I have a bunch of training dives over the next 6 weeks in my local quarry. I'm told to expect water temps well down into the 40s (<10C), at least on the dives that go below 20'. I was at my LDS yesterday and asked them about my strategy for dealing with that, which is/was based around a core plan of using my 7mm wetsuit. A 7mm I bought used, at that, so is, I think, pretty well compressed compared to when it was new. They have gotten me fairly well convinced that, even with a hooded vest and Lavacore underneath, I am going to be a very unhappy camper at those temperatures.
I brought up consideration of a semi-dry like possibly the Hollis Neo Tek, thinking I might be able to afford $400 for one. The shop owner that I was talking to said I should really just go for a dry suit before spending the money on a semi-dry. He then pointed out a Bare D6 Pro he has that is a Demo suit with 2 or 3 dives on it, which he offered me for, well, a REALLY good price compared to the prices I see online for a new one. So, now I'm seriously thinking about it. The suit appears to be just my size, though I haven't tried it on yet. It has a neo neck seal, latex wrist seals, and the attached boots (not socks).
I did a bunch of searching and reading about the D6 and have been left with a few questions.
- Some customer reviews talked about the D6 as if it's 7mm neoprene. Others say it's 6mm "compression-resistant" neoprene. Looking at it in the store, it certainly didn't feel like regular 7mm neo. It felt closer to 5mm and very "hard". I think 6mm "compression-resistant" is the correct description. Is that the same as "crushed neoprene" which I've read about?
- Various things I read suggest that the neoprene in the D6 is not ideal dry suit material because the material will compress at depth, causing it to lose both warmth/insulation value and buoyancy. Is that really true for the D6? The material feels so hard it's hard to imagine that it would compress to any notable degree, even at 130'.
- And even if the D6 material compresses enough to affect buoyancy at 130', isn't the change going to be fairly small (as compared to the compression of a regular 7mm wet suit) and easily accommodated just by putting a bit more air in the suit (or BC)? In other words, even if it's true on paper, is it really ANY issue at all in real life?
From what I can tell so far, the Cons of this suit (as compared to alternative dry suits) are:
- heavy
- takes a LONG time to dry
- big/bulky/heavy if I ever wanted to fly somewhere and take it
- not as flexible (ease of movement)
The Pros seem to be (as compared to alternative dry suit choices):
- material is VERY durable
- material is better thermal insulation, requiring less undergarments, so diving in really cold water will be overall less bulky
- less overall bulk in really cold water means easier to control buoyancy (via smaller bubble)
- less overall bulk means more streamlined so easier to swim in (and better gas consumption)
I don't ever intend to fly anywhere with it. If I'm flying to dive, it will be somewhere warm. My expected usage would here in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. At least some of which will be going to wrecks off NC and/or up in the Saint Lawrence. For now, I'll be diving with steel tanks (HP100 or HP120 singles - and, eventually, assembling the 120s back into a double set). I'm only diving to Recreational depths, for now. Eventually, I want to take Adv Nitrox and Deco, but that won't happen until at least next year. Even then, my max depth will only 150'.
I have dived my 3/2 wet suit in water as low as 72 degrees and been totally comfortable. For a 3rd and 4th dive of the day at that temp, I put on my Lavacore FJ underneath. If the water were in the 60s, I would most likely just wear my 7mm wet suit, possibly with Lavacore. So, I'm not concerned about the performance of my dry suit in warm water. Certainly not in anything from 70 on up.
This all makes it sound like a very good suit for me. Is there anything else I should be considering?
The Bare XCS2 seems like it's a popular alternative to the D6 Pro. If I could get that for a bit more money, should I? Or is the D6 just as good (or maybe even better) for the usage I have in mind? The only real advantages I see for the XCS2 are being a bit lighter and being a bit less susceptible to the suit material compressing at depth. But the tradeoff seems to be needing to wear a warmer undergarment.
