I strongly recommend users purchase and install in the P-valve's in-line exhaust tubing a Quick Disconnect for P-valve. I use the one made and distributed by Light Monkey. They are reuseable -- don't throw them away after use when disposing of your external "Texas catheter! -- and can be bought retail(for under $30 for the two interlocking pieces [one on the high pressure source/condom-side and the other on the downstream discharge P-valve-side of the tubing] through most dive shops that sell dry suits. Also, to keep the tubing clean, users should purchase Steramine tabs, which are dissolved with water into a solution in a squeezable plastic bottle with an applicator tip that can be applied down into the tubing to disinfect it after use and before storage in order to keep germs from growing inside! Simply let the solution exhaust/seep-out through the drysuit's external valve. Always good to have a few Quick Disconnects in your Save-A-Dive kit, too!!!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Great suggestion Morgan Ames. Thanks for sharing.

[@1Sulster]

Great video Bryan, Last Open Water Season, I had to explain to a couple of new Open Water female students the inevitable question which was asked, "what do you do if you have to pee when you're in the water." I felt like I was in high school all over again while trying to keep it short and sweet. Love all the content you have been putting out over the years and have gathered much knowledge from your information. Thanks again.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video 1Sulster. Its a tricky subject to navigate at times as an Instructor, but an important one nevertheless.

[@mikkosport2300]

Thank you, Bryan, for good and educative explanation of p-valve. It is, indeed, a great accessory of a drysuit if you know how to use it. If you don't use it, remember then to close it. Otherwise you may get a 'cool' reminder during your dive (yes, it has happened to me years ago).

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Mikko Sport, glad you liked the video. I too have had the oops moment when it got chilly all of a sudden.

[@avi-shai]

Thank you for putting this video together. It's very informative and very well presented. One thing that you didn't cover is how do we route the catheter and connect it to the hose through the undergarments?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video @avi-shai. Most undergarments will have a port to run the hose through. If yours does not, but it has a two way zipper, you can always unzip from the bottom and route it that way. If you are wearing a two piece undergarment, you would just route it up and over the waist band area.

[@timh3252]

I finally put a p-valve in my latest drysuit, and it's been a game changer. It's hard to relax and concentrate on my dive if all I can think about is getting back to the surface to relieve myself. I'll never own a drysuit without one again.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Tim H. Glad the P-Valve is working for you. The 3 suits I have shown in our series, only one (the Scuba Force USA) has a P-Valve in it. They are definitely useful, and as you stated, a game changer to a comfortable dive.

[@michaelaybar4244]

Best video I've seen on the subject. I got Dry Suit certified recently and I had to do a lot of research on pee valves on my own. There is always something to learn in scuba and learning to pee in a drysuit is definitely one

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video Michael Aybar.

[@la5150hi-lophoto]

Thanks very much for a subject that applies to every diver.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video @la5150hi-lophoto.

[@dkk923]

Well done video on a sensitive subject. As a non-dry suit diver, my only suggestion would be to discuss how the balanced valve device connects to the dry suit itself so the urine drains into the open water. That wasn't clear to me (unless covered in a previous video I haven't yet seen).

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Donn Kearns, glad you liked the video. We left certain things out of this video, as we feel its better suited for the full Drysuit course. Lake Hickory Scuba has always wanted to be known as an diver education channel, but we feel that our viewers should only use our videos as either a preview to their actual drysuit course, or as a simple study guide. Your local Drysuit Instructor will be able to provide you with proper training as well. But to answer you question, the balanced pee valve is a one way valve that only allows a fluid to travel one way, and stays balanced with the ambient pressure that surrounds it. As we descend and pressure increases, there will always be equal pressure both ways. The surrounding pressure will never be greater than the internal pressure of the suit.

