Best quality tropical wetsuit - which brand?

[bertschb]

Ok, I've spent a couple hours researching tropical wetsuits here but I can't seem to find a clear winner as far as quality goes. I have a DUI drysuit and love it but I'm going to start tropical diving soon and I need a warm water suit. I will be diving the Caribbean first so I think I need a 2-3mm full suit (from what I've read here). But, which brand and/or model?

Does any company stand out above the rest as far as quality goes? Money is no object. I want something well built and easy to don. Plus, I'm 6' 4" and 210lbs so custom sizing would be nice.

Any advice?

 

[Scubakevdm]

Henderson's Titanium Hyperstretch. The XL Long will fit you off the shelf.

 

[scubamax]

Does any company stand out above the rest as far as quality goes? Money is no object. I want something well built and easy to don. Plus, I'm 6' 4" and 210lbs so custom sizing would be nice.

Any advice?

For a custom fit you may want to look at some of these sites. You can also find a LDS to do a custom Henderson suit as well if you like their selection.

I have not tried any of these yet, but have heard a lot of good things about them.

O'Neill suits seem to be good for off the rack for quality.

http://http://www.wetwear.com/sportdivers.htm

http://http://www.aquaflite.com/welcome.html

http://http://liquidfit.com/

 

[saltwater taffy]

Okie dokie, do I have the place for you.......check out all the new colors of superstretch material at www.liquidfit.com

 

[mattengstrom]

I've been thrilled with the O'Neill that I bought ... 13 years ago! It won't wear out. The downside of couse, is that I stand out like a sore thumb on the dive boat in my late 80s/early 90s neon colors.

 

[5615mike]

If your diving tropics then you certainly don't need a 3mm. Been diving in tropcial waters with a Henderson Microprene for sometime. Great suit and not pricey. You can spend the money for a 3mm but IMO you don't need it. I dive a 7mm Hyperstretch for cold water and wear Microprene under it. Hyperstretch is a great fitting suit but you don't need to spend that kind of money for a tropical suit.

 

[ronrosa]

If your diving tropics then you certainly don't need a 3mm. Been diving in tropcial waters with a Henderson Microprene for sometime. Great suit and not pricey. You can spend the money for a 3mm but IMO you don't need it.

Everyone has a different tolerance to cold. Water temperatures in Hawaii and the Florida Keys dip to the lower 70's and upper 60's. Throw in long bottom times and multiple days of diving and suddenly that 1mm Microprene may not be so warm.

If there is such a thing as standard, then the standard wetsuit for tropical waters is a 3mm. Too warm ? Open the zipper and let some water in.

 

[5615mike]

Everyone has a different tolerance to cold. Water temperatures in Hawaii and the Florida Keys dip to the lower 70's and upper 60's. Throw in long bottom times and multiple days of diving and suddenly that 1mm Microprene may not be so warm.

If there is such a thing as standard, then the standard wetsuit for tropical waters is a 3mm. Too warm ? Open the zipper and let some water in.

Ron, I understand but the poster said they were going to be diving in Caribbean which is always high 70's to low 80's which is quite different from Hawaii and the Keys. I was not attempting to suggest a microprene for Hawaii and the keys. I guess I don't understand where Hawaii and the Keys came into the posters question.....or did you just inject that into the post because your trolling? If you want to talk about 70's and 60's temps then I would have a differnet answer......but you knew that already.

So, since your trolling......just consider that you just hooked something. Hope you brought a big enough boat!

 

[ronrosa]

So, since your trolling......just consider that you just hooked something. Hope you brought a big enough boat!

Wasn't trolling, just responded to the reference of "diving the tropics". Many people don't separate the Keys from the Caribbean and I definitely consider Hawaii tropical.

I own a Microprene but find it's use very limited. 1 or 2 days of 78 degf water, fine. Multiple days of 60 minute plus bottom times I got cold, even in 78 degf water. That's just me, a warm water wimp. Definitely not a troll through.

 

[bertschb]

Thanks for all the advice. I've sent away for some brochures and I plan to visit my LDS in the next couple weeks. I will be diving in Cozumel, Caymans, Belize, etc in February. I didn't realize Hawaii and the Keys got that much colder.

Another question - do most folks use a full suit or a shorty? Front zip or rear?

BTW, I get cold pretty easy under water as well.