Whites Fusion Drysuit

[Pistol Pete]

As mentioned last Friday, I did get achance to try out a Fusion over the weekend. The good folks at Hood Sport 'n Dive, Hoodsport, WA, loaned me a suit to try out with the Weezle Extreme undersuit I just bought from them. Here's my review after one dive in the Fusion.

It's counterintitive and goes against my instincts (which tell me that there's gotta be something wrong), but the suit really is great. True, putting it on--even after watching the various videos on the net--will require some practice as will self-closing the zipper. However, having tried on a Whites Catalyst 360 earlier and now having mastered it the identical zipper, I am confident the same will become true for the donning part.

So here goes the Mythbuster part:

Myth #1--will require less weight: Once in the water, I sank like a rock with my normal 25# of weight whereas I normally have to exhale to get below 4'. Verdict: Not a myth but the TRUTH.

Myth #2--can stand on head: When I tried this in my other drysuit (with which I am generally pleased, by the way) I took on the hydrodynamic bouyancy of a lead-tipped spear; with the Fusion I could actually hold the position, if only for an istant at first try. Verdict: Not a myth but the TRUTH.

Myth #3--the outer skin tension makes air/bouyancy managament a cinch: Aye, 'tis the unvarnished truth; purging is extremely easy and happens reliably without any encouragement from bodily contortions or semi-acrobatics AND hanging upside down there was but a slight trickle of air into the feet.

One disadvantage not brought up elsewhere to my knowledge: The Altera sneakers that come with the suit are great except for the fact that they require Turtle fins because of the size of the boot. I hate the idea of giving up my Scubapro Jet fins.

All in all: COOL!

 

[skdvr]

As mentioned last Friday, I did get achance to try out a Fusion over the weekend. The good folks at Hood Sport 'n Dive, Hoodsport, WA, loaned me a suit to try out with the Weezle Extreme undersuit I just bought from them. Here's my review after one dive in the Fusion.

It's counterintitive and goes against my instincts (which tell me that there's gotta be something wrong), but the suit really is great. True, putting it on--even after watching the various videos on the net--will require some practice as will self-closing the zipper. However, having tried on a Whites Catalyst 360 earlier and now having mastered it the identical zipper, I am confident the same will become true for the donning part.

So here goes the Mythbuster part:

Myth #1--will require less weight: Once in the water, I sank like a rock with my normal 25# of weight whereas I normally have to exhale to get below 4'. Verdict: Not a myth but the TRUTH.

Myth #2--can stand on head: When I tried this in my other drysuit (with which I am generally pleased, by the way) I took on the hydrodynamic bouyancy of a lead-tipped spear; with the Fusion I could actually hold the position, if only for an istant at first try. Verdict: Not a myth but the TRUTH.

Myth #3--the outer skin tension makes air/bouyancy managament a cinch: Aye, 'tis the unvarnished truth; purging is extremely easy and happens reliably without any encouragement from bodily contortions or semi-acrobatics AND hanging upside down there was but a slight trickle of air into the feet.

One disadvantage not brought up elsewhere to my knowledge: The Altera sneakers that come with the suit are great except for the fact that they require Turtle fins because of the size of the boot. I hate the idea of giving up my Scubapro Jet fins.

All in all: COOL!

Glad to hear that you liked the suit. I too had to go to Turtles after getting the Altera boots. The boots are pretty big.

Phil

 

[Jimmer]

Glad to hear that you liked the suit. I too had to go to Turtles after getting the Altera boots. The boots are pretty big.

Phil

Anyone having any issues with the EVO boots? I need to jam the crap out of my Beuchat fins to get them on, so I'm going to be borrowing a set of OMS Slipstreams this week to see how they fit.

 

[Tafflad]

I usually use Mares Avantii Quattro Fins (regular) with wet suit boots.
Went up a size on the Avantii to XL .. and they fit the Altera boot with ease.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

I have the altera and was using some old dacor fins that I love....might need to get something bigger as my foot starts to hurt after a bit of diving.....need more dives to see exactly what I need to do....Oh darn, more diving

Maybe Phil and I will have to make some more videos

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I'd love it if this suit came in any color other than black. With the typically low vis we have to dive in around here ... especially during the warmer months ... a suit with some brightly colored trim or piping would make me much more visible to dive buddies and students.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[skdvr]

I'd love it if this suit came in any color other than black. With the typically low vis we have to dive in around here ... especially during the warmer months ... a suit with some brightly colored trim or piping would make me much more visible to dive buddies and students.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

There is supposed to be a Orange or Red coming out some time down the line. I was originaly waiting on that for the tech skin, but I have never been known as a patient person, so I ordered my tech skin last week and will just do with the black for now. I can only imagine that they will come out with different colors sometime soon (hopefully).

Phil

 

[Oddsnends]

I'd love it if this suit came in any color other than black. With the typically low vis we have to dive in around here ... especially during the warmer months ... a suit with some brightly colored trim or piping would make me much more visible to dive buddies and students.

Agreed. Something like an ANSI certified hi-vis fabric. It would be great for murky waters, night dives, and spotting wayward divers on the surface. The cycling industry has already employed high-vis fabrics in lycra clothing. Some of the new ones are blindingly bright. Since Whites is already working with lycra, this should be an easy add-on. For the neoprene outers, perhaps they could use a treatment like ilumiNITE. It is a retroreflective fabric coating (terrible for photos though!).

I'm already getting confused looks wearing the fusion, mine as well be neon too. :14:

 

[TSandM]

I had trouble with the Evo boots. They would not fit in my size large SP Jets, and in addition, the smallest size proved to be just enough too big that the boots wouldn't stay stable on my feet. I tried going up a fin size, but HATED the XL Jets (felt like I was waving card tables around behind me). I settled for an old standby solution -- Converse High Top tennis shoes. They look funny, but fit great, work in my existing fins, and are very inexpensive.

Bob, the tech skins come with extensive patterning on the arms and shoulders, which would make you much more visible.

 

[Zieg]

-- Converse High Top tennis shoes.

They also come in all black. That's what I used with my Fusion this past winter. They worked great.