Very happy with Lavacore

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

aoo

Registered
Messages
26
Reaction score
3
Location
Philippines
# of dives
200 - 499
HI all,

Just wanted to post some feedback on the Lavacore products in case anyone is looking at them, cause I know that I was scouring this site for reviews when I was deciding on whether to buy the Lavacore products.

Backround, my wife and I are tropical divers with a trip to the Galapagos planned next year, so we were looking for ways to supplement warmth in some of the expected very cold, for us at least, dives in the Galapagos.

I ordered the Lavacore long sleeve shirt, pants, socks and hood. Tried diving using just the Lavacore in lieu of my regular 3mm wetsuit and was pleasantly surprised that it was able to provide me almost the same warmth as my 3mm. Then dove it under the 3mm wetsuit another time when it got colder and was very happy with the additional warmth that it provided, easily feeling like a 5mm.

So basically, I agree with previous posters that it acts like a 2 to 2.5mm suit on its own and as a supplement under another wetsuit.

Some other points of interest. It was much easier to dive using only the Lavacore, which provided much more ease of movement that a 3mm. However, I question its claim to neutral bouyancy. Initially tried diving with 2 pounds less that with my 3mm, but struggled at the end of the dive. Found my comfort level diving with the same weights as with my 3mm.

Hope this helps.
 
Thnx I have been thinking about buying one
 
My wife bought a Lavacore full suit for a pre-Christmas trip to the Caymans. I wish she shared your experience :(
For her, the Lavacore made almost no difference under her 3mm wetsuit (other than letting in more water if she didn't pull the ends of the Lavacore up into her wetsuit). She ended up taking my Thermalution heated shirt for the whole trip. She appreciated the wind blocking of the Lavacore and will keep it for windy dive days that aren't warm enough on the surface. She says it makes a nice transition suit between a 3mm and a hot skin.
 
My experience, in the pool is different. I wore the sleeveless shirt and the shorts though. I needed not weight as opposed to 6 with my 3mm. The stuff is warm though. On a trip to Grand Cayman last month, I wore it under my 3mm and found it to be very warm and well worth the investment.
 
I just ordered a lavacore full suit to layer under my 3 mm in Aussie winter. I have high hopes for the layering approach.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I just ordered a lavacore full suit to layer under my 3 mm in Aussie winter. I have high hopes for the layering approach.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

And so what was the verdict? was it warm enough, 3mm wetsuit + lavacore underneath???
 
It was warm enough with the 3 mm + lavacore. I was very happy with the combo.
 
I don't like the constriction caused by think wetsuits, so I am trying this under a 2.5mm super stretchy easy to put on, back zippered waterproof, w30.

If it works in 21*c/70f I will buy my wife one too.

I am bit worried that I got a front zipper job now, maybe the long pants and long sleeve top would be a better bet as an undersuit, see what happens.

Thanks for your replies!
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

Back
Top Bottom