[@hughidiyit2588]

I can recommend a Quick Connector with Plug Stop Valve, makes life way easier. As mentioned under another video, please consider using a different mic or at least adjust the audio levels. When the video started, I had to turn up the volume, then when the intro came, my headphones flew off.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Hugh Ldiyit, thanks for the heads up on our audio quality. We are working on it. The videos you are watching now were filmed, edited, uploaded, and scheduled well over a month ago. So we have another 10 or so videos coming out before you will see any new ones with our audio adjustments. Thanks for the suggestion though on the Quick Connector.

[@krazygluon]

Great video! Another option for removing the adhesive is Goo Gone bandage adhesive remover (or other similar release agents for medical adhesives) works similar to the shower + soapy water method, but you only need water to rinse everything after the device is removed. Note that this is different from regular Goo Gone, which is probably too strong.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello @krazygluon, thank you for the suggestion. We will give it a try.

[@josephdracula7487]

👍😎🤿🇵🇭For a taboo subject I must say very professional in your explanation for both sides!👍

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thank you for the kind words Joseph dracula, we tried.

[@maxwell-z8c]

Great video, really. Thanks for creating it.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video @mattandnicolemaxwell5622.

[@mikedugan3253]

Great video. And yes it's a little taboo, but the first time somebody has a very unenjoyable dive because of cold-induced diuresis they'll get it.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video @mikedugan3253, and I have been there.

[@maxdiver9038]

Great video, nobody talks about it, very useful video. Thank you.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video Max Diver. Its a taboo subject that should not be taboo. We all pee.

[@Robert_H_Diver]

Going to be doing my cavern/intro to cave later this year so will definitely need to install a p-valve soon.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Good luck on your Cavern Course robert harrison.

[@shakascuba]

Great content. One other method I've used to success for removal, a q-tip with alcohol on it slips under the edge and helps remove the adhesive. Just keep it from the front or it might sting just a bit...

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks for the tip Shaka Scuba. Yeah, that might burn a little if it got in the wrong place.

[@okdiver589]

Great video thank you! I wish I could have found something like this when I was researching when I first got drysuit certified.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello OK Diver, glad you liked the video. Though there is no need for the taboo'ness of the subject, it does seem to be one that many Drysuit Instructors refuse to talk about with their students. We hope this video will help all Drysuit divers become more educated in the subject.

[@dennispcdebeer]

Great video. Now thinking to get this installed on my drysuit as well. Until now I am used to stop drinking water 12 hours prior to my dive causing dehydration issues like headache and weakness. Even with this denying of drinking, I still suffer an exploding bladder after an hour dive in 6- 7 degrees water. Looking forward to not having those stress thoughts on how my bladder will hold.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video dennispcdebeer. Hopefully the P-valve will be very useful to you.

[@leemiller358]

Very tastefully done. Gardening, i.e. manscaping... LOL. Appreciate the information as I have had questions about this after hearing the word catheter at a dive site. Any limitations on donning several hours before the dive? Not a lot of opportunities to prepare for this once on the charter boat.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Lee Miller. The struggle is real at times. Best case scenario, even on a boat, is to go in to the head or restroom prior to suiting up. I have had to install the condom catheter an hour or so prior to the dive. Since there is a large enough hole in the end of it, I've never had any issues going to the restroom while wearing it before a dive. If the drive to the dive site is going to be several hours, I would suggest getting back in the vehicle at the dive site for privacy, and then installing it instead of wearing it the whole time. Hope this helps.

[@grahambirch3715]

Bryan, I love your videos, and you did this one with such clarity and grace that I hate to lower the tone by saying, at 7:20 "semi-erect" - I get excited about diving but never THAT much 🤣

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video @grahambirch3715. That specific topic is always cringe worthy when teaching a Drysuit Course to a mixed crowd. Ironically, the girls tend to giggle more at the topic than the guys do. Most guys just brush the subject off as a normal thing for a guy. I had a female student tell me one time, she went diving so that her husband would leave her alone. Now she didn't want to go diving with him because he wore a Drysuit, and he would tell her it was her job to help him suit up. LOL. I referred them to the diaper option.

