To All of Our Friends at DUI

Art and Sue Grinath – Our DUI Love Story

Art and I are PADI Instructors working for Midwest Diving Specialists (MDS) located in Normal, IL. Art has a 14 year old DUI Trilaminate that he purchased from a store selling its instructional drysuits about 10 years ago. It is still very serviceable and, in fact, looks almost new, but it lacks ZipSeals, a swivel inflator valve, and a relief zipper (don't try to tell him it could be retrofitted because he wanted a new one). I have another brand of drysuit purchased through a store we previously worked for. Even though it was a custom, it never fit right and I was not comfortable in it. So, both of us were anxious to own a new DUI drysuit.

We have attended and worked at many DUI Demo Days at various locations, even when not teaching for stores that were DUI dealers. Hanging out (oops, I mean working) with the DUI staff is a lot of fun and we have always believed in the superior quality of DUI products and service. At the 2007 Haigh Quarry Demo, I had a conversation with Dave Smith, DUI’s Midwest Sales Representative. He asked why I did not own a DUI drysuit. (I did have a Thinsulate 400 undergarment.) My response was that MDS was not a DUI dealer. I did not want to buy from someone else and really wanted to wear what the store sold. Dave indicated that DUI had no dealers in central Illinois and would be interested in talking to MDS. So I gave Dave the phone number for the Big Kahuna at MDS, Dick Smith, and popped a note with a brochure and price list in the mail to him as well. It turned out that ScubaDick was very interested in being a DUI dealer and it finally happened this spring.

Art and I immediately put in our order – Art for a TLS350 Special Production and me for a Signature Series TLS350, new Weight & Trim System and new DiveWear. I probably drove the DUI staff crazy with my questions and changes but they were always cheerful and helpful and I wound up with the perfect drysuit for me. Here we are on NJoy diving, getting ready to explore some Lake Michigan wrecks off Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Not worried at all about the 40 degree water awaiting us - all toasty and comfortable in our new TLS350s and Polartec PowerStretch undergarments. It was such a great summer and fall. What a difference the right drysuit and undergarments have made. I've been so excited to see more of the amazing Lake Michigan wrecks and happy to do the deep dives with Advanced Open Water Students (can you say thermocline's?) I may even don my Thinsulate Ultra 400 and join Art ice diving this year. It is the only thing in diving that we have not done together from Open Water all the way to IDC Staff Instructor.

We are really looking forward to more Demo Days and the opportunity to show off the DUI products to our MDS friends. Thank you to everyone at DUI from Art and me for the fantastic drysuits and service (and fun!).

Sue Grinath
Vernon Hills, IL