I'm looking to get some different opinions and advice on dry suit neck seals. When I first bought my dry suit it had a neoprene neck seal. Regardless of what I've done I'd get a leak in the neck seal. I would turn the excess inward and outward and I still would feel the water seep down my back whenever I get in the water. I sent my dry suit in for regular maintenance and to have a latex seal installed. Well it seems to be leaking worse and I end up with my boots with water. Fortunately I don't get very cold or hypothermia but it is becoming concerning. My dive guide this weekend told me that the neck seals should be very tight to the point its uncomfortable. I have a 18.5in neck and that's the measurement I gave to BARE. The advice I've been getting from some divers at my shop is to go down in neck size to possibly 17in. Looking for opinions before I spend the money to ship my drysuit back out to get the neck seal replaced. Thanks in advance, oh and my dry suit is leak proof, i leak checked it prior to sending it out and so did BARE when i had initially sent it in. So it's verified to be the neck seal.
Dry Suit neck seal leaking
- Thread starter Tigerpaw
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DiveLikeAMuppet
Contributor
Neoprene stretches with use. You can cut away a thin strip (wedge shaped) and glue the neck seal back together to make it tighter.
A hood over the seal works too.
I’ve seen people use a strip of silicone on their neck to ensure a better seal.
A hood over the seal works too.
I’ve seen people use a strip of silicone on their neck to ensure a better seal.
As Dive like a muppet says, on neoprene it is very easy (skill factor 2/10) to cut a thin wedge say 10mm at the top diminishing to nothing at the collar out of a neoprene, YouTube has a host of videos..
Latex seals can be good but,, if they’re the glued in type your running the risk of tearing it and that’s it you need new,
I’m a bit surprised your suffering a wet neck if your suit has been for a repair, most places go from the measurement you give of your neck and know how to create the best fit from there by nipping it appropriately,
You can go on a silicone quick fit system (si tek brand) which is sensible for people that suffer with small necks,, the problem being with neoprene is if you have a petit person with a small neck they struggle as head either won’t fit through the neck or it won’t ever be tight enough to seal,,, as my wife found out,,,the only downside is if the neck attachment ring isn’t comfortable. (I realise your probably not in this catagory)
As a side note your neck seal should not be mega tight,, it will damage the carteroids in your neck and create a lot of problems I think you need to find someone local that give you proper pointers near where you live that knows what they’re talking about ,,, best will in the world.
I prefer neoprene myself,,,
Boarderguy
Chief Narctopus Wrangler
Since you've already sent it off for repair/replacement once I'm sure you'd rather just dive the damn thing than do that again right now. My buddy had some issues with a stretched out DUI latex seal and used a bio-seal to make it last a bit longer. I've heard a lot of people have good results with these when using neo or latex seals. Personally I won't ever order a suit without the SiTech Quick Neck system after having it in my Seaskin. I can swap out the $25 silicone neck seal in 5 minutes and have a handful in my SAD kit. I've torn 1 in about 80 dives and that was while I was taking the suit down from drying and I caught it on a hook. Silicone neck is comfy but you don't get the thermal protection of neoprene. Latex will degrade over time and get sticky/unusable.
Your neck seal should be tight enough to not move freely around your neck, but not so tight as to constrict blood flow and give you a flushed or red face.
www.apollousascuba.com
Your neck seal should be tight enough to not move freely around your neck, but not so tight as to constrict blood flow and give you a flushed or red face.
Bio-Seal Drysuit Accessory — Apollo USA Scuba
Patented Bio-Seal is extremely pliable and molds itself to dry suit seals and skin equally well. This awesome product can reduce and in most cases eliminate water leakage in the neck and wrist areas while allowing a more comfortable fit. Latex Free
www.apollousascuba.com
Si Tek was the name of the kit on my reply that I incorrectly labelled “waterproof” although my wife does use the waterproof silicone neck seal which is fantastic (available in s-m & m-L)Since you've already sent it off for repair/replacement once I'm sure you'd rather just dive the damn thing than do that again right now. My buddy had some issues with a stretched out DUI latex seal and used a bio-seal to make it last a bit longer. I've heard a lot of people have good results with these when using neo or latex seals. Personally I won't ever order a suit without the SiTech Quick Neck system after having it in my Seaskin. I can swap out the $25 silicone neck seal in 5 minutes and have a handful in my SAD kit. I've torn 1 in about 80 dives and that was while I was taking the suit down from drying and I caught it on a hook. Silicone neck is comfy but you don't get the thermal protection of neoprene. Latex will degrade over time and get sticky/unusable.