[@frozzenfiregameing]

there is also the heWee go if you want to avoid the sticky part, but you still have to shave the area

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Frozzenfire gameing, thanks for sharing. I didn't know the heWee existed.

[@frozzenfiregameing]

@@LakeHickoryScuba love watching your videos, hope someday i can make a trip to the USA

[@DivingDutchman]

Quick tip: use baby oil during catheter removal. It dissolves the adhesive.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks for the tip @DivingDutchman, I will give it a try.

[@MikeDodds]

I have an AquaLung Blizzard Pro neoprene dry suit on order. Can a P valve be retrofitted to a suit like that?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Mike Dodds, great question. Neoprene Drysuits can have P-Valves installed on them. Any center that repairs Drysuits should be able to install one for you. I personally have never installed one on my Neoprene suits, but several of our local divers have. I would contact the manufacture of your specific Drysuit and see what their recommendation is.

[@MegaEpicLlama]

With the condom catheter, is there any application difference if you are not circumcised vs circumcised?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

So I can only speak from personal experience on this one. I fall in the second category, but my educated guess would be to pull the foreskin back prior to applying the condom catheter for ease of use when relieving yourself. This being said, I would refer you to your local Drysuit Instructor who may have more experience with the first part of the question. Sorry I could be more help on that one.

[@MegaEpicLlama]

@@LakeHickoryScuba my drysuit instructor is on the second category. But thanks for the answer! Trial and error

[@diversdown2116]

i have a relief zipper in 1 of my suits and the worst thing about it is when you forget to zip it

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello DIVERS DOWN. I've had several relief zippers on other models that I have owned. They are very handy when on the surface, but I too have forgot about them and jumped it. It happens to the best of us.

[@greybeardcomics1196]

Haven’t used a dry suit in thirty years, to be honest back then we used a diaper. Might try this now.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Grey Beard Comics, diapers are still being used today. I just taught a Drysuit course, and one of my students chose to use a diaper. He said it came in very handy during the dive.

[@toadou8127]

Trim the nipple coming off condom catheter, down to a length, that the barb doesn't twist over and cause a blow off.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks for the advice Toad OU812.

[@timgosling6189]

For now I'll just continue to manage my hydration and avoid diuretics like tea and coffee!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

That's definitely the easiest method Tim Gosling.

[@SeattleRingHunter]

Not when your diving cold lake waters in hot summer months. You need your hydration to keep you on point and from passing out pre and post dive even when half suited up. Also its must less stress on your suits front entry zipper if you're not trying to pull the lower part of your shit down when trying to piss in the bushes or in a public restroom. Manage as you may but is a total game changer worth consideration.

[@timgosling6189]

@@SeattleRingHunter Good points.

[@loganfong2911]

That cucumber was a bummer. I was expecting something else.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Logan Fong, sorry the cucumber was disappointing to you.

[@SeattleRingHunter]

It was a pleasant change from the typical banana 🤣

[@dennislozano4973]

Very helpful video on a useful subject. One statement is not accurate. It is possible and even preferable to don an external catheter without being erect or semi-erect. I take it this statement comes from experience, and while this may be true for you, it is not true for all. An extension of the “many different shapes and sizes” concept you touch on. As they say… different strokes! 😂🤣

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us @dennislozano4973.

[@tvelocidad]

Children pee too... just like everybody poops.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You are correct @tvelocidad, thanks for sharing.

[@TONETIMOTHY]

You are 1000% incorrect regarding needing to be erect to install a condom catheter. It is absolutely not necessary or even remotely required to he erect to install a catheter. Shave really well, then carefully roll it on.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello @user-tx6lv3tj5c, thank you for sharing your experience with installing a condom catheter.

[@MarcelHeiniger]

I don't pee in my wet suit, i don't use wet suit

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

That is a great reason not to pee in your wetsuit @MarcelHeiniger.