ssullivan28, can you update us on how your bare semi-dry has worked out for you. I also dive in Monterey and have the same question as you.
So I finally got to dive my Bare Velocity 8/7mm semi-dry over this past weekend for my advanced OW class, so not too many dives yet, only four.
Getting it on is relatively easy - the only problem I had was getting the thing zipped. Getting the zipper started - I have to pull my left arm a bit out of the sleeve in order to start the zipper. And I can't zip it all the way before I need a buddy's assistance. I was able to get it to about 3 or 4 inches before I need assistance. I can't extend my right arm, and pull with it at the same time to close it up. I really like at the wrists and ankles, the top rolls back and allows you to zip up your boots and pull your gloves on over an inside flap, then roll the top back down over the boots and gloves giving a very good seal. Taking it off is a little more challenging, but I was usually able to do it by myself. I was stuck trying to undo the zipper after my last dive. Getting my arms out isn't too bad - getting my legs out isn't so much "difficult" as it is unruly. Basically I just pull my legs out until I can pry the ankles off and the thing ends up inside out. Perhaps in time I can find a more elegant way out.
It fits really nicely and feels great against the skin. It's quite flexible and I found it to be a LOT more comfortable than the old Body Glove 7mm farmer john/jacket combo that I was renting. This was noticeable with the walk down to the beach and then especially putting my fins on in the light surf. In my old rental setup - farmer john and a non-back inflate bulky as sin BCD I felt like I was wearing one of those fake sumo wrestler suits and I REALLY struggled to get my fins on and off (I have fins that are extremely easy to don and doff (scubapro seawing nova's)). I didn't struggle once with the Bare...it was effortless.
Temp wise...it was a bit too warm at first. After the long march to the beach and then a decent surface swim out to my instructors buoy I was uncomfortably warm. The water in Monterey was a little warmer than I expected - 59 degrees. When I dove there in Feb, I think it was 51 degrees (and the air temp was only 47 degrees). I started feeling a bit stressed with the heat as I was waiting for the dive to start...to the point where I finally pulled my hood back off of my head to start the dive. After about 10 minutes under I cooled down enough to put my hood back on. Note, on that dive I also wore a somewhat heavy rash guard. All subsequent dives I did without the rash guard, and I never had any other issues where I felt over heated.
Not once did I get any cold shocks of water running down my neck or up my sleeves. The suit performed great. Only once when I turned my neck as far as I could did I even feel any water seep in through the hood around my face, and it was really minimal.
I did a night dive on Saturday, followed by a 9am dive on Sunday and the inside wasn't wet or uncomfortable or difficult to don - I just hung it inside out in the shower at my motel room after a quick rinse. The thing dries pretty quickly. After I got home, I laid it out in the back yard in the shade inside out after a thorough rinsing and the inside dried within a few hours. I then put it right side in and hung it over night in the garage and it was completely dry the following morning.
As far as weighting goes...with the farmer john, I was carrying 38 pounds on the weight belt. With the one piece semi-dry, I was only carrying 30 pounds - this made the post dive march back up to my truck much more comfortable. Next purchase - a steel tank so I can knock off a few more pounds from the belt!
I don't regret the purchase (I spent I think $450 at Leisurepro), but I do wish it had a vertical front zipper similar to the Camaro Stingray Pro (which is a really cool looking suit).
Let me know if you have any questions.