I may also have an option for a Waterproof D10 Pro non-ISS for similar money to the XCS2. Should I consider that instead? I REALLY like Waterproof wetsuits, and I suspect the D10 is just as high quality. But, will it be a huge PITA to deal with a manufacturer in Sweden if I ever have any issues?
Thanks for any info or insight you can share on this!
I brought up consideration of a semi-dry like possibly the Hollis Neo Tek, thinking I might be able to afford $400 for one. The shop owner that I was talking to said I should really just go for a dry suit before spending the money on a semi-dry. He then pointed out a Bare D6 Pro he has that is a Demo suit with 2 or 3 dives on it, which he offered me for, well, a REALLY good price compared to the prices I see online for a new one. So, now I'm seriously thinking about it. The suit appears to be just my size, though I haven't tried it on yet. It has a neo neck seal, latex wrist seals, and the attached boots (not socks).
I did a bunch of searching and reading about the D6 and have been left with a few questions.
- Some customer reviews talked about the D6 as if it's 7mm neoprene. Others say it's 6mm "compression-resistant" neoprene. Looking at it in the store, it certainly didn't feel like regular 7mm neo. It felt closer to 5mm and very "hard". I think 6mm "compression-resistant" is the correct description. Is that the same as "crushed neoprene" which I've read about?
- Various things I read suggest that the neoprene in the D6 is not ideal dry suit material because the material will compress at depth, causing it to lose both warmth/insulation value and buoyancy. Is that really true for the D6? The material feels so hard it's hard to imagine that it would compress to any notable degree, even at 130'.
- And even if the D6 material compresses enough to affect buoyancy at 130', isn't the change going to be fairly small (as compared to the compression of a regular 7mm wet suit) and easily accommodated just by putting a bit more air in the suit (or BC)? In other words, even if it's true on paper, is it really ANY issue at all in real life?
From what I can tell so far, the Cons of this suit (as compared to alternative dry suits) are:
- heavy
- takes a LONG time to dry
- big/bulky/heavy if I ever wanted to fly somewhere and take it
- not as flexible (ease of movement)
The Pros seem to be (as compared to alternative dry suit choices):
- material is VERY durable
- material is better thermal insulation, requiring less undergarments, so diving in really cold water will be overall less bulky
- less overall bulk in really cold water means easier to control buoyancy (via smaller bubble)
- less overall bulk means more streamlined so easier to swim in (and better gas consumption)
I don't ever intend to fly anywhere with it. If I'm flying to dive, it will be somewhere warm. My expected usage would here in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. At least some of which will be going to wrecks off NC and/or up in the Saint Lawrence. For now, I'll be diving with steel tanks (HP100 or HP120 singles - and, eventually, assembling the 120s back into a double set). I'm only diving to Recreational depths, for now. Eventually, I want to take Adv Nitrox and Deco, but that won't happen until at least next year. Even then, my max depth will only 150'.
I have dived my 3/2 wet suit in water as low as 72 degrees and been totally comfortable. For a 3rd and 4th dive of the day at that temp, I put on my Lavacore FJ underneath. If the water were in the 60s, I would most likely just wear my 7mm wet suit, possibly with Lavacore. So, I'm not concerned about the performance of my dry suit in warm water. Certainly not in anything from 70 on up.
This all makes it sound like a very good suit for me. Is there anything else I should be considering?
The Bare XCS2 seems like it's a popular alternative to the D6 Pro. If I could get that for a bit more money, should I? Or is the D6 just as good (or maybe even better) for the usage I have in mind? The only real advantages I see for the XCS2 are being a bit lighter and being a bit less susceptible to the suit material compressing at depth. But the tradeoff seems to be needing to wear a warmer undergarment.
I may also have an option for a Waterproof D10 Pro non-ISS for similar money to the XCS2. Should I consider that instead? I REALLY like Waterproof wetsuits, and I suspect the D10 is just as high quality. But, will it be a huge PITA to deal with a manufacturer in Sweden if I ever have any issues?
Thanks for any info or insight you can share on this!