Your neck seal should be tight enough to not move freely around your neck, but not so tight as to constrict blood flow and give you a flushed or red face.
Bio-Seal Drysuit Accessory — Apollo USA Scuba
Patented Bio-Seal is extremely pliable and molds itself to dry suit seals and skin equally well. This awesome product can reduce and in most cases eliminate water leakage in the neck and wrist areas while allowing a more comfortable fit. Latex Free
landphil
Contributor
If you’re planning on diving this drysuit for a long time, +1 for getting a Si-Tech ring installed and grabbing a couple of silicone seals. If your shoulders are pretty wide, the old Neck Tite rings are bomb proof (but people with narrow shoulders kind of hate them)
I second the recommendation of trying a Bio-Seal. I've had problems with both leaks and friction burns with both latex and neoprene neck seals. The bio-seal keeps me 100% dry and is comfortable to wear. The only drawback is the slight hassle of putting it on, especially with the neoprene neck seal that you have to fold inwards against the bio-seal, as it can get sticky, roll and fold over itself.Since you've already sent it off for repair/replacement once I'm sure you'd rather just dive the damn thing than do that again right now. My buddy had some issues with a stretched out DUI latex seal and used a bio-seal to make it last a bit longer. I've heard a lot of people have good results with these when using neo or latex seals. Personally I won't ever order a suit without the SiTech Quick Neck system after having it in my Seaskin. I can swap out the $25 silicone neck seal in 5 minutes and have a handful in my SAD kit. I've torn 1 in about 80 dives and that was while I was taking the suit down from drying and I caught it on a hook. Silicone neck is comfy but you don't get the thermal protection of neoprene. Latex will degrade over time and get sticky/unusable.
Your neck seal should be tight enough to not move freely around your neck, but not so tight as to constrict blood flow and give you a flushed or red face.
Bio-Seal Drysuit Accessory — Apollo USA Scuba
Patented Bio-Seal is extremely pliable and molds itself to dry suit seals and skin equally well. This awesome product can reduce and in most cases eliminate water leakage in the neck and wrist areas while allowing a more comfortable fit. Latex Free
My pro tip is getting the bio-seal slightly wet with freshwater before donning it, it makes it less sticky.
OP
So if I understand it, I slip this on my neck first, then don the dry suit? Is it a one size fit all?Since you've already sent it off for repair/replacement once I'm sure you'd rather just dive the damn thing than do that again right now. My buddy had some issues with a stretched out DUI latex seal and used a bio-seal to make it last a bit longer. I've heard a lot of people have good results with these when using neo or latex seals. Personally I won't ever order a suit without the SiTech Quick Neck system after having it in my Seaskin. I can swap out the $25 silicone neck seal in 5 minutes and have a handful in my SAD kit. I've torn 1 in about 80 dives and that was while I was taking the suit down from drying and I caught it on a hook. Silicone neck is comfy but you don't get the thermal protection of neoprene. Latex will degrade over time and get sticky/unusable.
Your neck seal should be tight enough to not move freely around your neck, but not so tight as to constrict blood flow and give you a flushed or red face.
Bio-Seal Drysuit Accessory — Apollo USA Scuba
Patented Bio-Seal is extremely pliable and molds itself to dry suit seals and skin equally well. This awesome product can reduce and in most cases eliminate water leakage in the neck and wrist areas while allowing a more comfortable fit. Latex Free
Boarderguy
Chief Narctopus Wrangler
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